Lionel Messi misses penalty after dodgy VAR call in Argentina clash with Poland | Football | Sport

Lionel Messi missed a penalty after yet another dubious VAR decision in Argentina’s World Cup clash with Poland this evening. The Paris Saint-Germain star was controversially given the spot-kick after Wojciech Szczesny caught him with a flailing arm, despite going for the ball. Yet justice was then servied in the immediate aftermath…

Argentina are in World Cup action against Poland tonight and know victory would see them through to the round of 16 at the expense of their opponents.

There was controversy in the first half when they were given a spot-kick, with Szczesny accidentally catching Messi with a flailing arm.

It was soft but, not for the first time this tournament, VAR gave the decision and it enabled the PSG star to step up and try and fire his side ahead.

Szczesny had other ideas, however, and managed to keep Messi at bay diving to his left and parrying the ball to safety.

The 35-year-old looked annoyed at himself in the aftermath but Poland will feel justice was served as they themselves look to battle through to the knockout stages of the competition.

Speaking before the showdown at Stadium 974, Pablo Zabaleta – who played with Messi for Argentina during his own career – highlighted a ‘big difference’ he’d noticed in the forward.

“Before this tournament started, I heard Leo say there are similarities between the feelings he had then (in 2014) and the atmosphere in the squad now,” he said. “That is a really good sign because it means there is the same togetherness, and also that he is happy.

“When I see pictures of the dressing room now, I see a lot of fun happening, like there was in my day. But there is one big difference: Messi himself.

“The pictures of him giving an inspirational speech to the team before the 2021 Copa America final were something people had never seen before, and showed he also now has leadership qualities to take this team into something big. When Messi talks, everyone listens. It was the same in 2014 – but he was always a bit quiet and didn’t say a lot then.

“He was our captain but Javier Mascherano really took that role on instead, because of his experience and his character. He was the one who was very vocal in the dressing room, getting us ready before games.

“Now, it is Messi himself who does that. He is not just our best player, he is the true leader of the team – even manager Lionel Scaloni has said that himself many times – and he will be helping them through this difficult start in that way too, not just by scoring goals.”