Xinji Messi vs. Argentina: a superstar in South America at the FIFA World Cup? Brundish recalls the encounter with Messi in the locker room
Messi and his teammates were forced into penalties before they won against the Netherlands on Friday, showing South America will not be intimidated.
The World Cup match between these two teams has provided plenty of history over the years. From a Mario Kempes-inspired victory in the 1978 final to Dennis Bergkamp’s stunning goal in the 1998 quarterfinals, this rivalry was ready for another player to write their name in soccer folklore.
Some of the main players from the encounter remain. The Netherlands has a newmanager, Louis van Gaal, and Argentine star Lionel Messi, but veteran left-back Daley Blind is still a key part of the team.
Messi has done everything to ensure that Argentina had the best chance of winning the World Cup.
According to Simon Brundish, he is an aging genius at this point in his career. “He doesn’t have the capacity to do the running that [Paulo] Dybala in the team would do, but he’s a genius and he’s going to win you games.”
The amount of time Messi has spent in space during the World Cup has drawn a lot of attention.
Brundish says that Argentina set up their system around him not being involved in the press. They are not a high pressing team. It’s never been part of Messi’s game and his role doesn’t involve that.”
Both teams have had blips in Qatar – Argentina a surprise defeat against Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands a draw against Ecuador – and both are hoping to reach the final four for the first time since 2014.
The Dutch, meanwhile, failed to impress in the group stages but were greatly improved in the 3-1 round of 16 win over the the United States Men’s National Team and Memphis Depay’s opener in that game, a patient, probing team move, is without question one of the best goals of the tournament so far.
The fate of the Argentina-Brazilian 2-1 victory in extra time at the LHC: Argentine phenomenology at the 2014 World Cup
Mac Allister told reporters that there were surprises every day when it came toLeo. “You can see he’s happy and, for us, that’s very important.”
Having lost three previous World Cup finals, van Gaal’s team will likely feel a sense ofunfinished business in the tournament.
Even though few people would place Argentina among the favorites in the tournament, the team is led by Messi, so anything is possible.
But that’s about to change. The winner of Friday’s game will likely face Brazil in the semifinals, although the five-time champion will have to get past Croatia in its own quarterfinal first.
Leading 2-0 with just eight minutes remaining thanks to goals from Nahuel Molina and Messi, the Netherlands staged a stunning comeback as a Wout Weghorst’s brace ensured the game went to extra time.
Martinez has made a name for himself as an expert in penalty shootouts, saving three in Argentina’s Copa America semifinal against Colombia last year, and further cemented his place as an Argentine hero in Qatar.
After Enzo Fernandez missed the first penalty that would have given Argentina victory, Lautaro Martinez stepped up and hammered home the winning spot kick to send the thousands of Argentine fans inside the Lusail Stadium into delirium.
The players stayed on the pitch well after the game ended, taking in the applause of their fans who will no doubt be partying into the night.
It was another remarkable ending to a match at this World Cup, which has seen all manner of shocks and comebacks, though this one perhaps exceeded them all.
Spanish referee mateu Lahoz, who is known for his flair for spectacle and his love of the spotlight, added to the drama with numerous yellow cards as he struggled to keep control of the game.
There were no less than three mass brawls throughout the 120 minutes and penalties, the first one sparked by Leandro Paredes smashing a ball straight into the Netherlands dugout at the side of the pitch.
This match will be remembered for a long time, but Argentina will need to be on its guard against Croatia in the semifinals.
Lionel Scaloni, who is a former Argentine international, has led the national team to a better place than it has been for a long time and they won the first major trophy in two decades in the form of the Copa America in 2021.
In recent years, the defensive frailties of Argentina have prevented it from putting together a convincing 90 minutes.
What Happens When Lionel Messi’s World Cup Run is Over: The Ethiopian Penalty Shootout with Weghorst
A captain of Argentina ran towards the left-hand side of the penalty area, and playing an absurd reversal pass, passed the ball to a lone man, who took one touch and poked the ball past Andries Noppert.
Messi didn’t look up to see the run and only knew how he played the pass, according to replays. When you think Messi has seen it all, he still manages to leave mouths agape.
It looked like the game was over when Messi made it 2-0 from the penalty spot. If there is one point that the World Cup in Qatar has made it is that the matches are never over until the referee blows his whistle.
When it was over, the Netherlands decided to send a long ball towards the Argentina penalty area, looking for the 6 feet 6 inch substitute Weghorst and the 5 feet 7 inch Van Dijk.
It looked as though either Cody Gakpo or Teun Koopmeiners were going to take a shot at goal, but the latter played an ingenious pass into Weghorst, who turned his defender and slotted the ball past Martinez.
There were more sour scenes that followed, though, as the Argentina team celebrated in the faces of the Dutch players after they won the penalty shoot out.
It was a complete turn of events when Weghorst, who was loaned to Besiktas, temporarily halted Messi’s march towards a World Cup title.
It will take a special player to stop Lionel Messi from winning his first World Cup, and that’s because he doesn’t care what it looks like.
The magic of the Croatians as seen by Cristiano Petkovic and Ivanovic in the epoch of winning the World Cup
The Croats went against Brazil on Friday after scoring a last- gasp tying goal in the final seconds of regulation time, and then winning a penalty shootout thanks to more heroics from goalkeeper Milos Livi.
The Croatians played a good game and prevented the Brazilians from playing their entertaining style of football.
The fiery encounter resulted in the suspensions of defenders Marcos Acuna and Albicho Montiel, who picked up cautions in the playoffs.
The magician has four goals, but it is his playmaking ability which has been so damaging.
“We don’t have a specific plan yet for stopping Messi and usually we don’t concentrate on stopping one player but the entire team,” Petkovic told reporters on Sunday.
“Mateo, Luka and Marcelo are the best Croatia midfield in history. I don’t think it can be repeated. When you pass them the ball it is safer than having your money in the bank,” said defender Josip Juranović, per Reuters.
“The team’s [Argentina] chance of emerging victorious is 41%. France’s chance of successfully defending their 2018 World Cup title is 26%,” said Gracenote.