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:
Netherlands 0-1 Argentina
63 mins: Close! Lionel Messi takes the free kick and fizzes it over the six-man wall. There seems to be enough dip on the shot as Andries Noppert shuffles across to cover it but the ball lands on top of the net and bounces behind.
Netherlands 0-1 Argentina
62 mins: Messi looks to get around Van Dijk who leans onto the midfielder and gives him a shove. Messi’s bought the foul and goes down just outside the box giving his team a chance for a shot at goal.
Netherlands 0-1 Argentina
60 mins: The game is opening up for Argentina on the counter-attack and Messi kicks it up to MacAllister who bombs forward. De Paul is open to his right but the pass across is too heavy and the Netherlands get back to defend by the time De Paul catches up with it.
He sends the ball back into the penalty area but his pass is intercepted and worked clear.
Netherlands 0-1 Argentina
57 mins: There’s a rye smile on Messi’s face as he gives away a foul but avoids a booking for a heavy tackle. The Netherlands have only had one shot in the entire game so far. They’ve been woefully inefficient this evening.
Netherlands 0-1 Argentina
54 mins: The Netherlands are just lacking a bit of intensity at the minute and they’re moving the ball too slowly to make an impact in the final third.
An attempted through ball is easily read by Lisandro Martinez who intercepts and sends the ball back up the pitch towards Lionel Messi.
Netherlands 0-1 Argentina
51 mins: Cody Gakpo has been a bundle of energy all game and is willing to take players on. He takes the ball to the byline and hangs a cross into the middle but Emi Martinez plucks the ball out of the air.
Netherlands 0-1 Argentina
48 mins: Acuna wins a corner after his cross is blocked behind by Dumfries. Messi whips the ball into the box and it gets flicked on at the near post before flying over everyone and getting cleared away.
Second half: Netherlands 0-1 Argentina
The second half gets underway with the Netherlands making two changes. Steven Berghuis and Teun Koopmeiners are brought on to replace Steven Bergwijn and Marten de Roon.
Will those swaps allow the Netherlands more creativity in the final third?
Gareth Southgate stresses importance of England’s ‘mentality’ against France
Having comfortably topped their group and swatted aside Senegal with ease in the round of 16, the team are now gearing up for a blockbuster quarter-final clash on Saturday evening.
Millions of fans across the land will be tuning into the mouthwatering World Cup encounter at Al Bayt Stadium, where the victor will return next Wednesday to take on Morocco or Portugal for a place in the December 18 finale.
England are gearing up for a blockbuster quarter-final clash on Saturday evening.
HT Netherlands 0-1 Argentina
Lionel Messi has assisted five goals in the World Cup knockout stages - since Opta have World Cup assists (from 1966), this is the most on record in the knockout rounds of the finals, surpassing Pelé’s four.
