Lionel Messi admitted he felt he had “let the group down” after missing a first-half penalty against Egypt before playing a decisive role in Argentina’s remarkable comeback to reach the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals. The defending champions looked on the brink of elimination after falling 2-0 behind in the 67th minute of their Round of 16 clash. However, goals from Cristian Romero, Messi and Enzo Fernandez in the space of 13 minutes completed a stunning turnaround and secured a dramatic 3-2 victory. Messi’s missed penalty earlier in the contest had threatened to prove costly. The Argentine captain was denied from the spot by Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, marking the fourth non-shootout penalty miss of his FIFA World Cup career, the most by any player in the tournament’s history. Reflecting on the emotional rollercoaster after the match, Messi admitted he was deeply frustrated by the miss and feared he had let his teammates down. “Yes, truly it was a relief, a relief for everyone. As I just said, I was very angry about the missed penalty, about how I kicked it. I felt that at an important moment I had let the group down, and well, luckily, God once again had something special in store for me at the end. I was able to score the equalising goal, a very big relief and an enormous happiness for us, for these people who came once again and demonstrated every day what it is, what we are as Argentines, the pride it gives us and nothing, very happy.“ Messi also credited Argentina’s fighting spirit, saying the squad’s refusal to give up had once again carried them through a difficult situation. “I have said it many times, and I repeat it often. This is a team that competes, that always gives their all, that never gives up, never lowers its arms.” Argentina endured a frustrating opening hour after Egypt stunned the favourites with Yasser Ibrahim’s header in the 15th minute. Messi then saw his penalty saved by Shobeir, who went on to produce more outstanding stops to deny Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner also struck the crossbar with a free-kick as Argentina trailed 1-0 at the break. Egypt thought they had doubled their advantage early in the second half through Mostafa Ziko, but the goal was ruled out after a VAR review. The Pharaohs eventually did make it 2-0 in the 67th minute when Ziko finished off a swift counterattack following good work from Mohamed Salah and Haissem Hassan. Argentina responded in spectacular fashion. Romero headed home Messi’s free-kick in the 79th minute to spark the comeback before the captain produced the equaliser four minutes later with a fierce strike from outside the area that went in off the goalkeeper’s gloves and the underside of the crossbar. With extra time just moments away, Fernandez completed the comeback in stoppage time, firing a low finish into the bottom corner to send Argentina into the quarter-finals, where they will face Switzerland on July 12.
