Netherlands vs Argentina preview: World Cup 2022 quarter-final

Who: Argentina vs Netherlands
Where: Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar
When: Friday, December 9, 2022, 10 pm (19:00 GMT)

The tantalising clash between two of the great brigades of world football at the,000- capacity Lusail Stadium comes after Lionel Scaloni’s men edged past Australia 2- 1 in the last 16 and his expert counterpart Louis van Gaal led the Dutch to a 3- 1 palm over the USA.

“It’s going to be a very beautiful game, with two historic teams. Sadly one team has to lose and we hope it’s us who go through,” Argentina’s coach Lionel Scaloni told journalists last Sunday.

“We face a difficult opponent, like all of them, and we hope to do well. Maybe they are not shining like past Dutch teams, but they are very clear in what they do.” Lionel Messi, Argentina’s captain, and amulet, was also clear on Sunday about the task ahead.

“They have great players and a great coach, it’s going to be hard-fought,” he said, a day after scoring against Australia in his 1,000th career appearance.

The 35- time-old’s influence in Qatar has grown game by game. Messi has scored three pretensions so far, and he now stands just three triumphs down from delivering Argentina a third World Cup jewel.

Messi’s decreasingly emotional performances have checked with Argentina’s growing elevation as the event has developed, putting aside an opening shock 2- 1 defeat to Saudi Arabia to win three games on the brio since also, scoring five pretensions and conceding just formerly in the process.

The Netherlands, meanwhile, will be concentrated on benumbing Messi in a tourney that will crop the fine forward against Virgil van Dijk – the Netherlands ’ colossal captain and one of the world’s stylish center-tails – while causing Scaloni’s charges problems of their own.

Van Gaal’s side has been buoyed by the return to fitness of skillful bushwhacker Memphis Depay and the continued good form of frontman Cody Gakpo, who has netted three times in Qatar.

Analogous to the strategy they employed against the USA, the Dutch may be happy to again concede control of the ball for long stretches and hang on the counterattack, exposing any spaces left at the reverse by La Albiceleste.

Van Gaal has been under pressure in Qatar since declaring the Oranje were able of getting world titleholders for the first time. He has also faced review over his side’s alleged traditionalism, with Dutch brigades traditionally known for further extensive football.
But the performance against the USA was a notable demonstration of what the Netherlands can produce, with Depay’s opening thing, which came on the reverse of a majestic 21- pass sequence, a graphic memorial of their quality.

Van Dijk said on Wednesday that his platoon has the hunger and the desire to go all the way in Qatar. “We just want to go out there and show our quality, show the team spirit, show the togetherness that we have and progress, hopefully, to the next stage,” he told journalists.

The winners of Friday’s battle will face either Brazil or Croatia in the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup.

Recap: Croatia vs Brazil – FIFA World Cup 2022

Croatia stunned the favorites Brazil by scoring a late extra-time equalizer and winning on penalties!

Brazil was eliminated from the World Cup by Croatia, who defeated the five-time champions 4-2 on penalties in the quarterfinals after a 1-1 stalemate after 120 minutes.

After defeating Japan on penalties in the round of 16, the runners-up from last year survived their second straight shootout and will now take on either the Netherlands or Argentina, who are scheduled to play later.

Brazilian sensation Neymar felt he had won the match when he rifled home an extra-time goal for the five-time world winners during a tense and dramatic evening. However, instead of defending their advantage, they went in search of a second, and as a result, they were penalized when Bruno Petkovic, a replacement for Croatia, scored an equalizer with his left foot three minutes into extra time, breaking Brazilian hearts.

After Livakovic stopped Rodrygo's spot-kick and Marquinos hit the post, they won the shootout, leaving Neymar and his teammates inconsolable. Croatia, which is vying for their first world championship, scored four penalties, all of which were converted by Nikola Vlasic, Lovro Majer, Luka Modric, and Mislav Orsic. Later tonight's games between Argentina and the Netherlands will determine who they play next.