Former Netherlands and Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has made shocking claims about last year’s World Cup final, saying it was “premeditated” for Lionel Messi and Argentina to win it.
Louis Van Gaal Claims World Cup Final Was Rigged
Messi and Argentina won their first World Cup since 1986 after they defeated France 4-2 on penalties in the final last December.
On their way to glory, Argentina beat Van Gaal’s Netherlands via penalties in the quarter-finals, resulting in the 72-year-old resigning following the defeat.
The game between the two sides in the last-eight will be remembered for being a scrappy contest on a night where tempers flared throughout, and Van Gaal still seems to be holding a grudge against the South American nation.
The Dutchman believes the tournament in the Middle East was rigged so that Messi would finally win the trophy in potentially his final World Cup.
Van Gaal was speaking at the Eredivisie awards on Tuesday night and told Dutch media 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.”
The ex-Red Devils boss was asked to clarify his points and said: “I mean everything I say. That Messi should become world champion? I think so, yes.”
Messi scored in the win over the Netherlands before he celebrated directly towards Van Gaal. The Barcelona legend confirmed after the game that it was a direct response to the Dutchman’s pre-game words and retaliation to the conduct of substitute Wout Weghorst.
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