Dibu’s hands, Messi’s genius | CHRONICLE

As in the Metropolitan in New York or the Teatro Real in Madrid, in the Lusail there has been suffering, pain, tears, but also laughter, lots of laughter. Cathartic and explosive laughter. The albiceleste’s pass to the semifinals at the expense of the Netherlands has been celebrated as if it were a title because it was close to slipping away after being tied in the throes of the match and bursting a post in the last minute of extra time. In penalties, the Dibu Martínez dressed up as Goicochea and with two saves he helped Scaloni’s team to win 4-3.

And once again, as in so many victorious days, it has been Lionel Messi the protagonist of this unrepeatable epic that in 20 years, just remembering it, will make our hearts race again. Because when the game seemed stuck and became bland to the point of boredom, he took a ball near the croissant, attracted three rivals and put a sharp pass between Ake’s legs that Nahuel, turned into an impromptu 9, turned into a goal with a accurate shot.

Because when Acuña was brought down and millions of eyes fell on his figure, with the missed penalty against Poland flickering in his memory, he crushed the gossip with a definition of a pasture: he looked fearlessly at the goal, went towards the ball and stopped his shot for a second. run, long enough for the archer to take the bait. And there, where he had announced it to him, on his right hand, he sent the soft ball, so that the hysteria in the stands would never end.

And because after Dibu saved Van Dijk’s penalty at the start of the shootout, Argentina needed a shake that would put iron to their morale and they did not run away from the order. With the captain’s ribbon attached to his arm, he walked towards the ball, jumping on the balls of his feet and placed it on his left, once again placed, once again tame, once again shouting to the world that he is the number 1 in the World Cup.

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Although it does not shine, although at times its offensive stinginess repels, it hurts that a team like the Netherlands leave the world. It moves in a block, almost seamless. Neutralizes, annoys, drowns. Until 30 ′ of the first half, he absorbed McAllister, disappeared Messi, caused Argentina he was too wrong on the pass. He provoked yawns with a mischievous statement, but his plan was that: cut the albiceleste circuits, bother them to the point of frustration.

The 0-2 did not leave them KO While Scaloni took out his players with yellow cards thinking of a definite game, Van Gaal bet his last chips on the greats of his team: De Jong and Werghost. A header from the second set off the alarm in the Argentine field and with five seconds to go, a free kick taken in an unorthodox manner -instead of shooting on goal, it was a pass- allowed the Besiktas striker, who is 1.97 height put the tie. The Qatari night seemed to turn orange.

They did not count on the fact that two other giants would end their illusions: the I drew Martinez and Lionel Messi.