World Cup
Argentina won 4-3 after the Netherlands rallied from two to equalize in regulation time.
Argentina beat the Netherlands 4-3 in a dramatic and grueling match at the iconic Lusail Stadium to level a semifinal against Croatia, following their World Cup quarter-final 2-2 after extra time.
A total of 17 yellow cards were distributed in Friday’s match, which gave the impression of passing in the direction of Argentina until the Netherlands equalized in the 10th minute of stoppage time.
Half an hour of time saw no progress.
The Dutch failed to score their first two consequences in the penalty shootout, while Argentina was spotless until they missed the fourth. Lautaro Martinez scored his last shot and kept Argentina’s World Cup dreams alive.
The adjustment took a long time to start. But in the 35th minute, Lionel Messi – who else? – invented a moment of magic to string a better pass to Nahuel Molina in the area that soon buried the ball in the back of the net.
The attack continued until an internal foul by the Dutch dominance in the 72nd minute signaled the referee at the point and Argentina’s number 10 reappeared. .
In the 83rd minute, five minutes after entering the field, Wout Weghorst discovered Holland’s first penalty. Two minutes later, Memphis Depay threw the ball to the sideline.
A bout of bad mood sparked a clash towards the end of regulation time, with Argentina’s Leandro Paredes wasting his humour and finishing the ball off the Dutch canoe, the substitutes then on the field.
This incident and the other common stops were enough to charge 10 minutes on the clock and it was enough. A free kick for the Netherlands in the 101st minute of regulation time proved to be a wonderful educational exercise on the part of the Dutch, as Teun Koopmeiners rolled the ball to the foot of the wall, where Weghorst waited once again to turn around and shoot a shot with the aim of bringing the score to 2-2.
Overtime saw spirits reignite but it didn’t make sense despite the opportunities at both ends.
The defeat ended the 71-year-old Louis van Gaal’s tenure as coach of the Dutch team.
Argentina will face Croatia, which sensationally eliminated five-time world champion Brazil, also by consequences, in the World Cup semifinals at the iconic Lusail Stadium on Tuesday.