In a classic World Cup, Messi’s Argentina will face the Netherlands this Friday (4:00 p.m.) in the quarterfinals of Qatar-2022, in a duel in which the Europeans will try to ‘avenge’ their elimination against Albiceleste in ‘semis’ of Brazil-2014.
Only Lionel Messi Y angel di maria they persist in the Argentine team from that duel eight years ago, but in the Netherlands there are more ‘survivors’ (Daley Blind, Stefan DeVrij, Memphis DePay), in addition to the selector louis van gaal.
“Messi He is one of those types of players who can decide a match in an individual action. In that 2014 semifinal, He didn’t touch a ball and we lost on penalties. Now we want our revenge“Said the veteran technician.
That confrontation in Sao Paulo was the fifth of those that have played Argentina Y Netherlands in World Cups, with a balanced balance for now, of two wins for each and a draw.
One of the Argentine victories brings back especially good memories, since it was the one that allowed the Albiceleste’s first world titlein 1978 with a brace from Mario Kempes for a 3-1 win at the Monumental in Buenos Aires.
Van Gaalthe oldest coach in this World Cup at 71, will have the youngest in front of him, a lionel scaloni (44 years old) who has returned the illusion to the team and who is confident of being able to counteract the orange team.
The main doubt in the preparation of the game for Scaloni has been again in his attack and specifically in the participation of angel di mariaabsent in the round of 16 game due to a quadriceps problem and who could return to the starting eleven to accompany Messi and probably Julian Alvarez.
– Messi, on the hunt for records –
Messi, with three goals in this World Cupbroke his particular ‘curse’ of never scoring in knockout rounds of this competition in the round of 16 against Australia and now, freed, he hopes to continue adding, while continuing to caress records.
Carries nine goals in World Cups and with one more he will reach the Argentine who scored the most in the tournament, Gabriel Batistuta (10). He will also reach his 24th World Cup match, which will allow him to equal the second historical place with the German Miroslav Klose and step on the heels of the record holder, the also German Lothar Matthaus (25).
Argentina started this World Cup very badly, with a 2-1 defeat against Saudi Arabia, but then corrected the course well, chaining victories against Mexico and Poland by 2-0, to win Group C, and then over Australia in the round of 16 by 2-1.
The Netherlands has had a tournament with fewer surprises, although it “stumbled” in its only duel so far with a South American team, drawing 1-1 with Ecuador in a Group A that led by its triumphs over Senegal and the host Qatar by 2- 0.
They then easily defeated the United States 3-1 in the round of 16.
The winner of this crossing will face off in the semifinals against the winner of the Croatia-Brazil. In the event that Neymar’s team and Messi’s win the quarterfinals on Friday, the expected ‘superclassic’ will be served.
PROBABLE ALIGNMENTS
Netherlands: Noppert; Dumfries, Timber, Van Dijk, Aké, Blind; De Roon, Klaassen, de Jong; Depay, Gakpo. DT: Louis van Gaal
Argentina: Emiliano Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Acuña (or Tagliafico); Mac Allister, Fernandez, DePaul; Di María (or Correa), Messi, Álvarez. DT: Lionel Scaloni
