Argentina managed to go through on penalties with Lionel Messi making a big impact in the team once again; with Netherlands heartbroken after coming back from 2-0 down.
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Netherlands had currently been unbeaten in Qatar for this World Cup as they managed to beat second place of Group B, USA, 2-1 to proceed to the Quarter-Finals. Argentina have only lost one game which turned to be the biggest shock in the tournament’s history, but still topped their group and would meet Holland after a 2-1 victory against Australia.
The first-half saw very little chances in the game with an attempt from Messi curling over the bar, a shot from Steven Bergwijn dragged wide, and a first-time shot from De Paul which would end up straight into the keeper’s hands.
The South American side would break the deadlock in the 35th minute after an exceptional run from Messi looking to dribble past Nathan Ake before giving a wonderful through ball into the box; received by Nahuel Molina who would find his shot on target and past the Dutch goalie Andries Noppert.
Argentina would keep their lead into the second-half with not a lot of chances created at the beginning. In the 63rd minute, Lionel Messi would win a free-kick just outside the penalty area as he saw his shot just over the crossbar.
It would only take another 10 minutes before another set piece would take place for the PSG forward as Marcos Acuna was brought down inside the Holland box by the Dutch full-back Denzel Dumfries which resulted in a penalty. Messi would stay cool and calm at the penalty spot as he slotted his penalty in the bottom corner to give La Albiceleste a two-goal cushion.
Another 10 minutes later, a goal would be scored again however it would be for the team in the orange jersey as Steven Berghuis crossed the ball towards the front post where Wout Weghorst would arrive to flick his header into the far corner.
In desperation for a goal, Netherlands would look find a late equalising goal especially with 10 minutes of added time. The goal scorer for the Dutch would look to become the hero as Weghorst scored in 90+11 minutes to keep Holland in the game after a free-kick was passed into the box, completely fooling the Argentinian players.
Weghorst managed to score the same number of goals in one game for Netherlands as well as playing 20 games for Burnley in a season.
The game would shockingly go to extra-time with more unpredictable moments to happen at this World Cup. Argentina looked to have had more chances in the next 30 minutes as they scored late when Enzo Fernandez saw his shot, outside the box, fly through the defence and Noppert before hitting the post.
Just like the previous Quarter-Finals game between Croatia and Brazil, the game would go to penalties. Both captains would take the first penalty in the shoot-out for their country as Virgil Van Dijk saw his attempt saved by Aston Villa goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez, before Lionel Messi would calmly place his shot down the middle.
Netherlands night would get worse in front of the Argentinian crowd as Martinez once again saved another penalty, this time from Berghuis. Leandro Paredes converting his penalty to be 2-0 in the shoot-out.
After three penalties each, the Argentinians would have a possible scare as Enzo Fernandez saw his shot go wide after Wout Weghorst had scored his to give the Dutch some hope.
Luke De Jong scored his penalty to get the shoot-out to 3-3 meaning that Noppert would have to save the next penalty to keep Netherlands in the tournament. Sadly, it was not meant to be as the Holland keeper went the opposite way to Lautaro Martinez’s shot meaning Argentina would make their sixth World Cup semi-final.
After the heartbreak for Netherlands, Argentina will face Croatia in the Semi-Finals as they play them on 13 December, 2022. England vs France plus Morocco vs Portugal is still to play for in the Quarter-Finals.
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