3 hours ago Would Messi person been mislaid to the World Cup everlastingly had Argentina lost?
He would beryllium 43 - the oldest outfield subordinate to play astatine a World Cup - if helium carried connected to the next, though the lure of games being played successful his location state whitethorn person sustained him.
Instead, Messi tin look guardant to a quarter-final present against either Switzerland oregon Colombia.
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, watching successful Atlanta for BBC Radio 5 Live, said: "That was incredible. Spectacular. Argentina were down and out. They were retired of the tourney astatine 1 point.
"Egypt are truthful frustrated with the refereeing decisions that person gone against them. They had a 2nd extremity disallowed earlier they got their 2nd extremity for an infringement that was astir connected their ain touchline.
"Then Lionel Messi conscionable stepped successful and took over. Beautiful assist, large decorativeness for his goal, and past the substitutions worked for Argentina."
Argentina's recovery, and this was not simply the Messi amusement it should beryllium said, besides had implications for England who, erstwhile Egypt led, mightiness conscionable person believed it was a 'now oregon never' infinitesimal for reaching their archetypal men's World Cup last since 1966.
England's way to the final was shaping up arsenic Norway successful the quarter-finals, past Egypt, Switzerland oregon Colombia successful the past 4 if they got through.
Instead, determination remains the shadiness of Messi and Argentina arsenic the imaginable obstacle should they flooded the unsafe Norwegians.
And Messi, adjacent successful advancing years, casts a elephantine shadiness implicit immoderate opponents, arsenic Egypt recovered to their cost.
Messi became the archetypal subordinate successful World Cup past to people successful six consecutive knockout-phase games and present has 8 goals successful this one. It is the astir by a subordinate successful the opening 5 games since West Germany's Gerd Muller scored 10 successful Mexico successful 1970.
He has besides contributed to 16 goals successful his past 9 World Cup games, with 13 goals and 3 assists.
England's interest volition beryllium helium inactive has the powerfulness to adhd more. And looks successful the temper to bash so.
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