World Cup quarter-final: Netherlands vs. Argentina prediction, preview and team news

Virgil van Dijk and the Dutch are ready to take their ‘opportunity’ at the World Cup

.polaris__post-meta--date { display: none; } .polaris__post-meta--date.no-script { display: block; padding-left: 45px }

Fifa World Cup encounters between the Netherlands and Argentina have produced some of the most iconic moments in football history. Mario Kempes’s brace and the ticker-tape celebrations after Argentina’s 3-1 victory in the 1978 final have gone down in folklore. As has Dennis Bergkamp’s legendary late winner in the last eight in 1998. 

If Friday’s quarter-final clash at the Lusail Stadium can be half as good as those meetings, then we’ll be in for a cracker. However, the two previous World Cup meetings, in 2006 and 2014, “failed to produce a goal”, said Sporting News. And the last competitive goal scored in this fixture was Bergkamp’s 24 years ago. 

At the semi-final stage in Brazil in 2014, Argentina progressed on penalties after the match ended goalless. Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal said that his team have got “a score to settle” with Argentina “for what happened two World Cups ago”.

‘It’s not the Dutch vs. Messi’

One of the big storylines at Qatar 2022 has been about Argentina skipper Lionel Messi, who is playing in his fifth and final World Cup. In the round of 16 Messi played his 1,000th career match and scored in the 2-1 win over Australia. Now 35, the brilliant No.10 has lifted the Copa América with his country, but is still to emulate the great Diego Maradona by winning the World Cup. 

While the star forward is La Albiceleste’s captain and talisman, this match is “not the Dutch vs. Messi”, said Netherlands skipper Virgil van Dijk. “It’s the Dutch against Argentina.” Liverpool defender Van Dijk acknowledged that Argentina are a “fantastic team”, but his country also has “hunger and dreams” for World Cup success. “We are in the quarter-finals and we could be three games from glory,” he said. “We want to leave it all on the pitch and get some success. This is our opportunity.”

The winners of this match will play Croatia or Brazil in the World Cup semi-finals. 

Match facts 

  • Who: Netherlands vs. Argentina 
  • What: Fifa World Cup quarter-final
  • When: Friday 9 December 2022 
  • Where: Lusail Stadium, Al Daayen
  • Kick-off time: 7pm (all times GMT)

How to watch on TV in the UK

Friday’s quarter-final clash between the Netherlands and Argentina will be shown live in the UK on BBC One and iPlayer. TV coverage begins at 6.30pm and the match kicks off at 7pm.

Team news

Netherlands boss Van Gaal had everyone fit for the round of 16 win over the USA and that should be the case for Friday, too. He is expected to name the same starting XI.

Argentina have concerns over winger Angel Di Maria. He missed the win over Australia because of a thigh injury and is a doubt to face the Dutch. Papu Gomez came off against Australia with an ankle sprain and is also a doubt. 

Possible starting XIs

  • Netherlands: Noppert; Timber, Van Dijk, Ake; Dumfries, De Roon, De Jong, Blind, Klaassen; Gakpo, Memphis 
  • Argentina: Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Acuna; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister; Di Maria or Gomez, Alvarez, Messi

Predictions

“Stalemates” between the Dutch and Argentina have been “commonplace” at the World Cup, said Ben Knapton on SportsMole. And we “do not expect that theme to change here”. Lionel Scaloni’s side “may have to rely on their penalty-kick prowess” to set up a semi-final clash with Croatia or Brazil. Prediction: Netherlands 2 Argentina 2 – after extra time, Argentina to win on penalties. 

The Dutch are the “most skilled” side Argentina will have faced in Qatar, said Forbes. Memphis Depay, Virgil van Dijk and Frenkie de Jong will look to be “the spoilers” in this fairy-tale run for Lionel Messi and Co. This match-up “could end in a draw”, resulting in penalty kicks to decide the winner. “Look for either Depay or Messi to have some brilliance to tie this game up.”

This is “a terrible match-up” for Argentina, who are a side that “do not overwhelm in attack” and can be “thwarted by a team that takes its chances”, said Kyle Bonn on Sporting News. That’s “exactly” what the Netherlands do: “excel at snatching their opportunities”. It might only be a draw, but the Netherlands “will fancy their chances on penalties”. Score prediction: Netherlands 1 Argentina 1. 

The most likely outcome of this match is an Argentina win with “a probability of 37.09%”, according to SportsMole’s data analysis. A win for the Netherlands has “a probability of 35.68%” and the draw “27.2%”. The most likely scoreline for an Argentina win is 1-0 with a probability of 10.6%. 

According to “our supercomputer”, the Argentina odds of a victory are “44.2%”, said Jon Fisher on Opta Analyst. The Netherlands are rated at a “27.1% chance” with a draw coming in at “28.7%”. 

The stadium

The 80,000-seater Lusail Stadium is the centrepiece of the Qatar World Cup and will host the final on 18 December. Located nine miles north of Doha, six group games and the round of 16 clash between Portugal and Switzerland have so far been held at the stadium. This quarter-final between Netherlands and Argentina, one semi-final and the final will also be hosted here. 

Squads

Netherlands
  • Head coach: Louis van Gaal 
  • Key player: Frenkie de Jong
  • One to watch: Cody Gakpo
  • Goalkeepers: Justin Bijlow (Feyenoord), Andries Noppert (Heerenveen), Remko Pasveer (Ajax)
  • Defenders: Nathan Ake (Manchester City), Daley Blind (Ajax), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan), Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen), Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern Munich), Tyrell Malacia (Manchester United), Jurrien Timber (Ajax), Stefan de Vrij (Inter Milan)
  • Midfielders: Steven Berghuis (Ajax), Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Davy Klaassen (Ajax), Teun Koopmeiners (Atalanta), Marten de Roon (Atalanta), Xavi Simons (PSV Eindhoven), Kenneth Taylor (Ajax)
  • Forwards: Steven Bergwijn (Ajax), Memphis Depay (Barcelona), Cody Gakpo (PSV), Vincent Janssen (Antwerp), Luuk de Jong (PSV), Noah Lang (Club Brugge), Wout Weghorst (Besiktas)
Argentina
  • Head coach: Lionel Scaloni
  • Key player: Lionel Messi
  • One to watch: Julian Alvarez
  • Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Franco Armani (River Plate) and Geronimo Rulli (Villarreal) 
  • Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), German Pezzella (Real Betis), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Juan Foyth (Villarreal), Nicolas Tagliafico (Olympique Lyonnais), Marcos Acuna (Sevilla) 
  • Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (Juventus), Guido Rodriguez (Real Betis), Enzo Fernandez (Benfica), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Alejandro Gomez (Sevilla), Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton & Hove Albion) 
  • Forwards: Paulo Dybala (AS Roma), Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain), Angel Di Maria (Juventus), Nicolas Gonzalez (Fiorentina), Joaquin Correa (Inter Milan), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), Julian Alvarez (Manchester City)

Football news:

<!DOCTYPE html>
Kane on Tuchel: A wonderful man, full of ideas. Thomas in person says what he thinks
Zarema about Kuziaev's 350,000 euros a year in Le Havre: Translate it into rubles - it's not that little. It is commendable that he left
Aleksandr Mostovoy on Wendel: Two months of walking around in the middle of nowhere and then coming back and dragging the team - that's top level
Sheffield United have bought Euro U21 champion Archer from Aston Villa for £18.5million
Alexander Medvedev on SKA: Without Gazprom, there would be no Zenit titles. There is a winning wave in the city. The next victory in the Gagarin Cup will be in the spring
Smolnikov ended his career at the age of 35. He became the Russian champion three times with Zenit

3:02 Lewiston shooting updates – Robert Card named ‘person of interest’ after active shooter ‘killed 22’ in Maine
3:00 Kris Jenner reveals her life’s biggest regret and warns Khloe not to make the same mistake
3:00 Arsenal news: Ian Wright hails "reliable" Gunners star after Champions League win
3:00 Khloe Kardashian says she has her ‘happily ever after’ - and it’s not with Tristan Thompson
2:32 UN Security Council fails again to address Israel-Hamas war, rejecting US and Russian resolutions
2:13 Lewiston active shooter LIVE: 22 people dead and 60 injured with armed suspect on the run
2:00 Man Utd news: Sir Jim Ratcliffe sent clear message amid Kylian Mbappe admission
1:56 Lewiston shooting: Reports of 22 dead as police hunt gunman – live
1:55 Fears of up to 22 dead as police hunt gunman in Lewiston, Maine
1:50 My biggest fall decorating tip so your home is classy, not tacky – no one wants their house to look like Hobby Lobby
1:36 Lewiston active shooter: 16 people dead and 60 injured with armed suspect still at large
1:36 Lewiston active shooter: 22 people dead and 60 injured with armed suspect still at large
1:35 Fears of up to 16 dead as police hunt gunman in Lewiston, Maine
1:29 Mass shooting in Maine: What we know about Lewiston attack
1:27 No, 1 pick Victor Wembanyama is set to debut with the San Antonio Spurs and the world is watching
1:15 Lewiston shooting: Reports of 16 dead as police hunt gunman – live
1:00 Passenger sues airline after flight attendant spilled coffee and ‘burned his tattoo’
1:00 Premier League star risks manager's wrath by naming 'perfect replacement' for Mohamed Salah
0:57 Police say there’s an active shooter in Lewiston, Maine, and they are investigating multiple scenes
0:45 Toddler rushed to hospital after being bitten by a dog as she walked through Chingford park with her parents
0:43 Lewiston shooting updates – Photo of ‘active shooter’ released as Maine cops hunt suspect & warn residents to lock doors
0:41 Lewiston shooting: Police hunt active gunman after incident in Maine - live
0:31 Lewiston shooting: Police hunt active gunman after incident in Maine
0:28 Beloved vs unloved: Contrasting captains collide in Rugby World Cup final
0:28 We converted a dusty work van into our little paradise on wheels – there’s an in-home movie theater & succulent garden
0:21 Kylie Jenner discusses 'hardest decision' as she opens up on coparenting with Travis Scott
0:18 Biden says West Bank settlers ‘pouring gasoline on fire’ as Israel prepares for Gaza ground invasion
0:17 Walking Dead star Erik Jensen diagnosed with stage four cancer as wife starts fundraiser
0:17 ‘Active shooter’ in Lewiston, Maine sees police swarm multiple locations with lockdown issued at schools & businesses
0:16 Reports of active shooter causing ‘multiple casualties’ at bar in Maine
0:07 I dropped out of college and decided to live in my car – it prepared me more for life than any education
0:05 ‘Huge blow’ as cinema chain with 103 locations to close branch in weeks after bankruptcy filing
0:03 Man Utd consider shock David de Gea return after Andre Onana performed U-turn
23:56 Dusty Baker tells newspaper he is retiring as manager of the Houston Astros
23:54 October 26 - On this day: 40 years ago we reported the US-led invasion of Grenada
23:53 NATO air chief accused of boozy snog with colleague told court martial: ‘I don’t even do that to my wife’
23:47 Indianapolis Colts owner takes to social media to blast officials following Cleveland Browns defeat
23:47 Rare watch that was bought for £60 then worn ‘virtually everyday’ sells for eye-watering sum
23:45 Shocking moment yob chucks massive concrete slab at head of woman wearing a hijab in ‘random’ attack
23:44 Francis Ngannou concerns fans with brief pad work in Tyson Fury workout
23:41 Ex-NFL star Sergio Brown charged with his mother’s murder
23:38 Brian Austin Green slams Dancing With the Stars for excluding Sharna Burgess from Len Goodman tribute
23:29 Justin Trudeau's ex-wife named as 'the other woman' in Canadian's divorce petition
23:25 ISIS bride Shamima Begum will exploit any error to overturn decision to take away British citizenship, court hears
23:21 Amazing Asda deal could get you free movie tickets when you buy pizza deal
23:19 Voices: Make no mistake – the new speaker is Trump’s man in Washington
23:17 Ruby Franke’s daughter reveals ‘panic attacks’ after mother’s child abuse arrest
23:15 Just one in ten Brits believe their knowledge of astronomy is 'good', study finds
23:13 Nissan unveils five of its new cars in iconic video game Fortnite including its futuristic-looking Juke
23:12 Wayne Rooney taunted by Birmingham fans as first home match ends in dour defeat
23:12 Ex-NatWest chief infringed on Farage’s data protection rights, watchdog rules
23:11 Family of Al Jazeera correspondent killed in Israeli airstrike in Gaza
23:10 Pep Guardiola issues response to Erling Haaland 'concerns' after Champions League brace
23:05 Al Jazeera journalist finds out his wife, son and daughter killed in Israeli airstrike while on air
23:05 I can’t believe my cold-shoulder Shein dress was only $8 – it’s giving ‘baddie on a budget’
23:04 Georgia Harrison flashes her bum in thong and tight corset as she dresses up for star-studded Halloween party
23:03 LGBTQ+ nightspot targeted in Colorado Club Q massacre to re-open
23:01 Emily Eavis drops major hints about Glastonbury 2024 headliners
23:01 ‘Party pad’ that left neighbours fuming over loud stag and hen dos will be split in HALF
23:01 BBC local radio shows suffer drop in listeners over past two years
23:01 RAJARs: BBC Radio 5 Live sees growth but World Service slumps below 1m in UK
22:59 Dad-of-four electrocuted to death pulling his kids from water fountain
22:54 World’s sexiest athlete Alica Schmidt shows off incredible figure and toned abs as fans hail her as ‘a true goddess’
22:46 James Bulger’s family slams decision to grant killer Jon Venables a private parole hearing
22:45 Diego Simeone gives Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers the short shrift as Argentine verges on full-time custard pie
22:43 Ex-NFL player Sergio Brown, charged with killing mother, has been denied release
22:43 Will Smith finally addresses Jada Pinkett Smith’s many claims about their marriage
22:37 Lioness ace Keating happy to be ‘role model’ and aims to be first goalkeeper of colour to play for England Women
22:35 School boy Yousef Makki was unlawfully killed, finds fresh inquest
22:33 A Place in the Sun’s Laura Hamilton puts on busty display in barely there bikini on £700 a night luxury Cyprus holiday
22:30 Beloved car revived as EV hybrid – and it’s a lot different to the usual model
22:30 Trusts accused of using foreign doctors as ‘cheap labour’
22:28 Director Sofia Coppola turned down final Twilight movie because concept was ‘too weird’
22:28 One of those nights – Eddie Howe bemoans fine margins after Newcastle defeat
22:28 Brendan Rodgers beams at Celtic courage as Parkhead stars show their Champions League chops to spark group stage hope
22:19 Wrexham player addresses Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's real impact at club
22:18 US planning for evacuation of Americans from Middle East if conflict escalates
22:18 Doctor Who air dates for David Tennant specials finally announced
22:18 Deer smashes through noodle restaurant window in bizarre video
22:16 Woman claims 'haunted' doll knocks and moves items at home as 'spooked' pet dog howls
22:15 Andy Murray’s poor form continues despite latest marathon effort
22:13 Watch Southampton keeper claim goal in final seconds to draw against Preston… but did he score?
22:10 Horoscope today, October 26, 2023: Daily star sign guide from Mystic Meg
22:10 Hero dad wrestles suspect to ground after three police officers are battered with bike
22:07 Dementia risk slashed by eating fat found in breakfast favourite, new study says
22:05 Vogue Williams admits near-death experience as a child still 'freaks her out' today
22:05 BBC boss Tim Davie grilled by Tory MPs amid row over coverage of Israel-Hamas war
22:03 Countryfile star Adam Henson 'cried a lot' at wedding after wife's secret cancer fight
22:03 Newcastle discover elite level of Champions League as former transfer target shows his worth
22:03 Prince Harry's relationship with Meghan's mum 'gets stronger' as royal divide continues
22:03 Eddie Howe provides update on Alexander Isak and Jacob Murphy injuries after Borussia Dortmund defeat
22:01 Henry and Richards in shock after finding out Carragher’s ranking at 2005 Ballon d’Or awards
22:01 Man's body lay undiscovered in bed for 22 years until council investigated rats in property
21:57 Dog desperate for new home 'begins to lose spark' after a year at RSPCA shelter
21:56 ‘Brexit benefits are powering our renaissance’ – Tens of thousand new jobs to be created
21:54 Republicans slammed for booing reporter asking about overturning 2020 election
21:53 Martin O'Neill insists Celtic drained by 'very soft' penalty as he applies 1974 rules to Greg Taylor challenge
21:50 Brendan Rodgers blanks Celtic Champions League progression poser as he focuses on 2 factors of pulsating Parkhead night
21:49 'UK's most haunted town' plagued by '15 different ghosts' and chilling 'nightly screams'
21:47 Five great boiler maintenance tips that will keep your heating and hot water running during winter