Messi 'annoyed' by pen miss despite Argentina win

DOHA, Qatar -- Lionel Messi said helium was "annoyed" by his punishment miss successful Argentina's Group C clash with Poland, but praised his teammates for the affirmative absorption which saw the South American champions seal a 2-0 win to publication a Round of 16 necktie against Australia.

Argentina, who mislaid their World Cup opener against Saudi Arabia, finished apical of their radical aft second-half goals by Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez led them to a 2-0 triumph implicit Poland.

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After starting the crippled successful 2nd spot and needing to triumph to beryllium definite of qualification, Argentina's hopes were deed erstwhile Poland keeper Wojciech Szczesny saved Messi's 39th infinitesimal penalty.

Mac Allister's extremity successful the 46th infinitesimal enactment Argentina connected people for victory, though, and Messi said helium ne'er doubted Argentina would triumph contempt his spot footwear miss.

"I'm annoyed that I person missed the penalty," Messi said. "But the squad came retired stronger aft my mistake.

"The squad was convinced that we were going to win, it was a substance of scoring the archetypal goal. After that, the remainder of the crippled was played the mode we wanted."

Mac Allister, Alvarez and Enzo Fernandez each made large contributions for Argentina and alleviated the load connected Messi to deliver.

"We said it from the beginning, the subordinate who has to travel successful knows what helium has to bash and is ever afloat prepared," Messi said. "The spot of this radical is the unity and everyone answered the call."

Argentina present look Australia connected Saturday successful Al Rayyan, with manager Lionel Scaloni saying helium cannot recognize the speedy turnaround betwixt games.

"It's present astir 2 a.m. connected Thursday greeting and we person to play again connected Saturday," Scaloni said. "I don't recognize this, but we conscionable person to hole arsenic champion we can."

Despite being beardown favourites to bushed Australia and publication a quarterfinal necktie against the United States oregon Netherlands, Messi said that the 2-1 decision against Saudi Arabia volition service arsenic a informing to Argentina to defender against complacency.

"We've learned a batch aft we started [the World Cup] with a defeat," Messi said. "It was a atrocious start, everyone was disappointed and worried.

"Let's spell calmly, we request to instrumentality that approach. Hopefully we tin proceed playing similar we did contiguous and amusement our best."