After a thrilling match in Lusail, Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, held off a valiant comeback by the Netherlands to secure their position in the 2022 World Cup semifinals.
After their talismanic No. 10 converted a penalty to follow up on an implausibly unbelievable assist for Nahuel Molina in the first 45 minutes, the Albiceleste appeared to be in trouble late in the second half.
However, goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez pulled off more penalty saves of heroism to advance Argentina into the semifinals and simply postponed the Netherlands' doom.
Instead of
their longtime rivals Brazil, they will now play Croatia there after Zlatko
Dalic's team pulled off another surprise in the day's first game to advance via
a shootout as well.
Argentina vs Netherlands result
| 1H | 2H | ET | Final | |
| Argentina | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 (4) |
| Netherlands | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 (3) |
PERSONAL
PENALTIES WIN ARGENTINA 4-3
Goals:
In ARG, Molina (35 mins)
Astrid Messi (73 mins)
Weghorst, NED (83 mins)
Weghorst,
NED (90 + 11 mins)
Lineups:
(3-5-2, right to left): 23 for Argentina. E. Margarita (GK) — 13. 19. Romero 25, Otamendi L. 27. Martinez. Molina, age 20 7, Mac Allister De Paul, age 24 E. 8. Fernandez Acuna — 9. 10 Alvarez Messi
Dutch
(3-4-1-2, from right to left): 23. (GK) Noppert — 2. 4. Timber 5. Van Dijk Ake
— 22. 15. Dumfries De Roon, age 21 17. De Jong Blind — 10. Gakpo — 7. 10.
Bergwijn Depay
Argentina vs Netherlands as it happened, highlights from 2022
World Cup
Lautaro Martinez will take the tenth penalty... SCORES! ARABIA WILL WIN IT! 4-3
Luuk De Jong will take the ninth penalty... SCORES! went rolling into the net. Argentina 3-3 Netherlands
Enzo
Fernandez will take the eighth penalty... MISSES! Very far from the target!
Holland defeats Argentina 3–2
Wout Weghorst will take the seventh penalty... SCORES! Holland defeats Argentina 3–2
Gonzalo Montiel will take the sixth penalty. SCORES! Argentina 1-3 Netherlands
Teun Koopmeiners will serve the fifth penalty. SCORES! Excellently composed spot kick. Argentina 1-2 Netherlands
Leandro Paredes will receive the fourth penalty. SCORES! Power loss. Argentina 0-2 Netherlands
Steven Berghuis will be penalized three times... SAVED! Martinez is amazing. Argentina 1-0 Netherlands
Lionel Messi will take the second penalty... SCORES! As serene as you prefer. Argentina 1-0 Netherlands
Virgil Van
Dijk will take the first penalty. SAVED! Argentina 0 - 0 Netherlands
FULL TIME:
It's finished, and penalties are coming up!
OFF THE POST at minute 120!
While the keeper gets defeated by Enzo Fernandez's spectacular shot from the edge of the box, the upright is unbeatable, as the ball flies back out to safety. Poor luck,
Minute 115: Chance! When Lautaro Martinez goes onto a pullback, Virgil van Dijk steps in front of him to block the shot.
Argentina is
currently making a lot of effort, but do they have enough time to succeed?
In the 111th minute, Lisandro Martinez is replaced by Angel Di Maria, who is eager to shatter Louis van Gaal's heart given their history at Manchester United, with a winner here.
Messi works a yard at the edge of the box in the 110th minute, but his shot sails high and wide of the net.
In general, extra time doesn't yield many goals, and we're still waiting.
106th minute: Continue on. No one will want to make a mistake now!
A goal has not been scored since the halfway point of extra time. Will this one be decided by a flash of inspiration, an error, or penalties?
Messi hits a free kick to the far post in the 104th minute, but Nicolas Otamendi is unable to reach it in time, and the ball bounces harmlessly out of play.
In the 96th minute of the game, Argentina was unable to escape their own box 15 minutes of regular time have passed, but they are once again in control and dominating possession.
Why did the Dutch stop going far while they were enjoying it so much?
In the 91st
minute, we resume motion. Here is a brief recap of how we get here:
FULL TIME:
We're going into overtime now! What a game-winning moment.
Goal in the 90th minute and eleven seconds! They succeeded!!!!!
Inability to
hit the free kick causes Steven Berghuis to merely roll it to Wout Weghorst,
who turns and scores with a left-footed shot that dribbles into the goal.
Are you
serious?
Wout Weghorst is shoved in the back by Nicolas Otamendi in the 90th minute and nine seconds, giving up a potentially dangerous free kick of the contest...
What a defensive header by Nicolas Otamendi in the 90th minute and five. At this juncture, the Netherlands are continuously sending the ball into the box, but the Argentines are holding their own.
90th minute: Ten additional minutes, whoa! There has been plenty of time for the Dutch to draw even.
In the 89th minute, everything starts.
Ake was nearly severed in two by Leandro Paredes' late challenge, and he subsequently carelessly slammed the ball into the Dutch bench.
He receives a yellow for his trouble, and the incident is followed by a lot of pushing and shoving.
The Netherlands are now tinkering and investigating, but have they run out of time?
Goal at minute 83! Back in the game are the Dutch!
At last, they if a good delivery is made into the box, Wout Weghorst will be there to nudge it past Emiliano Martinez's dejected dive and set up an exciting conclusion. With Cristian Romero and Cuna departing for Argentina, German Pezzella and Nicolas Tagliafico are substituted in their stead.
Memphis Depay is replaced by Wout Weghorst for the Netherlands.
Goal at minute 73! Messi makes no mistakes as he takes a single step and drives the ball past a helpless Andries Noppert to make it 2-0.
72nd minute: ARGENTINA IS PENALIZED!
After Marcos Acuna makes a cut inside the box, Denzel Dumfries tripped him, and the referee quickly points to the spot.
Rodrigo De Paul was a question mark for this game, thus it comes as no surprise to see him in the 67th minute Paredes, move over. a strong shift
The Dutch, however, seem to have switched to a back four as they attempt to forward more players onto the field to truly pose a threat to Argentina.
Messi prepares to take a 25-yard free kick in the 63rd minute. What a near call, wow.
Unfortunately for Argentina supporters, the ripple is on the incorrect side of the net's top. A fantastic, strong, and stunning effort.
61st minute: If the opening 15 minutes of this half are any indication, the Netherlands' halftime substitutions haven't made a difference for them.
Louis van Gaal must find inspiration elsewhere, or he and his teammates will be returning home.
55th minute: In utter despair, Messi intentionally hands the ball off to Nathan Despite barely clearing a dangerously bouncing ball, Ake escapes with no penalties.
Is that a just ruling or a reflection of his position in the game?
51st minute: Rodrigo De Paul misses a ball in behind for Messi, which is a great opportunity lost because the Dutch defense was so obviously taken off guard.
Five years ago, Argentina's No. 10 may have caught up to that, but not now.
Argentina restarts the match in the 46th minute. Will the game's flow be altered by those Dutch substitutes?
Before the
restart, the Dutch made two substitutions, replacing Steven Bergwijn and Marten
De Roon with Steven Berghuis and Teun Koopmeiners.
HALFTIME:
Here is a bizarre angle of the Messi assist pleasure during the half.
Argentina has a slim lead at the halftime whistle at Lusail Stadium thanks to a goal from Nahuel Molina.
Can Louis van Gaal develop a strategy to turn things around in the second half given that his team hasn't really gotten going?
Wout Weghorst now receives a yellow card on the Dutch bench for using inappropriate language when speaking to the referees in the 45th minute plus two.
There is definitely room for more cards in this rather spirited game, including a red card that could change the outcome.
In the 44th minute, two bookings were issued quickly.
Marcos Acuna receives the first for a poor challenge in which he drags his studs along Denzel Dumfries' Achilles tendon, and Timber receives the second for his response to the contact.
As a result of the warning, Acuna will no longer play in the semifinal.
Messi maneuvers around in the Netherlands' penalty area before firing a right-footed shot, but it is not his strongest as Andries Noppert comfortably gathers it.
35th minute: A goal! Nahuel Molina gives Argentina the lead, but Messi is clearly all over this score.
A superbly disguised ball is produced by the small No. 10 behind a crowded Dutch backline for his right-back, who does well to grab it and move it in front of him before slipping by an approaching Andries Noppert.
The entire Lusail Stadium explodes.
33rd minute: Rodrigo De Paul enters the game for Argentina, who put together one of the more promising sections of play thus far There is room for a shot at the border of the box.
Although it can be readily saved, Lionel Scaloni will be inspired by it.
After a brief exchange of passes with Memphis Depay, Steven Bergwijn pulls a left-footed attempt wide in the 24th minute.
The Netherlands have only come as near as that, and it may have been a greater opportunity than it appeared in the end.
In the 18th minute, Emiliano Martinez makes his first appearance by intercepting a backwards overhit ball that Steven Bergwijn was supposed to chase.
13th minute: The first few minutes have been as cagey as you could expect, with Argentina controlling the majority of the possession.
The Netherlands attempted to restrict Messi from receiving the ball by positioning as many men as possible close to him ball or gaining momentum after he receives it.
5th minute: Argentina supporters are by far the majority of Dutch supporters in the stadium; Messi and company are playing at home.
Memphis Depay of the Netherlands kicks things off in the first minute.
Five minutes till kickoff: Players are already on the field; will Argentina or the Netherlands join Croatia in the semifinals?
25 minutes before kickoff: Tonight, the Netherlands might use this man to shine.
45 minutes before kickoff: Lionel Scaloni has changed his shape in an effort to match up with the Netherlands.
You wonder how much of that was driven by concerns about Angel Di Maria's fitness, but there's always a chance that solely tactical decision.
1 hour before kickoff: This is how Argentina is positioned.
5 minutes before kickoff: The Dutch team has arrived!
10 minutes till kickoff: WOW! Brazil is eliminated from the World Cup after Croatia wins 4-2 on penalties!
Now that they know they won't have to play the tournament favorites to go to the Qatar final, the Netherlands and Argentina can relax. What a possibility.
20 minutes before kickoff: Amazing action in the other semifinal as Croatia scores a last-second equalizer in overtime to force a penalty shootout.
Brazil had been leading throughout, but will they be able to bounce back and win the shootout after losing the lead so late?
1 45 minutes before the game: Scenes!
There will now be extra time in the Brazil vs. Croatia game, which, to be completely honest, we should have expected.
Eight of Croatia's previous nine games in the knockout stages of important competitions have required an extension of time in order to be decided. Brazil will make every effort to prevent this from moving forward with penalties right away.
Two hours and forty minutes have passed since the game between Brazil and Croatia was last scored.
If Argentina and the Netherlands advance, it is still unclear who they will play in Qatar's semifinals.
3 hours and 20 minutes to kickoff: This video features some truly famous battles between these two countries. Let's hope for a good outcome one more today.
3 hours and
50 minutes before kickoff: Brazil and Croatia's World Cup semifinal match is
now underway.
Argentina vs
Netherlands live stream, TV channel
4 hours and
15 minutes before kickoff: It might be wise to check the ties odds. Really, the
sportsbooks are unable to predict it. Although Argentina enters the game with a
very little advantage, it would be crazy to write off Van Gaal and this
well-organized and proficient Dutch team. Here are the probabilities for
several businesses and nations:
| BetMGM | Sports Interaction | SkyBet | Ladbrokes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands win | +240 | 3.40 | 5/2 | 5/2 |
| Draw | +210 | 3.10 | 11/5 | 21/10 |
| Argentina win | +125 | 2.16 | 23/20 | 6/5 |
| Both teams to score Y / N | +105 / -145 | 1.95 / 1.67 | 1/1, 8/11 | 1/1, 3/4 |
| Over / Under 2.5 goals | +135 / -190 | 2.31 / 1.55 | 11/8, 8/15 | 27/20, 8/15 |
| Argentina -0.5 | -150 | 2.13 | — | — |
| Netherlands +0.5 | +105 | 1.66 | — | — |
| Argentina advance | -165 | 1.58 | 8/15 | 4/7 |
| Netherlands advance | +125 | 2.25 | 11/8 | 5/4 |
With 4 hours and 30 minutes left till kickoff, AD SportWereld deserves praise for the "Last Tango" cover that features Lionel Messi and Louis Van Gaal.
4 hours and 45 minutes until kickoff: The 2014 World Cup semifinal was the last time these two sides faced off. Additionally, Argentina won on penalties there. Here was the final straw:
5 hours
before kickoff: In the 1978 World Cup final, which Argentina hosted, these two
teams squared off. A post separated the Netherlands from winning it late. Never
having won a World Cup, the Netherlands.
Argentina vs Netherlands live stream, TV channel
At the same Lusail Stadium where the World Cup final was held, Argentina suffered one of the biggest World Cup upsets in tournament history when Saudi Arabia defeated them 2-1.
Here's how
to follow all the action in some of the most important worldwide regions.
| Date | Time | TV Channel | Streaming | |
| USA | Fri, Dec. 9 | 14:00 ET | Fox, Telemundo | fuboTV, Fox Sports site/app, Telemundo Deportes site/app, Peacock |
| Canada | Fri, Dec. 9 | 14:00 ET | TSN 1, RDS (French) | TSN site/app, RDS app |
| UK | Fri, Dec. 9 | 19:00 GMT | BBC One | BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website |
| Australia | Sat, Dec. 10 | 06:00 AEDT | SBS | SBS On Demand |
| India | Sat, Dec. 10 | 00:30 IST | Sports 18 | Voot, JioTV |
| Hong Kong | Sat, Dec. 10 | 03:00 HKT | Now TV (Ch. 616, 618) | Now TV |
| Malaysia | Sat, Dec. 10 | 03:00 MYT | Astro FIFA World Cup 1 | Astro GO |
| Singapore | Sat, Dec. 10 | 03:00 SGT | StarHub TV FIFA World Cup, Singtel FIFA World Cup 141 | Singtel TV GO, CAST, StarHub TV+, MeWatch |
| New Zealand | Sat, Dec. 10 | 08:00 NZDT | Sky Sport 7 beIN Sports | Sky Go, Sky Sport NOW |
