A sensitive bankruptcy at the start that unites the German national team and Lionel Messi's Argentines at the World Cup. But then the paths separate: Argentina is in the quarter-finals, the DFB team has long been back home. Much to Messi's surprise.
Superstar Lionel Messi did not expect the German national football team to fail again early on. "Yes, I was surprised," said the 35-year-old captain of the Argentines, who had already failed three times at a World Cup against the German team during Messi's era, the Argentinian sports newspaper "Olé". This time, the South Americans have already reached the quarter-finals, the DFB team had to leave after falling out of the group. Germany has "many important players" and a young team.
"And Germany is always among the best," said Messi, who failed in the quarter-finals in 2006 and 2010 and in the final in 2014 against the German team. The fact that she didn't reach the knockout stages like in 2018 is surprising, but also shows how difficult this World Cup is "and that the name of a team is not important".
Messi had traveled to Qatar with his Argentines after 36 games without defeat shortly before setting the world record (37 by Italy). In the first group game, the South Americans were embarrassed and put themselves under a lot of pressure with a 2-1 draw against outsiders Saudi Arabia. This was followed by a 2-0 win against Mexico and a 2-0 win against Poland, and they qualified for the round of 16 as group winners. Argentina beat Australia 2-1 in the first knockout round, which ended with France four years ago.
Despite Messi's prominent role and position, coach Lionel Scaloni has evidently managed to mold a team and put together a squad that can develop positive momentum even after a setback, united and supported by thousands of fans who have traveled there - unlike the German team.
