Farewell game: ‘What Messi, Argentina did to us’ – Benin coach, Gernot Rohr laments
Benin Coach Criticizes Argentina’s Behavior During Farewell Match for Messi
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Gernot Rohr, head coach of the Benin national football team, has publicly criticized the behavior of Argentina and its players, including captain Lionel Messi, during a farewell match held for the iconic forward on Tuesday.
The match, which marked Messi’s retirement from international play, saw him score one goal and provide two assists in Argentina’s commanding 3-0 victory against Benin in Buenos Aires. Despite the celebratory atmosphere, Rohr highlighted his team’s disappointment in the aftermath of the game.
Television footage showed several Benin players struggling to take photos with Messi, who did not engage with them as they hoped to secure selfies and exchange jerseys. Rohr expressed his dissatisfaction with the Argentine team’s lack of interaction, both on and off the field.
“It was exceptionally challenging for us,” Rohr said during his appearance on RMC radio’s Rothen s’enflamme. He noted that efforts to connect with the Argentine team were met with obstacles, stating, “The main disappointment was that the Argentine team gave us nothing. No photograph with Messi, no jersey.”
According to Rohr, security personnel restricted access to the team tunnel, further complicating their attempts to interact with the Argentine players. “We exhausted all possibilities, yet received nothing in return,” he added.
Despite these setbacks, Rohr managed to obtain a keepsake from the event. He had brought a jersey worn by Messi during the 2018 World Cup and presented it to Argentina’s manager, Lionel Scaloni, who facilitated obtaining Messi’s autograph before returning it.
Rohr commented on the efforts made by his team, saying, “We presented a bouquet of flowers in Benin’s national colors—yellow, red, and green—but the gesture proved ineffective.” He remarked that while he appreciated acquiring Messi’s signed shirt, it was marred by the overall lack of engagement from the Argentine side.
