Netherlands 2 – 2 Argentina

Argentina clinched a dramatic 4-3 penalty shootout win over the Netherlands to arrange a final-4 conflict with Croatia for a spot within the World Cup last.

Argentina seemed like cantering into the semis after Nahuel Molina opened the scoring along with his first objective for his nation, earlier than Lionel Messi added a second from the penalty spot with lower than 20 minutes left to play.

But substitute Wout Weghorst latched on to a scrumptious Steven Berghuis cross to go Netherlands again into the competition with their first effort heading in the right direction, earlier than poking dwelling from a brilliantly labored free-kick within the eleventh-minute of harm-time.

Argentina substitute Lautaro Martinez rattled the publish within the final minute of additional-time, however with the rating stage at 2-2, the quarter-last tie went to the dreaded spot-kicks.

Emiliano Martinez saved the primary two Netherlands penalties from Virgil van Dijk and Berghuis, giving the Dutch a mountain to climb, with Lautaro Martinez scoring the decisive spot-kick to make sure Argentina prevailed 4-3 within the shootout.

How Argentina reached the final 4

Argentina seemed the sharper and the hungrier of the 2 sides within the opening 45 minutes with Memphis Depay losing the clearest likelihood for the Netherlands halfway by the half, dragging his low effort large.

Messi barely seemed up as he evaded three Dutch gamers earlier than threading the ball by to Molina, who stretched to take a contact earlier than sliding the ball previous the onrushing Andries Noppert.

The Netherlands made a double change at half-time, withdrawing a distraught Bergwijn and Martin de Roon and changing the pair with Teun Koopmeiners and Berghuis. But the Dutch had been unable to choose up their depth ranges, with Messi going shut from a free-kick on the sting of the realm, along with his effort touchdown on the roof of the precise-hand nook of the web.

And with lower than 20 minutes to go, it seemed like that they had seen off their opponents after a careless Denzel Dumfries problem on Marcos Acuna noticed Argentina awarded a penalty. Messi made no mistake from the spot as he despatched Noppert fully the unsuitable solution to casually slot the ball into the nook.

But the Dutch had been rewarded with a objective within the 83rd minute when Berghuis crossed from the precise and his fellow substitute Weghorst headed the ball previous Martinez’s dive.

The Argentinians held onto their lead till 11 minutes into stoppage time when Koopmeiners cleverly reversed a free-kick and located Weghorst free to place the ball previous Martinez and draw his facet stage.

Argentina had been shell-shocked by the turnaround within the first interval of additional-time however recovered their composure to pepper the Dutch objective with pictures, Enzo Hernandez coming closest to scoring with a rasping effort that hit the publish.

The late surge gave Argentina the momentum going into the shootout, and Martinez added to it when he stopped spot-kicks from Van Dijk and Berghuis.

Messi on Argentina’s need to win: “Argentina are among the four best in the world because they show that they know how to play every game with the same desire and the same intensity.

“Loads of pleasure, lots of happiness. We did not should go to further-time or penalties, we needed to undergo. But we received by and it is spectacular.”

Louis van Gaal bemoans shootout loss: “We practised on penalties all year and then you screw it up.

“That’s a pity. As a coach, I wish to have the whole lot below management. That is why I requested the gamers to take a penalty at their membership, all of them did. If you miss two, you will not win anymore.”

Messi on Dutch tactics and referee’s performance: “Van Gaal says that they play good soccer, however what he did was placed on tall folks and hit lengthy balls.

“I don’t want to talk about the referee because you can’t be honest. If you talk they sanction you, FIFA must think about it, they can’t put a referee like that for these instances, they can’t put a referee who isn’t up to the task.”

Argentina edge recreation for the ages

Sky Sports News senior reporter Geraint Hughes on the Lusail Stadium:

“I can’t believe I actually witnessed that game. It was one of those moments where you say, ‘I was there’. That was just ridiculous and just an incredible game of football which encapsulated the theatre and everything that the beautiful game can give us.

“At instances, the soccer wasn’t nice and different instances it was phenomenal. The vitality was simply sensational. The environment was unimaginable earlier than the sport had even kicked off. There was electrical energy working by the stadium. The official attendance was simply over 88,000 however there have been only one,000 Dutch inside the bottom.

“It was cat and mouse before a moment of magic from Messi with his ball for Molina. You thought the game was all over after the penalty. How wrong was I? It became tetchy and it became feisty.

“Van Dijk was thrown up entrance alongside Koopmeiners and Weghorst, who scored an amazing header to get the Dutch again into it. But who would’ve seen what got here subsequent? I used to be watching folks going by absolute purgatory with their nerves after that unthinkable quick free-kick levelled issues.

“There were people crying even when Argentina were winning 2-1. But they somehow found the energy and the will in the shootout. There’s clearly no love lost between these two sides, either.

“When the referee did the coin toss to decide on which facet we had the shootout at, there was even a tetchiness then. I’ve not often in my complete profession been in an environment like that in all my time. It was bonkers, loopy and great. The Argentina followers want to search out their voice within the semi-finals as they performed an enormous half on this victory.”

Martinez is a penalty-shootout monster

Sky Sports’ Adam Bate:

Earlier within the day, Brazil had appeared devastated to search out themselves in a penalty shootout. Argentina had longer to course of their circumstances however might need been forgiven for feeling the identical means after surrendering a two-objective lead. Emiliano Martinez modified that.

The Aston Villa goalkeeper has the manner of a person who revels in conditions reminiscent of this. He has historical past. Martinez was a hero for Argentina of their Copa America triumph, saving three penalties in an ailing-tempered semi-last shootout win over Colombia.

He struck an identical tone right here, visibly pumped up, all machismo and testosterone. From the second that Martinez saved brilliantly to his proper to disclaim Virgil van Dijk with the primary kick, Argentina had the benefit. His subsequent cease from Steven Berghuis was simply nearly as good.

Messi is a quiet chief whose physique language typically belies his standing. Martinez doesn’t have that pedigree behind him, in fact, however he has an vital position on this Argentina group. A unique form of chief, he stepped up for his facet. It was significantly spectacular.

Weghorst heroics make for traditional contest

Sky Sports’ Adam Bate:

Wout Weghorst scored two targets in 20 video games as Burnley had been relegated from the Premier League. He wanted a shade over 20 minutes to match that complete after coming off the bench for the Netherlands on this dramatic quarter-last.

There was a lot amusement on the sight of the strong ahead being requested to salvage his nation’s World Cup dream as Louis van Gaal’s facet lumped balls ahead. But it labored. This was blunt pressure however there was magnificence right here too. Sledgehammer and subtlety.

A strong header to drag one again. A left-footed end following a intelligent free-kick to equalise within the one hundred and first minute of the match. When he transformed from the penalty spot along with his proper, Weghorst accomplished an ideal hat-trick of types – however it all proved to be in useless.

Bereft and damaged on the finish, defeat and exit will imply there isn’t any consoling the 30-yr-previous striker. But he turned a World Cup quarter-last for his nation, proving the catalyst for a basic. That will resonate quite greater than an underwhelming time at Turf Moor.

Lautaro delivers when it actually issues

South American soccer skilled Tim Vickery:

“Four years ago, South America’s participation at the World Cup in Russia ended at the quarter-final stage when Brazil lost to Belgium and Uruguay lost to France. Both of those were over 90 minutes but this time, both Brazil and Argentina took us to 120 and penalties.

“It’s now Argentina’s match so far as South America is worried. When Brazil received to the ultimate in 2002 towards Germany, an opinion ballot in Argentina revealed that extra Argentines had been supporting Brazil than Germany. There was a South American unity there, however I’m unsure that can apply the opposite means round.

“They certainly have plenty of support of their own making a fantastic noise in those stadiums. Perhaps it is Lionel Messi’s destiny to win the World Cup, but let’s pay some tribute to Lautaro Martinez.

“He took that last penalty and it’s one of the best I’ve seen in the history of penalties. I don’t think it’s hyperbole. Lautaro came into this tournament as Argentina’s centre-forward. In the first game against Saudi Arabia, he scores two very well-taken goals but they were ruled out for very narrow VAR decisions as Argentina eventually lose.

“The stress is heaped on and Lautaro finally ends up dropping his place within the facet. Argentina then introduced him on within the video games towards Poland and Australia, and Martinez seemed hideous. He seemed so wanting confidence and he made the objective look tiny.

“You need courage to step up and take that fifth penalty. But when it really mattered, he delivered for Argentina. He’d have been the villain of all villains if he missed that one.

“It emphasised the purpose that it isn’t solely Messi. What he did for Molina’s objective was magnificent. He’s a kind of gamers who in case you give him a brick he’ll construct a home with it, however there are different gamers within the Argentina facet.”

What’s subsequent?

Argentina will meet Croatia on the Lusail Stadium within the final 4 on Tuesday evening at 7pm for a spot within the World Cup last.

Semi-final fixtures

Tuesday December 13
Argentina vs Croatia – kick-off 7pm

Wednesday December 14
England or France vs Morocco or Portugal – kick-off 7pm