Until the 2026 World Cup takes place, the Argentine media will continue to talk about their last title in most interviews with national team players.
As Leandro Paredes now spoke to Clank!, Tyc Sports highlights some quotes about his tussle with Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk.
That took place in the 2022 World Cup quarter-final, when Argentina and the Netherlands had a 2-2 draw, with the South American side winning on penalties.
Paredes recalled the play where he kicked the ball towards the Netherlands’ bench, and ended up getting pushed by the Liverpool player, who only needed his chest to bring him down.
“When I see it now, I say ‘how lucky I was’ that the centre-back came to push me, to bump me. If he doesn’t hit me, I’d probably get sent off,” he said, before adding “I did it unconsciously. It came from my soul.”
Following the quarter-final against the Netherlands, Argentina then beat Croatia in their semi, and won the title against France, in what was perhaps one of the best World Cup finals of all time.
Van Dijk, whose CV at Liverpool includes a Premier League and a Champions League trophy, among other titles, is still to win something with the Netherlands. With 66 caps for them, he’s been captaining his country since 2018, and it’s not too late to dream of picking up silverware with them.
