Messi makes a confession

Argentina captain Lionel Messi revealed after his team’s intensifying ordeal with Egypt in their last 16 World Cup match that he could not forgive his own self for messing up with a penalty early in the first half.

“The truth is that it was a moment of release, a release for all of us,” Messi said after the game. “I was feeling intense anger because of the penalty I wasted, and because of the way I took it. I felt like in that important moment, I had let the team down.

“But fortunately, God had something special in store for me once again in the end, and I was able to score the equaliser.

“That was a huge release, and immense joy for us, and for those fans who came again and prove every day what it means to be Argentine, and how much pride they give us.”