ᑕ❶ᑐ 2022 World Cup: « Emotion drives Argentina but it won’t destroy us » – Pablo Zabaleta

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Emotion is still an integral part of Argentina’s game, but on the impression that it drives us more than ever in this World Cup, with a place in the final just a stone’s throw away.

The excitement is always huge at home when we have the chance to win any competition, but the reason I feel it so much here too is because so many Argentinian fans have come to Qatar.

The stadiums for all our matches were 3 quarters full of our fans, creating an amazing atmosphere and giving huge support to our players.

It’s been like a big adventure for them, and it’s brilliant to see – and hear. They don’t just sing and dance for 90 minutes, they start an hour before the game and stay that long after, and keep making noise.

They are here for two reasons; partly because our 36-match unbeaten streak before the tournament started had raised expectations, but mostly because this is probably Lionel Messi’s last chance to win the World Cup.

The rest of the team knows it too, of course, as well as the fans. Messi leads this full squad of young players who are having their first experience of this tournament, and in every photo I see of him coming out of the tunnel, everyone is behind him like they are his bodyguards.

Even on the pitch, it’s as if everyone is fighting for Messi and the protege. I know from playing with him that he sent that he has to set the standard and lead by example, but I also know how much he has to enjoy every minute of this World Cup, knowing he has everything the world behind him.

He’s always been the main player, so it was the same in 2014 when I was in the Argentina team that went to the final, but he was 27 then, not 35.

The difference now is that it’s his last chance – his last dance, if you will – at the end of his career. It makes everything more urgent and you can see it in our performances.

It would be more special if he finally won the World Cup, but there’s also so much pressure on the team because of what failure means this time – quite simply, it means the end of his dream.

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Argentina always play on the edge

From the outside I can really see how the Argentine players are doing everything they can for Messi and for the fans.

That incredible drive and determination is a positive thing, but the way this tournament has gone for Argentina means we’ve also been playing on the edge almost since we started.

After the desperation of our first defeat against Saudi Arabia, we had the tension of the first half against Mexico, before the slowdown when Messi scored to give us the lead. It wasn’t just our players and fans who showed their emotions here – Argentina assistant coach Pablo Aimar broke down in tears when the goal was scored.

It shows you that everyone is feeling the pressure, but it has brought out the best in us when it was expected and we have come through all of our tough times so far giving everything to turn things around.

The team has shown good spirit and the correct mentality to find what was needed since, including in our quarter-final victory over the Netherlands, when the Dutch scored two but very late to force the extension.

I was there and worried because the Dutch had all the momentum not us but we leveled up and had the best chance of winning before the game went to a penalty shootout – then kept our composure to win the shootout.

‘An angry Messi is something we like to see’

I know a lot of people said that Argentina were disrespectful with their celebrations in front of the Dutch players after we won that game, and ideally we wouldn’t have been involved in that.

But you also have to understand that this is (Site notre bureau spécialisé) – so remember what was at stake and also what was said and done before.

Before the match, there had been a lot of discussions with the Dutch. Even their manager Louis van Gaal had some wits about him in his press conference saying that Messi didn’t touch the ball when we faced them in the 2014 World Cup semi-finals, and that he wasn’t working major enough on the ball now.

During the game there were a few pushes before the final whistle but when it came to the shootout some of their players would face each Argentinian player walking to take their penalty and say something to them as they went that they gave. the ball.

So it’s both teams doing it and you have to be able to manage it and distribute it. I would say that Argentina handled this situation well – they certainly didn’t lose control.

I also liked Messi’s reaction at the end, with his celebrations and everything he said to Van Gaal when he approached him afterwards.

An angry Messi is something we like to see. It reminded me a bit of Diego Maradona, that kind of character, and that’s not a bad thing when you’re trying to win a World Cup.

“I want this story to end like it did in 1986”

This Argentinian side are playing well again, they are strong and hard to beat – and of course when our number 10 takes the ball he can always shake things up.

Gary Lineker made a very good point on BBC One after we beat the Dutch, saying that when Argentina won the 1986 World Cup the scenario was very similar.

Like Messi is now, Maradona was always the best player on the pitch back then, but he also had a group of good players behind him who were stable and gave their all for the team, and some of them they have intensified at different times.

I hope this story will have the same ending for us, but what Croatia did in Brazil showed how tough Tuesday’s game will be, and we can’t make any more mistakes.

The reason (Site notre bureau spécialisé) is so emotional is because it’s so unpredictable, and I don’t think anyone can expect it to be a straightforward game. Yes, we can see the final – but we’re not there yet.

Pablo Zabaleta talks to Chris Bevan in Doha, Qatar

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