Argentina great Lionel Messi snapped at former Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal both during and after his country's penalty shootout victory over the Netherlands at the World Cup.
A whopping 15 yellow cards were dished out across the course of the 120 minutes plus penalty shootout as the two countries came to blows in a heated quarter-final. Having watched Brazil be knocked out to European opposition earlier in the day, Argentina looked like they had avoided that fate when first Nahuel Molina and then Messi gave the South Americans a two-goal lead.
However, the Dutch staged a remarkable comeback with Wout Weghorst scoring twice, including a 90+11th minute equaliser, to take the game to extra time. The ill-will between the two teams continued into the penalty shootout with players being booked during the spot kicks.
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Lautaro Martinez scored the all-important penalty to send his side into the semi-finals where they will face Croatia on Tuesday. Several players celebrated the victory by cupping their ears towards the Dutch with Messi pictured doing so in the direction of Van Gaal and his assistant Edgar Davids.
Messi's dismay with Van Gaal continued in his post-match interviews too. The PSG star was quoted by one reporter as saying: "Van Gaal says that they play good football, but what he did was put tall people and hit long balls."
The 35-year-old was not the only player who had some choice words for Van Gaal though. Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez, who riled United fans after dancing in front of them following a penalty miss last season, also unleashed a scathing attack on the Dutchman.
Post-match, the 'keeper said: "I heard Louis Van Gaal saying: ‘We’ve got an advantage in penalties, if we go to penalties we win.’ I think he needs to keep his mouth shut."
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