Fifa
Twitter explodes after Messi fails to stand up for Argentina, again.
Updated : Jun 22, 2018, 11:53 AM IST
Lionel Messi did not have a shot until second half but failed to create his magic against Croatia on Friday.
Almost invincible in the entire match, Messi is being blamed for Argentina’s disastrous 3-0 loss in the Group D match in FIFA World Cup 2018.
Messi has won several laurels for his Spanish club, FC Barcelona and has starred in numerous finals for them but his case has not been the same when it comes to his country Argentina. Under Messi’s leadership, Argentina have lost three major finals - 2014 World Cup final and Copa in two successive editions and now they are on group stage exit in the ongoing World Cup 2018.
Several Argentine fans skipped work and gathered at the Plaza San Martin in the Retiro neighborhood, where the city of Buenos Aires installed a giant TV screen to air the live broadcast of the national team.
The party at the Buenos Aires fanzone fell flat as a crowd expecting a Messi-inspired Argentina World Cup revival could only watch in horror at as the nadir of Nizhny Novgorod unfolded.
But this was no party in Buenos Aires as fans young and old hid their sky blue-and-white painted faces in their hands, the classic reflexes of cinemagoers at a horror movie. Some wept and others hugged each other like survivors at a disaster scene. One man stood and gestured angrily at the big screen as passes went astray on the pitch in Russia.
"We lost very badly, they really humiliated us this time. And now, on top of that, we're depending on Nigeria!" said 22-year-old Joaquin.
Lionel Messi came in for particular criticism after an under-par performance.
"Messi, who keeps winning for Barcelona, who continues to deliver triumph after triumph for Barcelona, has given us nothing but defeats and sadness," said an angry Miguel Angel Gutierrez, 50, wearing an "Albiceleste" wig.
While there were several sad and angry faces at Plaza San Martin in the Retiro neighborhood, other fans across the globe did not hesitate to express their displeasure on social media. Here are some tweets:
The Argentine Team lacked spirit and cohesiveness. They were very poor, they couldn't even push attack. This is the worst Argentine team have seen all my life. The coach also should be blamed for this result playing Mesa when you have dybala Dimaria and banega. #ARGCRO
— Jawad (@LeMeJawad) June 22, 2018
So, is the difference between the Messi of Argentina and the Messi of Barcelona, the quality of the supply chain?
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 22, 2018
Hahaha RT @MehwishIjazi: #ARG and messi fans after the mistake of willy Caballero. #ARGCRO #Caballero
— kalzon (@g_kalzon) June 22, 2018
Willy Caballero. pic.twitter.com/tj2Mc74ehS
Argentina/Barca fans: “Messi can’t do everything by himself”
— Abraham Cavazos (@cavazus) June 21, 2018
Well, Cristiano DOES everything by himself #ARGCRO pic.twitter.com/RX4t0ec73Y
Footage from Argentina's dressing room right now #Worldcup #ARGCRO pic.twitter.com/1D0YXZNUYd
— Alam Shaikh TM (@skalamz) June 21, 2018
The Messi defenders are in full swing, working overtime.
— Oloye Akin Alabi (@akinalabi) June 22, 2018
Messi would be glad to know that there were a few tweets in his support as well:
Messi is not the coach of Argentina
— Md. Jabed Miah (@OfficialJabed) June 22, 2018
Messi is not a goalkeeper of Argentina
Messi is not a defender of Argentina
Messi is not Argentina
He cannot perform a magic alone
Y'all need to stop trash talking him#WORLDCUP #ARGCRO pic.twitter.com/Lude4KapgV
Ronaldo is proving himself in WC while Messi can't.
— JR (@Jcanales37) June 22, 2018
In 2014, Messi takes Argentina to WC final, wins Golden ball, Ronaldo on other hand couldn't even take his country past group stages, lets see if Ronaldo can carry Portugal to wc final, then we'll talk #WorldCup
Admit it you feel sorry for Messi. pic.twitter.com/fIv3wCkTza
— Footy Jokes (@Footy_JokesOG) June 22, 2018
Simply incredible from #CRO as they seal their place in the knock-out stages with a historic victory!
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 21, 2018
Take a bow, @HNS_CFF #ARGCRO pic.twitter.com/pW9hyQGCAa