Lionel Messi bashed Netherland's coaching tactics

Lionel Messi, the superstar striker for Argentina who scored the winner against Netherlands in their FIFA World Cup quarterfinal match on Saturday, slammed Netherlands manager Louis Van Gaal for "hitting long balls" to get back into the game following his side's victory.

Messi's comments came after Argentina beat the Netherlands 4-3 in penalties after a thrilling 2-2 draw that lasted nearly two hours here at Lusail Stadium on Saturday. "They play good football, but what Van Gaal did was put on tall people and hit long balls," Messi said. As a result, Messi claims Argentina are one of the four best teams in the world, playing every game with the same intensity. "We didn't have to go to extra time or penalties, we had to suffer through," he said. "But we got through."