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Algeria have lodged a complaint with FIFA over \u201crefereeing injustice\u201d in their opening World Cup loss to Argentina, particularly a tackle by Lionel Messi, an Algerian football federation source told AFP on Friday.<\/p>\n
Messi caught Algeria defender Aissa Mandi on the calf<\/a> with a studs-up challenge from behind in the 30th minute of Tuesday\u2019s match, but was not booked.<\/p>\n The eight-time Ballon d\u2019Or winner, who had already given reigning world champions Argentina the lead, went on to score a hat-trick.<\/p>\n Get all the latest football news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now ><\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n \u201cThe complaint primarily concerns Messi\u2019s challenge, which deserved a red card, in everyone\u2019s opinion,\u201d said the federation source.<\/p>\n \u201cThere were also two elbow incidents \u2026 Both of which warranted dismissals.\u201d<\/p>\n Algeria face Jordan in their second match on Monday, before completing their Group J campaign against Austria on Saturday, June 27.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are not saying that the Argentine team was not strong, but we cannot remain silent in the face of injustice,\u201d the source added when asked why Algeria decided to file a complaint.<\/p>\n \u201cThere were three incidents that were crystal clear, and VAR did not intervene.\u201d<\/p>\n Messi\u2019s treble saw him tie former Germany striker Miroslav Klose\u2019s all-time World Cup scoring record of 16 goals.<\/p>\n Algeria are hoping to reach the World Cup knockout phase for only the second time, following an extra-time loss to eventual winners Germany in the last 16 in 2014.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/p>\n PLAYER RATINGS: Shock Popa changes fall flat<\/b><\/a><\/b><\/p>\n \u2018STINKER\u2019: <\/b>Popa unleashes pointed swipe<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n TALKING POINTS: <\/b>Next gamble Popa must make<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Popovic less than pleased by referee | 04:36<\/p>\n \u2018FULL CIRCLE\u2019 MOMENT FOR SUPERBOWL CHAMP\u2019S SON<\/b><\/p>\n Alex Freeman said scoring a World Cup goal for the USA in Seattle where his father once scored two touchdowns for the Green Bay Packers was a \u201cfull circle family moment\u201d.<\/p>\n Emulating his NFL wide receiver dad, Freeman was the first to the ball when Sergino Dest\u2019s effort looped into the air, heading past Australia\u2019s \u2018keeper for the second goal in a 2-0 win<\/a>.<\/p>\n Victory sends the United States into the knockout rounds of the World Cup they are co-hosting.<\/p>\n Right-back Freeman has played a vital role defensively too across two matches so far.<\/p>\n He follows in the footsteps of father Antonio, who most famously caught a touchdown in the Green Bay Packers\u2019 Super Bowl XXXI win in 1997, but also grabbed two in a Packers win at Seattle the previous year.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me that is a full circle family moment. I think for me it just shows how great the family tree is,\u201d said Freeman, after Friday\u2019s win.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that just shows how he can be great, but I can be great in my own way as well.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I think that just shows how amazing it is to have a dad who\u2019s successful and that could mentor me to be able to be ready for moments like this.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the youngest members of the US squad at 21, Alex Freeman only made his senior international debut last year, selected by coach Mauricio Pochettino based on his Major League Soccer performances for Orlando City.<\/p>\n Arguably one of the less starry members of the US starting XI, he has nonetheless made the right-back position his own, fending off Timothy Weah and pushing Sergino Dest further up the field.<\/p>\n He also earned a move this year to Spanish club Villarreal.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s hard for me to kind of take it all in, but I think it\u2019s good also to kind of go through these challenges at such a fast pace at a young age,\u201d said Freeman.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like for me it\u2019s just going to make me an even better player to be able to kind of adjust the different atmospheres and be able to kind of adjust the different circumstances.\u201d The popular Freeman was mobbed by his teammates including most of the bench after the goal, initially ruled off-side, was cleared by VAR.<\/p>\n \u201cI was very anxious to see whether it was a goal or not. And then when it was a goal, I looked back and I saw my teammates running out there and thought \u2018Oh Lord\u2019 \u2026 it just made me very emotional.\u201d<\/p>\n USA beat Socceroos in TENSE clash | 02:48<\/p>\n MOROCCO \u2018BEHIND\u2019 CAPTAIN AS RAPE TRIAL CONFIRMED<\/b><\/p>\n Morocco\u2019s preparations for their World Cup game against Scotland were overshadowed by confirmation from a French court that captain Achraf Hakimi would face trial for the alleged rape of a 24-year-old woman in the Paris region in 2023.<\/p>\n The decision was released just hours before the match.<\/p>\n The Paris Saint-Germain defender, who denies the charge, welcomed the news, writing on X that he had been \u201cwaiting for this trial since day one\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cAt last, I\u2019ll be able to speak,\u201d he said on Friday.<\/p>\n He faced preliminary charges of rape in March 2023.<\/p>\n