Argentina boss Scaloni 'not planning for penalties' against Netherlands
If Argentina are to win a third World Cup, with Lionel Messi and his teammates seeking their first, they must first overcome a nation that is equally hungry, in the form of Netherlands, in the quarter-finals.
The Dutch have been runners-up at a World Cup three times, most recently in 2010 before they were eliminated by Argentina on penalties in the 2014 semi-finals – then failed to qualify in 2018.
Netherlands, with Louis van Gaal in his third spell in charge, topped their group in Qatar before beating USA in the last 16, while Argentina also topped their pool before defeating Australia.
The winners here will face Croatia in the semi-finals, after the 2018 finalists beat Brazil on penalties.
Follow all the action with our live blog below:
Argentina sneak past the Netherlands 4-3 on penalties
(REUTERS)
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
Penalties: Netherlands 3-4 Argentina
GOAL! Lautaro Martinez scores and Argentina win! They’ve seen off the Netherlands via a penalty shootout. Lionel Messi’s team go on.
Penalties: Netherlands 3-3 Argentina
GOAL! Luuk de Jong scores for the Netherlands but Argentina have the chance to win it. Lautaro Martinez is the man who’ll take this crucial penalty.
Penalties: Netherlands 2-3 Argentina
MISS! Enzo Fernandez shuffles over to the left during his run up and then pulls his effort wide of the target!
Penalties: Netherlands 2-3 Argentina
GOAL! Weghorst does score. The Netherlands are still in the contest but they really need Argentina to miss one.
Penalties: Netherlands 1-3 Argentina
GOAL! Gonzalo Montiel sends the goalkeeper the wrong way and put Argentina two in front once more. Wout Weghorst has to score.
Penalties: Netherlands 1-2 Argentina
GOAL! Teun Koopmeiners gets the Netherlands on the board. Good penalty, right into the corner.
Penalties: Netherlands 0-2 Argentina
GOAL! Leandro Paredes fizzes his penalty into the side netting. No chance for Andries Noppert to get there.
Penalties: Netherlands 0-1 Argentina
SAVE! Steven Berghuis smashes his effort to the right but Martinez gets there again! It’s a powerful hit but the strong hands of the goalkeeper deny the Netherlands a goal.
Penalties: Netherlands 0-1 Argentina
GOAL! Now it’s Lionel Messi’s turn. He scored one during the game and he scores here! It’s a little tickle down the middle and Argentina are ahead.
