ARGENTINA
Julián Álvarez interview with DirecTV Sports in Argentina: I really wanted Messi to win the World Cup
La Araña spoke to DirecTV Sports to reflect on winning the World Cup with Argentina in Qatar.
Julián Álvarez is one of the players of the moment in England and beyond. In his debut season in Europe, ‘La Araña’ has demonstrated his quality under the orders of Pep Guardiola, and is Manchester City’s second goalscorer, only behind Erling Halaand.
His goals were crucial for Argentina to win the World Cup in Qatar last December and now, almost six months on, the striker attended the DirecTV Sports microphones to review his experience of winning football’s biggest trophy.
“It is obviously better to lose in the first game and not in the knockout phase. It makes you realise that you can’t give anything away because anything can see you out of the tournament. It was good that it happened there”, he began by saying.
And as of the second game, the striker would turn into one of Scaloni’s key men, being a starter until the final. “It’s hard to handle that kind of thing but being inside and sharing the whole day with your teammates makes you not think about it as much. I tried not to think, to just take everything step by step.”
Álvarez opens up on Messi winning the World Cup
“Seeing Leo (Messi) so happy was incredible. The Copa América was his first title with the National Team after wanting it so much. I told him that I was much happier that he achieved it than I did. As an Argentine, having grown up watching him... I really wanted for it to happen to him because he deserved it”.
“For Leo, the first game was a hard thing to take. After the game in Mexico it was a relief and something that brought us a lot of strength as a group. That feeling remained to win against Poland, the tie was easy. Afterwards I don’t know if he was calmer, but he looked good, the worst part for us was over. Now everything depended on us and the truth is that as a group we were great, which was reflected on the pitch.”
The semi-final game against Croatia:
“We knew what a great team Croatia are. They reached the final in 2018, but the same players did not come to this one. Their main strength was in midfield. The defenders were Leo and I and we knew how to handle the pressure. They did not create much danger for us. It was a good game from us.
Álvarez on the goals against Croatia
When I got the ball, so far from the goal, I didn’t think about scoring. It was a counter, I took it with me, I saw that many teammates were close to me, but I didn’t see them clearly enough to give it to them. I continued running, I crashed into players, I kept going and then, a goal.
The first goal is always very important; the second gives you more peace of mind. We all celebrated with the desire for the tie to be over, but knowing that it is a semi-final and now the final was coming. The hug with Leo (Messi), who was the first to arrive... makes it a goal that I will remember forever. When Leo (Messi) got the ball against Croatia, he did everything, I just had to tap it in.”
On the celebrations in Argentina and across the world
“It was beautiful to see the videos of people going crazy in all parts of the world. After going through the groups and suffering against the Netherlands on penalties... we felt closer to the goal.
There are guys from here in Europe, from Spain or Portugal, they asked me what was happening. There are videos of people selling their cars to get to Qatar. The explanation is the passion of Argentines for football. What happened in Argentina with 5 million people on the street was incredible”.
Winning a World Cup at his first attempt:
“It is historic, it is something unique to win a World Cup. I try to be calm. I try to enjoy the moments, you have to play game by game. I grew up seeing Messi as an idol, so it is crazy to play next to him.
You feel like part of history. Everything happens so fast and the news cycle is always changing. It was my first World Cup and to have won it is crazy, especially having seen the greatest players who fought for it and didn’t get it”.
River Plate’s influence in the Argentina National Team
“The River factor was important for the National Team. There were many ex-River players and the relationship between us all is very good. Experiencing football in Argentina at such a big club is a privilege”.
