Loss in first match helped us get stronger: Messi

Argentina’s star footballer Lionel Messi has credited his team’s loss against Saudi Arabia in the campaign opener as the biggest boost that helped them qualify for the World Cup final. Messi’s goal in the 34th minute helped Argentina take the lead in the semifinal against Croatia on Tuesday. Julian Alvarez scored a brace to take Argentina into the final and knock out the 2018 World Cup runners-up. Argentina will play the winner of the second semifinal between France and Morocco on Sunday in the championship after Messi inspired Lionel Scaloni’s team to a 3-0 victory against Croatia. Argentina’s comeback is a huge contrast from their disastrous Group C debut, where they lost to Saudi Arabia, the 51st-ranked team in the world, 2-1. Messi says that loss forged the team to be stronger. “I would say that the first match was a hard blow for all of us because we had been unbeaten in 36 matches. To start in such a way in a World Cup was a blow, we did not think we would lose to Saudi Arabia. It was an acid test for this whole squad but this squad proved how strong we are,” Messi was quoted as saying by ESPN. “We won the other matches. It was very difficult what we did because every match was a final and we were aware if we did not win things would be complicated for us. This is a mental load because we knew things would be more complicated for us. We managed to win five finals and I hope it will be this way for the final game,” said the forward as quoted by ESPN. Messi appeared in his 25th World Cup match, tying Lothar Matthaus of Germany for the most, and took his tally of goals at the World Cup to 11, breaking Gabriel Batistuta’s Argentina record and was happy after the win. “Internally we were confident that we would make it because we know what we are capable of as a squad. We lost in the first match due to fine details but it helped us to be stronger. Let’s enjoy this moment. It’s great to see the joy in our fans here and in Argentina. “We are going to give