Topics: Poland, Argentina, Lionel Messi, Football World Cup
Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has jokingly said he will "probably get a ban" after spilling the beans on a €100 bet with Lionel Messi.
The 32-year-old goalkeeper was adjudged to have fouled Messi in the first-half of Wednesday's Group C clash between Poland and Argentina.
Despite there being minimal contract from the former Arsenal shot-stopper, who had every right to challenge for the ball, Argentina were awarded a penalty after a lengthy VAR check.
But seconds later, justice was served when Szczesny pulled off an impressive save to deny Messi from 12 yards.
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Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez would spare Messi's blushes in the second-half and, much to their relief, Poland managed to qualify by the narrowest of margins.
Everyone was in good spirits after the full-time whistle, including in-form Juventus goalkeeper Szczesny, who opened up about that penalty incident in an interview with TV 2 Sport.
You can see that chat with Norwegian journalist Arilas Ould-Saada below.
Szczesny said: "We spoke before the penalty. I told him I'd bet €100 that he [the referee] wasn't going to give it. So, I've lost a bet against Messi.
"I don't know if that's allowed at the World Cup. I'm probably going to get banned for it. I don't care right now. I'm not going to pay him either. He doesn't care about €100, c'mon."
He certainly isn't short of confidence. In another post-match interview with TVP, the experienced Poland international claimed he always knew where Messi was going to place his shot.
"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," Szczesny explained.
"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. I knew that if he was going to hit hard, it would be more to my left."
He added: "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."
Poland will face reigning champions France in the knockout stages on Sunday.
