Messi tells Argentina critics: 'Nothing was handed to us'
ESPN • • sports
Key Points:
- Lionel Messi defended Argentina against accusations of favoritism and biased officiating, emphasizing that their World Cup success is due to skill and perseverance, not external help.
- Argentina overcame late deficits in multiple matches, including a dramatic 2-1 semifinal win over England, showcasing their championship resilience.
- Coaches from Switzerland and Egypt criticized refereeing decisions that they believed unfairly disadvantaged their teams, fueling controversy over officiating bias toward Argentina.
- Argentina's coach Lionel Scaloni dismissed claims of favoritism, highlighting the difficulty of receiving help under VAR and urging skepticism of social media rumors.
- The team's recent victories have sparked widespread celebrations in Argentina and strengthened their position as favorites ahead of the World Cup final against Spain.
