How to Win when you're Playing Messi

95/104ths of the World Cup

 

 

Argentina continue their quest for a 4th World Championship, and 2nd in a row, by facing off with Egypt in the Round of 16. Egypt finally won their first World Cup match by defeating New Zealand 3-1 in the Gorup Stage. They made it to the Round of 16 by defeating Australia in a penalty shootout. Could those tired legs compete with the powerhouse of Argentina? Yasser, as in Yasser Ibrahim would put Egypt ahead 1-0 in the 15th minute. A stunned Argentina would labor their way to halftime maintaining a 1 goal deficit. In the 2nd half, Egypt celebrated taking a 2-0 lead in the 58th minute via Mostafa Zico on a breakaway. Controversially, VAR stepped in and deemed the goal should not count. Marawan Attia was deemed to have fouled Lisandro Martinez as he stole the ball from the Argentinian defender. That goal would not count, but Mostafa Zico and Egypt would get a 2nd goal in the 67th minute that would count. Something else you can count on is Argentina's ability to get back into a match. Cristian Romero would give Argentina life with a goal in the 79th minute to trail Egypt 1-2. Then, the hero Lionel Messi would tie the match at 2 in the 83rd minute. At this point, Hotlanta became hotter as Argentina's fans fired up with cheers. As the match seemed to be headed to extra time, Argentina would strike a 3rd time in the 2nd minute of stoppage time as Enzo Fernandez would give Argentina the victory. Egypt heads home disappointed, feeling that shenanigans were afoot in their elimination. We can argue whether the foul by Marawan Attia that was missed by the referee deep in Argentina's defensive end should have been called out by VAR and disallowed. We cannot argue that Argentina marches on to face the winner of Switzerland and Colombia.