Messi's dream lives on!

Argentina wins on penalties - Netherlands out

Created: 2022-12-10 06:33

By: Marius Epp

Cheering at the Albiceleste: Argentina is in the World Cup semi-finals.

© IMAGO/JOEL MARKLUND

Lionel Messi and his Argentinians defeated the Netherlands on penalties and are through to the semifinals.

The ticker to read.

• Football World Cup, Quarterfinals:

  Netherlands - Argentina

  |

  5:6 n.e.

• Martinez

  becomes a penalty hero: Argentine goalkeeper saves two penalties

• Weghorst

  equalizes with a brilliant free-kick trick:

  Van Gaal

  's Joker saves Oranje in extra time

• Messi

  delivers magic assist: Argentina takes the lead

Netherlands 5-6 Argentina on penalties

Update, 11:02 p.m .:

Lionel Messi’s dream of the world title lives on!

Argentina wanted to win the game in extra time and were rewarded for their bravery on penalties.

Wout Weghorst's brace wasn't enough for the Netherlands in the end.

In extra time, Louis van Gaal's side couldn't put up much resistance and more or less saved themselves on penalties.

Argentina had the better goalkeeper there in Emiliano Martinez.

Messi and Co. meet Croatia in the semifinals.

Martinez becomes a penalty hero: Argentine goalkeeper saves two penalties

6: 5 Argentina: Martinez scores!

Argentina is in the World Cup semi-finals, the Netherlands is out.

5: 5: Weghorst meets cool.

Now Lautaro Martinez has the next match point.

5:4 Argentina: does that exist?

Fernandez misses!

5: 4 Argentina: Weghorst meets and keeps Oranje in it.

Enzo Fernandez can take Argentina to the semifinals.

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5:3 Argentina: Montiel doesn't show anything and transforms.

4:3 Argentina: Koopmeiners is the first Dutchman to score.

He had to, too, otherwise it would have been over.

4-2 Argentina: Leandro Paredes sinks the ball safely to the left.

3:2 Argentina: Berghuis also misses!

Emiliano Martinez has the corner again and saves his second penalty.

Unbelievable!

3-2 Argentina: Lionel Messi takes his second penalty and stays very, very cool.

2: 2: Virgil van Dijk opens - and misses!

Martinez guesses the corner.

FINAL WHISTLE!

It shouldn't be for the Albiceleste, the Netherlands saves on penalties.

118 minutes:

Messi dribbles again, but gets stuck.

The game is picking up speed again!

Berghuis leaves two Argentinians standing, but finds neither Weghorst nor de Jong in the middle.

On the other side, Martinez pulls from the turn, Noppert is there.

Messi shoots centimeters wide.

Fernandez hits the ball against the post!

Argentina desperate.

116 minutes:

Argentina wants it!

The strong Fernandez shoots from the second row, his deflected attempt becomes a dangerous arc lamp.

Shortly thereafter, Pezzella tries a head over it.

Orange trembles!

114 minutes:

There is a huge opportunity for Argentina!

Fernandez shines through on the outside and serves Lautaro Martinez.

His shot would have been in, but van Dijk stands in the way like a rock in the surf.

113 minutes:

Luuk de Jong gets another shot in the confusion, but it is blocked.

A tough struggle remains.

111 minutes:

Angel di Maria comes to the Argentines.

He would be a one-man action man.

109 minutes:

Messi gets another free kick.

Argentina plays it briefly to get Messi in a shooting position.

But the superstar forgives.

107 minutes:

Who brings the energy here again to decide the game in extra time?

At the moment everything is pointing to a penalty shoot-out, both teams are quite exhausted.

WHISTLE!

The last 15 minutes of the game.

HALFTIME!

The first part of the overtime ends almost uneventfully.

101 minutes:

Both teams are now lacking in creativity.

The head seems a bit empty.

100 minutes:

Timber and Messi rattle each other, free kick for Argentina.

Messi takes care of it, but his cross doesn't find a buyer.

98 minutes:

There is no longer any sign of the wild final phase, Argentina lets the ball run, the Netherlands waits for their chance.

95 minutes:

The Albiceleste tries to bring calm back into play with plenty of possession.

It is now clear at the latest: With every standard for the Netherlands it will be extremely dangerous, de Jong and Weghorst have the air sovereignty.

92 minutes:

How are the Argentines dealing with this shock?

Messi and Co. already had more than one foot in the semi-finals - then came devil Wout Weghorst.

WHISTLE!

The extension is running!

FINAL WHISTLE!

It goes into overtime.

soccer is crazy

Weghorst equalizes with a brilliant free-kick trick: Van Gaal's joker saves Oranje in extra time

90+10: TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOR for the Netherlands!

This is unbeliveable!

It's Wout Weghorst who scores again!

An ingenious free-kick brings the Netherlands to the balance.

Koopmeiners fakes a shot but then passes flat to Weghorst, who spins and fires at lightning speed.

The ex-Wolfsburger saves his nation at the last second with a brace!

90' + 9':

The Albiceleste only hits the ball forward and no longer tries to get the ball. Now there's another free kick for Oranje!

From a good position.

Is this the last chance?

90 + 7:

Argentina is physically inferior to de Jong and Weghorst, but the Netherlands fails to create another shot.

It's almost over!

90 + 5:

One ball after the other flies into Martinez's penalty area.

What a final phase!

90.+2:

Berghuis misses a good free-kick chance.

Argentina are still shaking for eight long minutes.

90 minutes:

Ten minutes of overtime!

Argentina is now hanging on the ropes like a battered boxer, playing only Oranje.

Can the Dutch still equalize or is it too late to wake up?

88 minutes:

pack formation!

Now it's getting hectic.

The Dutch bank storms onto the pitch and causes huge chaos.

Referee Lahoz resolves the whole thing with a few yellow cards.

Weghorst brings Oranje back into play: Ex-Wolfsburg scores a goal

83 minutes: GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOR for the Netherlands!

The crowbar works!

Wout Weghorst hits his head with his second ball contact.

And orange is suddenly back!

76 minutes:

What else does Louis van Gaal's team have in their tank?

Now the Dutch have to play all or nothing.

With Wout Weghorst comes another striker.

Messi increases with a penalty: Argentina makes it 2-0

73 minutes: TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOR for Argentina!

Messi starts, delays - and sinks the ball halfway up to the right!

The captain brings the South Americans very close to the semifinals.

Nothing has been decided yet, but now it will be very difficult for the Netherlands.

71 minutes:

Acuna charges heavily on the left, fakes a cross and pulls into the middle - where he is knocked off his feet by Dumfries.

Lahoz doesn't hesitate for a second and points to the point.

Will Messi decide the game now?

71 minutes: Penalty for Argentina!

70 minutes:

The Argentines throw themselves into duels with a lot of heart and have so far not allowed any chances to score in the whole game.

Very strong.

66 minutes:

At the Albiceleste, Paredes comes on for de Paul in central midfield.

The same thing slipped away from the Argentines in the second half.

However, the Netherlands cannot capitalize on this yet.

64 minutes:

Van Gaal brings in a striker: Luuk de Jong comes on for Daley Blind.

Oranje needs more presence in the penalty area.

61 minutes:

Bad news for the Netherlands: Messi has had a good day.

Nobody can stop the left foot, in the end van Dijk does it with a foul.

The PSG striker chases the free kick from a short distance onto the gate roof.

Wow, that was close!

58 minutes:

Argentina is back!

Messi is the trigger in midfield, suddenly the South Americans have three against two.

A sloppy pass from Alvarez and the chance is gone.

There was more in it!

54 minutes:

Now a good combination via de Jong and Blind, but again there is a blue and white leg in between.

The Netherlands is now at least able to push back the Albiceleste a little.

52 minutes:

Not much can be seen from Oranje yet, almost all attacks bounce off the Argentine defensive wall early on.

This is a real bulwark.

49 minutes:

Tournament discovery Cody Gakpo has not yet been able to set many accents.

Maybe he can do better in the second half.

46 minutes:

Van Gaal reacts: The general brings fresh energy with Berghuis and Koopmeiners.

Bergwijn and de Roon stayed in position in the dressing room.

WHISTLE!

The second half is on.

Halftime

- Argentina go into the break with a lead.

And it's deserved.

The Albiceleste did not burn off any offensive fireworks, but was always safe at the back and went on the offensive carefully.

Once again it's Lionel Messi who makes the difference with his outstanding assist.

What can Oranje counter in the second half?

HALFTIME!

Break in Lusail, Messi and Argentina take a first, small step into the semifinals.

45th Minute:

The Netherlands hardly ever goes offensive – only one shot on goal has been recorded so far.

That's where the general has to start during the break.

45 minutes:

Alvarez also sees a yellow card for pulling his jersey.

Referee Lahoz has things to do.

45 minutes:

Now it rains yellow cards: Romero stops an attack with his hand and is warned.

That's how Acuna and Timber see the yellow box.

43 minutes:

Argentina have the game under control and it doesn't look like Oranje will recover from the deficit before the break.

Work awaits Louis van Gaal.

40 minutes:

Messi continues!

The PSG star feeds to the left, feeds to the right and then shoots from the turn.

But Noppert has no problems with the flat finish in the middle.

Is this going to be a one man show?

Messi delivers magic assist: Argentina takes the lead

35 minutes: GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOR for Argentina!

A stroke of genius from Messi gives the Albiceleste the lead!

The captain doesn't score the goal himself, but puts on a dream for Molina.

Messi grabs the ball, pulls in and plays a perfect pass to Molina, who is passing through.

Molina, of all people, whom Messi had given an evil look a few minutes earlier.

Argentina leads!

33 minutes:

Gakpo has the chance to switch.

But his pass to Bergwijn is too imprecise.

Martinez intercepts the ball and it quickly goes the other way.

De Paul comes to a conclusion that gets too central.

No problem for Noppert.

32 minutes:

The Argentine bench is too loud for the referee Lahoz, there is a warning in Spanish.

30 minutes:

Molina overlooks Messi, which is promptly acknowledged by the national hero with an evil look.

He will probably get the next ball.

28 minutes:

No scoring chances on either side so far.

Both the Netherlands and Argentina approach the quarter-finals in a very disciplined manner and do not give their opponents any space in the last third.

24 minutes:

Bergwijn and Depay work their way to the edge of the penalty area with a one-two, Bergwijn pulls away – the ball goes two or three meters wide.

23 minutes:

Both teams attack with a very measured risk.

The motto is clear: First of all, don't allow anything.

22 minutes:

Messi with the first shot on goal!

The superstar tries it from 30 meters - well over it.

20 minutes:

The Netherlands comes into play better.

Bergwijn earns the first corner, but it doesn't become dangerous.

18 minutes:

Bergwijn starts deep and is also served – however, Argentina goalkeeper Mertinez is quick on his feet and intercepts the through ball.

The Dutchman's first goal approach!

17 minutes:

Things get down to business in midfield, with both teams fighting hard.

Referee Lahoz still gets by without a warning.

15 minutes:

The Netherlands has problems building up the game, Argentina puts pressure on early on.

The Albiceleste got off to a better start.

10 minutes:

Argentina presses!

Messi serves Acuna, but what the left-back makes of it is clearly not enough.

His cross lands halfway up in the middle of nowhere.

9 minutes:

madness!

Holland keeper Noppert plays a hair-raising ball out from behind and is lucky that Alvarez doesn't react quickly enough.

No, he can't play that.

That was the last warning shot for him.

6 minutes:

Both teams are still a bit nervous and are concerned about defensive safety.

Argentina has more possession.

4 minutes:

Gakpo and Martinez bang their heads.

Painful, but it goes on for both of them.

Referee Mateu Lahoz from Spain runs the scene.

2. Minute:

Messi inspires the Argentinian-dominated ranks in the stadium - even if the dribbling only took place in the center circle.

WHISTLE!

The prestige duel between Argentina and the Netherlands is on.

Update 7.50pm:

It's probably Lionel Messi's last World Cup.

Will the superstar take the chance and bring home his first world title?

The magic foot will complete his 24th World Cup appearance today and draw level with Miroslav Klose.

Record holder is Lothar Matthäus with 25 missions.

If Argentina progress today, Messi will already have this record because he could then play two more games in any case.

But that is music of the future.

The Netherlands will object!

Update, 7:38 p.m .:

Eight years ago, Argentina knocked out the Netherlands in the semifinals and then failed in Germany.

In 1978, the two nations met in the World Cup final - the Albiceleste also triumphed there.

Reason enough for revenge, Oranje will think!

The ball will be rolling in less than twenty minutes.

Update, 7:25 p.m .:

The colors in Lusail are clearly distributed: ARD expert Bastian Schweinsteiger recognizes “95 percent” blue and white.

Argentina fans had reason to celebrate even before kick-off as nemesis Brazil failed.

But Messi and Co. have to do better first to reach the semifinals against Croatia.

Update from December 9, 7:06 p.m.:

While the top favorites for the World Cup, Brazil, have just been eliminated on penalties against Croatia, the line-ups for the second quarter-finals tonight are set!

Surprise for the Argentines: Coach Lionel Scaloni obviously doesn't want to let anything burn at the back and for the first time in the tournament uses a five-man chain.

On the offensive, the in-form Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez should do it.

Louis van Gaal also has five men in defense when opponents have possession.

The full-backs Daley Blind and Denzel Dumfries should also set offensive accents.

Steven Bergwijn moves into the team up front.

Davy Klaassen is on the bench for this.

First report from December 9th:

Lusail - A historic duel in the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup - that's how the football god wanted it.

Coaching legend Louis van Gaal wants to stop the determined superstar Lionel Messi on his way to his first world title.

There is no real favorite between the Netherlands and Argentina.

Both teams needed time to get up to speed in Qatar.

The Albiceleste started with an embarrassment against Saudi Arabia, Oranje convinced in the first two group games against Senegal (2-0) and against Ecuador (1-1) at best on results.

World Cup quarter-finals: Netherlands have “settlements to settle” against Argentina

"We have scores to settle," announced Bonds coach van Gaal before the game at the Lusail Iconic Stadium.

The bill dates back almost eight and a half years.

In the fifth World Cup duel between the two nations, Argentina prevailed in the semifinals in 2014, but then lost to Germany in the final in Rio.

In 1978 Argentina won the final on home soil against the Dutch after extra time. 

Lionel Messi showed respect: "A great team, with great players and a great coach," the seven-time world footballer praised the Dutch: "It will be very difficult." The exceptional footballer carries an entire nation on his narrow shoulders, the pressure is immense .

And he delivers: His three goals were decisive for entering the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

Football World Cup: All world champions from 1930 to 2018

View photo gallery

Louis van Gaal is well prepared - with insider tips from Bastian Schweinsteiger

Louis van Gaal grinned, flirted with age and looks and, before the quarter-final smash against Argentina, even left an option open in the event of an early World Cup exit.

"If a really interesting offer comes along, I could continue as a coach.

I'm 71 years young, I'm still good looking and incredibly young."

In the best of moods and with insider tips from multiple Argentina winner Bastian Schweinsteiger in mind (“It’s a private matter”), van Gaal made it clear one day before the historic duel between the Netherlands and the South Americans: “The tournament is now really starting for us."