Former Netherlands head coach Louis van Gaal has claimed that the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar was rigged in order to help Lionel Messi finally lift the trophy.
Messi led Argentina to World Cup glory in December 2022, scoring twice in the final to help his country beat France 4-2 on penalties.
The 36-year-old forward helped Argentina eliminate the Netherlands, then managed by Van Gaal, in the quarter-final, scoring in normal time before guiding his country to a 4-3 win on penalties.
Van Gaal, who resigned as head coach following the Netherlands’ World Cup exit, believes that the tournament was rigged so that Messi could finally win the trophy that had always eluded him.
When asked to reflect on the World Cup in Qatar, he told Dutch outlet NOS: “I don’t really want to say much about it. When you see how Argentina gets the goals and how we get the goals, and how some Argentina players overstepped the mark and were not punished, then I think it all premeditated game.
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“I mean everything I say. That Messi should become world champion? I think so, yes.”
But reacting to Van Gaal’s claims, Virgil van Dijk disagreed with his former national team coach.
“It is of course his opinion. Everyone is allowed to have an opinion. I do not share the same opinion.”
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COMMENTS
LVG, don’t let me say you are just realizing that after nearly a year. We knew that since. Argentina practically played penalties in virtually all the 7 matches they played, even in the defeat to Saudi. Now, two cups were also manufactured for the lad in America to dust his rival in trophy haul. Which one be “open” or “league” cup with 2 matches to win them? I will not be surprised if ballon dor meant for strictly Europe is “twisted” to accommodate USA
They have been rigging things for Messi’s benefit since 2012 or 13 when it was clear CR7 was too dominant. Even robbing him of 2013 and 2018 Ballon do’r I 2021 and 2020 and 21 Ballon do’r also rigged in Messi favour Mbappe and Lewondoski respectively. We’re robbed there. So you see 4 Ballon do’ r and 2022 WC. So you see we knew this long time and so did you Van Gaal you only voice it mow because it directly affected you. Now you get a taste of what CR7 Mbappe and Lewondoski went through.
How many stupid things can unsuccessful people say when they can’t get out of their resentment and anger! They can only see conspiracies where they should see talent.