Argentina Players Celebrate After Beating Netherlands Image Credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Lionel Messi showed why he is the best, the Netherlands wreaked havoc to equalize at the last minute, and then Argentina had to do it all again from the penalty stop as they edged past against Netherlands 4-3 on penalty kicks to reach the Fifa World cup quarter-final
A raging atmosphere, a sumptuous Lionel Messi assist, a fractious affair descending into total mayhem, and then Emi Martinez magic on penalties; the quarter-final had it all!
Argentina looked in total control from the start. Lionel Messi provided a breathtaking assist to the Atletico-Madrid player Molina who scored past Andries Noppert. Messi then scored one from the spot when Denzel Dumfires recklessly fouled Acuna on the edge of the box.
Louis Van Gaal had one last trick up his sleeve. He substituted his two tall strikers, Luuk de Jong and Wout Weghorst, who have been known to perfectly play the role of Target man as strikers.
The move played off in favor of the Netherlands as Weghorst headed past Martinez in the 83rd minute and then scored in the 101st minute to keep the Netherlands alive in the tournament
However, there was no guile and magic in the extra time apart from Enzo Fernandez rattling the crossbar. It was then all down to the penalties and then mentality monster Emi Martinez showed his nerves of steel. He dived to his right to save a powerful penalty by the Liverpool star Virgil Van Dijk followed by a safe against Steven Berghuis. Although Enzo Fernandez missed his penalty, it was enough to take Argentina to the last four
However, this game would be remembered for the number of Yellow cards! 18 yellow cards and 1 red card was handed to the players by the Spanish referee making it a record for the number of bookings. The previous record was 16 bookings in a match between Netherlands and Portugal at the 2006 World Cup which is famously known as the ‘Battle of Nuremberg
Argentina had the last laugh, with Scalloni’s side looking to go all the way to win it for their legend “Diego Maradona”. Argentina will face Croatia in the 1st semi-final and the fans can’t wait to see Lionel Messi and Croatia’s Luka Modric in action
Written By:
Ibtisam Raashed Abbasi
E-mail: ibtisamrashed68@gmail.com
