Riquelme and the World Cup: when did you talk to Messi and what did Topo Gigio think of Van Gaal?

After scoring the Argentine national team’s second goal against the Netherlands and receiving greetings from his teammates, Lionel Messi He walked over to the rival substitutes’ bench, stared at the Dutch coaching staff and pressed his palms to their ears. The Topo Gigio model 2022, a revival of the original patented 21 years ago, was the bridge that united Juan Roman Riquelme and Leo in a hand battle with louis vangaal.

“I think he said something, right? Like in the last World Cup he didn’t touch him or something… What are you going to do? There are things that can’t happen in football: at best you can’t make him angry. It is preferable to hug him, kiss him. That he doesn’t want to attack you, that he doesn’t want to hit you. If you piss him off, it’s worse. When the best player gets angry, you don’t have a chance to beat him. How do you do? It’s impossible,” he said. Juan Roman Riquelme one month after the consecration of the staggered in Qatar.

As Román considered in a sentence full of irony, “Van Gaal’s statement was very good for Argentina, because with Messi angry it’s impossible to beat him, that’s how it is”. And he argued: “Because Messi gets angry and he’s not like other players, who have the possibility of being sent off. There are players you make angry and run the risk of being sent off. Messi doesn’t get angry like that, no. He kicks, he doesn’t nothing. He gets angry playing football and it’s the worst thing that can happen to you.”

Boca’s vice president chose not to refer to the celebration he immortalized on April 8, 2001, during a 3-0 victory for Boca in a Superclásico against River at La Bombonera, when he awarded the Topo Gigio to the then president of the Boca Boca club Riverside, Maurizio Macriwith whom the player has had a very tense relationship.

On the contrary, Riquelme continued to praise Messi in the interview given to the program “90 Minutes” (ESPN). “Who likes football, it was nice that Messi lifted the Cup. It’s something logical and it wasn’t just the Argentines who wanted it; I think very few times in the history of football that everyone agreed that he deserved to win the World Cup. This shows what it is,” she pointed out.

“I always answered the same thing when they asked me if Argentina were favourites, even years ago: if Messi plays, Argentina are favourites,” he recalled. He plays like the players before, he likes to play football, he doesn’t play football, he plays football like in the neighbourhood. He likes nothing more than playing football every three days, nothing hurts him. He may hurt a little to train, but playing football doesn’t hurt at all. So he’s wonderful.”

Román also said that during the World Cup he communicated twice with Leo, with whom he speaks “from time to time” and maintains “a very good relationship”: after the 2-1 defeat against Saudi Arabia in Argentina’s opener and after the consecration, beating France on penalties. “I am very happy that you have achieved this. He knows very well that I love him very muchalthough I don’t bother him much,” he noted.

“I’m old, but (as a father) it was wonderful to see Agustín and Lola celebrate by painting their faces. I want to thank all the boys for the joy they have brought to our children. and our relatives. It was nice to see all the Argentines celebrating,” she concluded.

The triumph of Scaleneta and the memory of Malaysia ’97

Lionel Scaloni, Pablo Aimar, Walter Samuel and Juan Román Riquelme shared the squad of that Under-20 champion in Malaysia in 1997. Twenty-five years later, the first three formed the coaching staff that won Argentina the World Cup after 36 years. “It makes me very happy because we grew up together, they deserve everything and they are good people who love the Argentine shirt a lot”said the president of Boca.

“I talked to them, congratulated them and I hope they stay many more years“, wished Riquelme. And added:” I think they are not yet aware of what they have achieved. This is what I imagine every day, that they are unaware of what they have achieved. I think they spend a lot of time out of the country and that doesn’t make you see things the way they live in our country.”