Legendary Dutch manager Louis van Gaal believes Argentina’s Lionel Messi and the Qatar World Cup were the beneficiaries of a fix.
The 72-year-old Van Gaal led the Netherlands team that was defeated by the eventual champions in the quarterfinals, with Argentina triumphing on penalties following a thrilling 2-2 tie at Doha’s Lusail Stadium.
Argentina took a two-goal lead in a tumultuous contest thanks to goals from Nahuel Molina and Messi’s penalty, which was awarded with just 17 minutes remaining in the game.
But in one of the tournament’s most dramatic plot twists, the Dutch came back with two goals from Wout Weghorst, the second of which came 11 minutes into stoppage time in the fiercely contested match.
During an interview at the Eredivisie awards on Monday night, the 72-year-old was questioned about his time in the competition, and in classic Van Gaal form, he was candid in his answer.
Speaking to the Dutch media outlet NOS, he said:
“‘I don’t really want to say much about it. When you see how Argentina gets the goals and how we get the goals, and how some Argentina players overstepped the mark and were not punished, then I think it all premeditated game.”
“I mean everything I say. That Messi should become world champion? I think so, yes.”
