Wojciech Szczesny explains what it felt like to save Lionel Messi’s penalty and send Poland through to the next stage of the World Cup, while Juventus players will ‘give our all for the jersey, despite the chaos.’
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The goalkeeper has become a real specialist at denying spot-kicks and after saving one against Saudi Arabia, he also kept out Messi in the 2-0 defeat to Argentina.
Despite that result, Poland still found their way through to face France in the Round of 16, eliminating Mexico on goal difference.
“I was fortunate twice this competition. It’s a great moment in the career of a player, the World Cup is the maximum and this is special,” Szczesny told RAI Sport.
“There’s a bit of work that goes into it too, but in order to save a Messi penalty, you need some luck as well.”
Poland seemed almost content to play for the minimal defeat, knowing Mexico needed a big win to overturn the goal difference.
“We’ve got to do more against France. It was strange approaching a game where we knew a draw would be enough.”
Speaking after the game to TVP, the Juventus keeper also said he knew he would save the penalty: “I immediately told the referee that I touched him (Messi) with my hand in the face, but I only hit him on the side of his face. I told him there was contact but I don’t think there is a penalty. The referee decided otherwise and that’s fine – I got to show off.
“Now I can say that I knew where Messi would shoot, but at the time I wasn’t so sure. Leo looks at the keeper on some penalties and hits hard on others,” he added.
“I knew that if he was going to hit hard, it would be more to my left. I saw that he was not stopping, so I went, I sensed, I defended. I’m happy because that penalty gave something in the end. Very big satisfaction. I owed it to the team.”
And, Szczesny was also asked about developments back in Turin, where the entire Juventus Board of Directors resigned on Monday, including President Andrea Agnelli.
“It is really sad, President Agnelli is a great man. Football life goes on, we players will give our all for the jersey, despite the chaos.”
