Lionel Messi has hit back at critics who question Argentina’s run to FIFA World Cup Finally, insist that the defenders get everything because of the way they play and not because of management or outside influence.Argentina came from 1-0 down after 85 minutes to beat England 2-1 in Wednesday’s semifinal and book a place in the final, where they will face Spain on Sunday.The win sparked celebrations in Buenos Aires, as thousands of fans filled the streets as Argentina won back-to-back World Cups.It was also back in the competition where Lionel Scaloni’s team found their way back into the game. Argentina beat Cape Verde and Switzerland in extra time and recovered from 2-0 down with 11 minutes left to beat Egypt 3-2.However, that success has also brought criticism. Coaches from Switzerland and Egypt questioned the referee’s decisions after the defeat. Egypt coach Hossam Hassan said that his team was in trouble in the match between the likes of Messi and Argentina.The complaints have fueled criticism from some fans, who say the World Cup bracket has benefited Argentina, while false claims have been circulated on social media suggesting FIFA wants the champions to retain the title.Messi rejected the suggestion after the win in England.“We have been very successful in the last four years, whether you like it or not, and no matter what anyone says,” Messi said after England’s victory.“Once again, we have established ourselves among the top two teams in the world. This proves that everything we have done is not an illusion and that nothing was taken for granted.”So far, Argentina has not responded to allegations of bias. Coach Lionel Scaloni previously advised the media not to “spoil too much on social media” when asked about the issue in previous meetings.But when they reached the final of the World Cup, the authorities decided to respond.“Reaching two consecutive World Cup finals is a very small achievement, and this team did it,” Messi said. “If we had lost in England, there would have been people coming to say nonsense, but we didn’t give them a chance.”The semi-final against England revived the longest-running rivalry, which was shaped not only by the game but also by the dispute over the Falkland Islands, known as the Malvinas in Argentina.On Thursday, the British government urged FIFA to investigate Argentina after the players celebrated their victory by posing with a flag given to them by supporters that read, “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” – “Malvinas and Argentina.”Midfielder Enzo Fernandez admitted his celebration after scoring Argentina’s goal had a message for the team’s detractors.The Chelsea player began by putting his hands over his ears before repeatedly opening and closing his fingers, which is widely seen in football as telling opponents to keep talking.“There was a lot of talk; it was a mixture of excitement and frustration,” Fernandez said.
