📰 Table Of Contents
Match review
A riveting, pulsating, and at times downright staggering game of football at the Lusail Stadium on Friday night ultimately culminated in Argentina putting the Netherlands to the sword courtesy of a penalty shootout.
The 2nd of the day’s two quarter-final fixtures was played to completion a short time ago.
After Croatia shocked Brazil at the Education City Stadium, fellow South America giants Argentina pitted their talents against Louis van Gaal’s Netherlands.
The game’s scoring was opened late in the first-half, when a moment of genius on the part of Lionel Messi saw the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner slip in Nahuel Molina to slot into the far corner in style:
Lionel Messi ➡️ Nahuel Molina!
Argentina are in front 👏
Watch on @BBCiPlayer or @BBCOne, or listen on @BBCSounds 📺💻🎧#BBCFootball #BBCWorldCup
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 9, 2022
From here, Messi then turned goalscorer, in rattling home a spot-kick a little over fifteen minutes from time.
With Argentina firmly on top, and the Netherlands looking completely bereft of ideas in the final third, the result, in turn, looked something of a formality.
Of course. Lionel Messi 👏
He is now Argentina’s joint-top World Cup goalscorer! 🇦🇷 #BBCFootball #BBCWorldCup pic.twitter.com/QJWsBL60Nc
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 9, 2022
As Louis van Gaal opted to switch up his strategy to a direct, long-ball game, on-loan Burnley hitman Weghorst first provided the Netherlands with a glimmer of hope courtesy of a fine glancing header with a little over five minutes remaining.
Then, incredibly, with a full ten minutes of injury time on the board, a brilliantly-worked set-piece routine saw that man Weghorst prove the hero once more, rolling home to send the action in Lusail to extra-time.
Wout Weghorst! Netherlands’ hero 🦸♂️
Unreal 🔥 #BBCFootball #BBCWorldCup pic.twitter.com/zb5yE5e0Dg
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 9, 2022
Neither outfit, though, managed to eek out an all-important winner over the half hour that followed, resulting in the lottery that is a penalty shootout.
After Emi Martinez saved not one, but both of the Netherlands’ first two spot-kicks, the stage was subsequently set for namesake Lautaro to bury Argentina’s fifth and final penalty, guiding the Albiceleste to within a solitary game of the World Cup final.
Netherlands Player Ratings
- Andries Noppert (GK): 5.5
- Jurriën Timber (RCB): 5
- Virgil van Dijk (CB): 5.5
- Nathan Aké (LCB): 6.5
- Denzel Dumfries (RWB): 5
- Daley Blind (LWB): 6
- Martin de Roon (CM): 5.5
- Frenkie de Jong (CM): 6.5
- Memphis Depay (CAM): 5
- Steven Bergwijn (RF): 5.5
- Cody Gakpo (LF): 6.5
- (Sub): Steven Berghuis – 5.5
- (Sub): Teun Koopmeiners – 7.5
- (Sub): Luuk De Jong – 7
- (Sub): Wout Weghorst – 9
- (Sub): Noa Lang – 6
Argentina Player Ratings
- Emiliano Martínez (GK): 7.5
- Nahuel Molina (RB): 7
- Cristian Romero (RCB): 6.5
- Nicolás Otamendi (CB): 6
- Lisandro Martínez (LCB): 6
- Marcos Acuña (LB): 7
- Rodrigo de Paul (RCM): 6.5
- Enzo Fernández (CM): 5.5
- Alexis Mac Allister (LCM): 6.5
- Julián Álvarez (RF): 5.5
- Lionel Messi (LF): 9
- (Sub): Nicolas Tagliafico – 5
- (Sub): Leandro Paredes – 6
- (Sub): Lautaro Martinez – 7
- (Sub): Gonzalo Montiel – 6
- (Sub): German Pezzella – 5
- (Sub): Angel Di Maria – 6.5
Social Media Reaction & Stats Roundup
🇳🇱 Bergwijn deployed in front three alongside Depay and Gakpo
🇦🇷 Messi starts alongside Alvarez as Di Maria drops to the bench#NED & #ARG are looking to set up a #FIFAWorldCup semi-final with Croatia.Follow our live updates of #NEDARG ⤵️
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) December 9, 2022
3 – @OnsOranje progressed from each of their last three World Cup quarter finals (v Argentina in 1998, v Brazil in 2010, v Costa Rica in 2014). Belief. pic.twitter.com/ZNP04j2QGa
— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) December 9, 2022
Only five South America players have scored 10 goals at the men’s World Cup:
🇧🇷 15 – Ronaldo
🇧🇷 12 – Pelé
🇦🇷 10 – Gabriel Batistuta
🇦🇷 10 – Lionel Messi 🆕
🇵🇪 10 – Teófilo CubillasMessi equals Batigol’s Argentina record. 🙌
— William Hill (@WilliamHill) December 9, 2022
This should be fun #ARG #NED for a place in the semis with Croatia. Messi’s last dance or does the party roll on? pic.twitter.com/Zx90uL5ny4
— Stu Holden (@stuholden) December 9, 2022
Louis van Gaal has only lost one World Cup game in 11 matches.
It was against Argentina on penalties in the 2014 semifinal.
Will he get his revenge tonight? #FIFAWorldCup @Flashscorecom
Follow the match here: https://t.co/KNpxdOxS8m pic.twitter.com/kBIm85gjlX
— Owuraku Ampofo (@_owurakuampofo) December 9, 2022
COMPARED: #NED vs. #ARG at the 2022 World Cup.
Name the winner. 🔮#FIFAWorldCup
— Squawka (@Squawka) December 9, 2022
65 – Lionel Messi has now been fouled 65 times in World Cup matches. Since Opta have this data (from 1966), this is the second most fouls won by any player at the tournament, although 87 behind Diego Maradona’s record (152). Targets. pic.twitter.com/h5Z1uwtKHU
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 9, 2022
Messi is getting triple marked at the age of 35 and is STILL the difference, I promise you this is not normal. This is the GOAT.
— J. (@Messilizer) December 9, 2022
Acuna always crosses the ball like he is trying to kill someone with it
— J. (@JosipFCB93) December 9, 2022
Acuña is one of the luckiest blokes at this competition. Utter rubbish. Opposition haven’t even marked him since the Saudi game. They just let him have the ball.
— RG (@registability) December 9, 2022
People really thought a known bottler Van Dijk would ACTUALLY step up when it mattered 😂😂😂😂
— WolfRMFC (@WolfRMFC) December 9, 2022
Messi ⚽️♥️ #NEDARG #WorldCup2022 @TeamMessi
— Thomas Müller (@esmuellert_) December 9, 2022
Lionel Messi has now created more chances at the men’s World Cup than any other player since Opta’s tournament records began in 1966.
The man with magic in his boots. ✨#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/N08UHlKUeG
— Squawka (@Squawka) December 9, 2022
Just a battle between the two GOATS: Lionel Messi and Wout Weghorst.
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) December 9, 2022
Don’t think Messi had a Burnley striker in his thoughts coming on to score twice to potentially end his world cup dream.
— DaveOCKOP (@DaveOCKOP) December 9, 2022
⚠️ | QUICK STAT
Lionel Messi has just equalled Gabriel Batistuta’s record for most goals at the #FIFAWorldCup in an Argentina shirt (10). 🇦🇷
Also, no active player has now scored more goals at the World Cup than Messi (Thomas Müller has also scored 10). 🔥#NEDARG #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/9vncH7JqIK
— Sofascore (@SofascoreINT) December 9, 2022
there’s only one Leo in this game @Memphis pic.twitter.com/oYuhYoqcQa
— ً🪀 (@akfpriv) December 9, 2022
The whole problem with Mateu Lahoz is that he thinks the fans are there to see him, not Messi, not van Dijk, not their own country but a referee. He always has this desperate need to make the game all about him.
— Xav Salazar (@XavsFutbol) December 9, 2022
Messi scores his 10th World Cup goal. That is definitely the only thing we have in common. 😂
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) December 9, 2022
2 – Wout Weghorst has become the first ever substitute to score twice in a World Cup match for Netherlands. His equaliser was timed at 100:30 – the latest second half goal in a World Cup knockout stage game since Opta have exact goal times (from 1966). Saviour. pic.twitter.com/3oKSPTXoQU
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 9, 2022
Holland’s front three vs Lisandro Martinez pic.twitter.com/APOCzPHFRg
— FootballFunnys (@FootballFunnnys) December 9, 2022
Following tonight’s success, Argentina have now won the most penalty shoot-outs of any nation in World Cup history (5).#ARG | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/ReDa9SJYpA
— Sporting Life Football & Infogol (@InfogolApp) December 9, 2022
2021—Emi Martinez saves three penalties vs. Colombia to send Argentina to the Copa America final
2022—Emi Martinez saves two penalties vs. Netherlands to send Argentina to the World Cup semifinals
Clutch 🧱 pic.twitter.com/YfbyE7XyHe
— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 9, 2022
— A D I L (@Barzaboy) December 9, 2022
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