Alexis Mac Allister has stepped in as a mediator after tensions escalated between Argentina and Brazil on Tuesday. The Liverpool midfielder found the net, contributing to the world champions’ dominant 4-1 victory.
The friction between the national teams was fuelled by Barcelona star Raphinha’s provocative remarks prior to the match, with several players from Argentina acknowledging that it spurred them on to win.
In a conversation with Brazilian icon Romario before the game, Raphinha, the forward from Barcelona, made his intentions clear: “We are going to beat them up on and off the pitch if necessary. I am going to score. They can s—themselves! In Argentina, you have to hit them, it hurts! They’re b——-.”
During the game, Argentine players targeted Raphinha following a late tackle that raised tempers. Raphinha, previously at Leeds United, found himself encircled by Argentina’s squad and had to be extracted from the confrontation by his colleagues.
Post-match, Mac Allister aimed to quell the discord, suggesting that Raphinha explained his earlier comments were misunderstood.
In the mixed zone after the game, an elated Mac Allister commented, “Very happy, very happy because the team played a very good game. I think we were able to win in every aspect of the game.
“It obviously feels very good, especially because of everything that was said before the game. There was some discussion on the pitch. He tried to explain that maybe the translation wasn’t the best. Honestly, I don’t know Portuguese.
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“I think Ota (Nicolas Otamendi), told him that he started all this, all this anger that wasn’t necessary, and he said that maybe the translation wasn’t the best.
“But well, I don’t, I don’t know why… The translator got to him! And well, I don’t know Portuguese, I didn’t see the video, or anything.”
Argentina was able to win without talismanic captain Lionel Messi, who couldn’t resist a dig as his teammates secured a place at the World Cup to defend their crown. Messi was forced to miss both games, against Brazil and Uruguay after suffering a hip injury in a recent Inter Miami encounter.
He took the high road on his Instagram story, commenting, “Inside, outside, wherever with this National Team. Always talking about football. Congratulations on the great game you played last night and also on the win against Uruguay.”
