Argentina and the Netherlands delighted the globe with one of the greatest World Cup quarterfinals of all time on Friday. Argentina took a 2-0 lead with Lionel Messi providing an outrageous assist before converting from the penalty spot and that advantage remained until the 83rd minute.
El sueño de Lionel Messi de ganar la Copa del Mundo se mantiene intacto.
Argentina avanzó a las semifinales de Catar 2022 luego de despachar a los Países Bajos, en uno de los partidos más emocionantes del torneo. Para que se hagan una idea, el menú incluyo una asistencia sublime de Messi, varios empujones entre jugadores que casi nos regalan una batalla de antología, un empate de último minuto con una genialidad de táctica fija, la angustia típica del tiempo extra y una definición a penales que dejó a varios con el corazón literalmente en la mano.
Virgil van Dijk might have to get a tear drop tattoo after he obliterated Argentina’s Leandro Paredes on Friday during the Netherlands 4-3 penalty defeat against the South American giants.
Friday’s quarterfinal was an intense and feisty affair as there were several skirmishes and shoving matches throughout the night.
When the Netherlands ceded possession to the United States in the World Cup Round of 16, it was a departure from football history but a masterstroke from the Dutch: they knew the U.S. wouldn't have the quality to find that final pass in the attacking third and that they'd slice the Americans apart going the other direction.
A similar approach could be seen by the Netherlands at the start of its quarterfinal match against Argentina. Playing in a 3-4-1-2, the Dutch packed the middle of the park and said there's no way you're finding joy centrally.
It was a long shot when the tournament began, but the answer to "can Messi face Ronaldo in World Cup 2022 final" is suddenly somewhat plausible with both Argentina and Portugal reaching the quarterfinals on opposite sides of the bracket.
That means Messi and Ronaldo both need to win just two more games to reach the final at Lusail Iconic Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 18. Here's how it's to be done.
Argentina's route to the final
This World Cup is special for Lionel Messi — not only because he wants glory, not only because it's probably his last one, but also because his three kids are old enough to watch him play.
"From the very beginning, from kick-off to the final whistle, I'm thinking of my children," confessed the Argentine star after defeating Australia and qualifying for the quarterfinals against the Netherlands.
AL RAYYAN, Qatar - Argentina captain Lionel Messi and coach Lionel Scaloni predicted a tough but beautiful encounter with the Netherlands when the sides meet in Friday's World Cup quarterfinal.
Argentina beat Australia 2-1 while the Netherlands defeated the United States 3-1 on Saturday to set up a tantalizing clash between two of the great teams of world football who famously met in the 1978 World Cup final which the South Americans won.
Lionel Messi desbloqueó un nuevo obstáculo en su sueño de ganar la Copa del Mundo con Argentina. Pese a complicarse más de la cuenta, La Albiceleste se las arregló para vencer a Australia por 2-1 y avanzó a los cuartos de final del Mundial de Catar 2022 con el 10 como figura angular.
Uno de los goles del triunfo lo anotó precisamente Messi y en honor a las circunstancias no fue cualquier gol.
Lionel Messi moved above compatriot Diego Maradona on all-time World Cup goals for Argentina with his ninth on Saturday during a Round of 16 clash against Australia, and he accomplished what Cristiano Ronaldo has not in five different World Cups — Messi scored in the knockout rounds.
Australia was a massive underdog heading into this one, but the Socceroos' defensive approach had largely nullified Argentina for half an hour.