Messi Kesal, Lawan Saudi Berakhir Seri
Messi Upset by Saudi Draw
Editor : Ismail Gani
Translator : Novita Cahyadi
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KAPTEN Argentina, Lionel Messi mengaku kesal karena dirinya tidak bisa mencetak gol ketika negaranya hanya meraih hasil seri 0-0 Saudi Arabia pada laga persahabatan, dini hari tadi.
Kegagalan tersebut membuatnya gagal memecahkan rekor gol Gabriel Omar Batistuta dengan 12 gol dalam satu tahun bermain bersama 'Tim Tango'. Selain itu, menurutnya performa rekan-rekannya juga tidak maksimal pada laga persahabatan tersebut.
"Mengakhiri akhir tahun dengan cara begini sungguh memalukan. Kami tidak mengeluarkan seluruh kemampuan kami sejak awal pertandingan, meski setelah itu kami bermain cukup baik," kata Messi seperti dikutip laman Soccernet.
"Ini tidak boleh terulang." katanya. "Kemenangan adalah harga mutlak dalam setiap pertandingan. Baik itu laga persahabatan ataupun turnamen, bermain menggunakan kostum tim nasional haruslah serius dan mengeluarkan kemampuan terbaik.
Timnas Saudi dilatih oleh mantan bosnya, Frank Rijkaard, yang menampilkan strategi matang menghadapi serangan Argentina yang diperkuat Angel di Maria (Real Madrid), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) dan Franco Di Santo (Wigan).
Foto: sustg.org
ARGENTINE captain Lionel Messi said he was not happy with his team's performance in Wednesday's 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia, during which they had 'gifted' their opponents a result and ended the year on a sour note.
After missing a chance to break Gabriel Batistuta's Argentina 1998 record of 12 goals in a calendar year, which he had equalled, Messi said he and his team-mates were returning to their clubs in a bad mood.
"It is a pity to end the year like this, after all we have been doing. We did not do the things we had to do, from the beginning of the game," said Messi.
"This cannot happen again," he said. "We are leaving in a bad mood because with our national team we must win, and we did not do that. All the games are important, even friendlies.
The Saudis, coached by Messi's former club boss Frank Rijkaard, held out for an impressive result against an Argentine attack also featuring Real Madrid's Angel di Maria, Manchester City's Sergio Aguero and Wigan's Franco Di Santo.
