Although he missed the first penalty in the shootout against Ecuador, Lionel Messi was calm, because he knew that goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez was going to stop at least one charge in the Copa América quarterfinal series.
“It is always calming to have him at these moments. He has a lot of confidence, a lot of faith that he was going to grab one. He likes it, he enjoys it, he lives it. Although he was angry for having made a mistake, with ‘Dibu’ we are calm. It’s getting bigger right now,” he said after the duel at the NRG Stadium in Houston.
Messi, who had not played in the last game of the group stage against Peru, reappeared in this duel and played the entire match, but the truth is that he did not look good, even decided to take (and miss) a Panenka-style penalty.
“I’m fine. I didn’t feel any discomfort and I was able to finish the match,” said the captain, however, there were complaints regarding the pitch. “It is a reality that the fields are not good.”
Regarding Ecuador, he highlighted their intensity and dedication, but highlighted the fact that despite the aversities in the match, the goal received in stoppage time and even their failure to open the penalty shootout, the ‘Albiceleste’ is in the semifinals of the Copa América 2024.
“We knew that the game was going to be this way, that it was going to be a very difficult opponent. Ecuador is an intense rival and the field didn’t help us play much either, but the important thing is that we passed,” he said.
