Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 9y

Lionel Messi: Argentina World Cup final regret will last a lifetime

Lionel Messi says he and his Argentina teammates will "regret for the rest of our lives" the chances they missed when losing last summer's World Cup final to Germany.

The 2014 World Cup decider went to extra-time after a goalless 90 minutes, with Germany substitute Mario Gotze securing the trophy for his country with a late strike.

With the score still at 0-0, Argentina attackers Gonzalo Higuain, Rodrigo Palacio and Messi all passed up decent opportunities to find the net.

Watching video footage of these misses during an interview with FIFA.com, the Albiceleste captain admitted not being able to score any of their chances in football's biggest game would be difficult for he and his teammates to ever forget.

"I don't know what to say, it's a pity," Messi said. "I think we had the better chances in the game. For the rest of our lives we'll regret having those chances, and not being able to put them in."

Messi also rewatched footage from other big games from the tournament, including Netherlands' shock 5-1 hammering of 2010 winners Spain in the group stages.

"We watched that game [at the time], we were following it," he said. "It was a game we were all looking forward to, with two great teams meeting. It was a great game, but we did not expect it to go as it did, with Holland winning easily."

The Barcelona player said he had not called club teammates like Andres Iniesta or Xavi Hernandez to commiserate after that game.

"We did talk, but at that moment I did not want to bother them," he said. "I am like that; I think that the best in such moments is not to say anything."

After watching highlights from Germany's 7-1 humbling of hosts Brazil in the semifinals, Messi said that result had been a shock for everyone, and he had not been hoping to face either team in the final.

"We were expecting a very tight game, balanced," he added. "We did not expect Germany to be 3-0, 4-0 ahead so quickly.

"It was a huge surprise for everyone. It did not matter to us who we faced in the final, the same against either team, both very good sides."

^ Back to Top ^