ATLANTA — Lionel Messi said he was not at all shocked by Argentina’s ability to pull off another dramatic comeback, this time in their World Cup semi-final against England.
The 39-year-old captain set up both goals — one for Enzo Fernandez and one for Lautaro Martinez — in the final minutes of Wednesday’s intense match at Atlanta Stadium, lifting the defending world champions to a 2-1 victory from a losing position.
The win continued a pattern of late heroics for Argentina throughout the tournament. They had previously needed extra time to get past Cape Verde in the Round of 32 and Switzerland in the quarter-finals, and came back from two goals down to beat Egypt 2-3 in the last 16 thanks to a stoppage-time goal.
“This group doesn’t surprise me,” Messi told reporters following the match. “I know and we know what we were capable of. People might have had doubts about us because we had players who were very much at their limit, but when we come together and are united, it always gives us an extra boost.”
“They inspire each other. They find something they didn’t know they had, and give everything,” he added.
Messi, who noted he is fully savoring the experience at his sixth World Cup and has no plans to retire, said he is eager to face 2010 world champions Spain in New Jersey on Sunday.
“It’s a team I know well,” said Messi, who spent 17 years playing for Barcelona in Spain. “They have a footballing philosophy and have been playing this way for many, many years. I know the players. I’ve played against them, I follow them and several of them are at Barca, the club I love. It’s a special match, a World Cup final. I imagine it’s going to be an even contest.”
After the final whistle, Messi and his teammates celebrated while holding up a banner asserting Argentina’s claim over the Falklands/Malvinas islands — the South Atlantic territory at the center of a 1982 war between Argentina and Britain.
Given the deep historical and sporting rivalry between the two nations, Messi said losing to England was simply not an option.
“We went out there with real determination,” Messi said. “The fans wanted this victory more than any other because of what it means to face England in a semi-final and reach another World Cup final.”
