Meskipun sering dikritik berbagai kalangan karena kontribusinya bagi tim nasional tidak sedahsyat prestasinya di Barcelona, Lionel Messi berhasil membuat 30.000 penonton di Stade de Suisse terpukau. Pemain terbaik dunia tiga kali itu menghapus keraguan banyak kalangan dengan bermain full-time 90 menit sekaligus mencetak hattrick. Penampilan cemerlangnya ini mengantarkan tim nasional Argentina mengalahkan tuan rumah Swiss dengan skor 3-1 pada partai persahabatan yang diadakan di Bern, Swiss, pada 29 Februari 2012 pukul 20.30 waktu setempat.
Swiss vs Argentina
Albiceleste memasang formasi 4-4-2 dengan menduetkan Messi dan Sergio Aguero di lini depan. Sang pemain terbaik dunia membuka skor dengan golnya di menit ke-22 hasil kerja sama yang apik dengan Aguero dan Jose Sosa. Swiss, yang mengandalkan pemain-pemain muda, menyamakan skor di menit ke-50 melalui gol Xherdan Shaqiri. Tim tuan rumah sempat memberikan perlawanan sengit dengan beberapa kali melepaskan tembakan berbahaya ke gawang kiper Sergio Romero. Namun, satu kesalahan di lini belakang Swiss pada menit 88 berhasil dimanfaatkan Messi untuk mencetak gol kedua. Sang maestro akhirnya mencetak hattrick pertamanya untuk tim nasional di injury time melalui titik penalti setelah Gonzalo Higuain dilanggar di kotak terlarang. Penampilan gemilang ini seolah memuaskan media setempat yang memang dalam beberapa hari terakhir telah heboh mempublikasikan kedatangan sang mega-bintang di ibukota Swiss tersebut.
Swiss: Benaglio (Wolfli 46′); Lichtsteiner (Ziegler 57′), Senderos, Affolter, Rodriguez (Salvio 70′); Shaqiri, Inler, Dzemaili (Stocker 66′), F. Frei (Derdiyok 46′ Vitkieviez 87′); Xhaka; Mehmedi (Emeghara 80′).
Argentina: Romero; Campagnaro, Fernandez, Garay, Zabaleta; Rodriguez, Brana (Gago 46′), Mascherano, Sosa (Higuain 81′); Aguero, Messi.
Ditulis pada 29 Februari 2012
Langsung dari Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf
Bern, Swiss
Although often criticized because his contributions to the national teams are not as powerful as his performance at Barcelona, Lionel Messi managed to mesmerize the 30,000 spectators at the Stade de Suisse. The world’s three-times best player erased the doubts of many people with his full-time 90 minutes show and scored a hat-trick. His brilliant performance led the Argentine national team to ease past the host Switzerland, with the final score 3-1. The friendly match was held in Bern, Switzerland, on February 29th, 2012 at 20:30 local time.
Switzerland vs Argentina
Albiceleste put on their 4-4-2 formation with Messi and Sergio Aguero up front. The world’s best player opened the score with his goal in the 22nd minute through a slick collaboration with Aguero and Jose Sosa. Switzerland, which relied on their bright young players, evened the score in the 50th minute through a goal by Xherdan Shaqiri. The home side showed fierce resistance several times by releasing a dangerous shot on goal keeper Sergio Romero. However, an error in their backline at the 88th minute successfully benefited by Messi to score the second goal. The maestro finally scored his first hat-trick for the national team in the injury time from the penalty spot after Gonzalo Higuain got fouled inside the box. This brilliant performance was an over-the-top satisfaction for the local media after the local journalist had invested splashy publications upon the arrival of the mega-star in the Swiss capital.
Switzerland: Benaglio (Wolfli 46 ‘); Lichtsteiner (Ziegler 57’), Senderos, Affolter, Rodriguez (Salvio 70 ‘); Shaqiri, Inler, Stocker (Stocker 66’), F. Frei (Derdiyok 46 ‘Vitkieviez 87’); Xhaka; Mehmedi (Emeghara 80 ‘).
Argentina: Romero; Campagnaro, Fernandez, Garay, Zabaleta; Rodriguez, Brana (Gago 46 ‘), Mascherano, Sosa (Higuain 81’); Aguero, Messi.
Posted on February 29, 2012
Live from the Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf
Bern, Switzerland
match highlight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTUOWYwXCNg
Swiss Football Diary 