Football World Cup 2022: Argentina fights for victory against the Netherlands

Argentina became soccer world champion twice under Maradona, in 1978 in Argentina and in 1986 in Mexico. Now the Argentines have such a superstar in their team again, leading the team, Lionel Messi. The multiple World Footballer of the Year wants to make his dream of the title come true with Argentina. After the surprising defeat against Saudi Arabia in their first match in the preliminary round, the Argentines came into the world. Not only they can play football and win, others do the same. Since that loss at the beginning of the tournament, the Argentines have played their way into the tournament, showing with strong games against Mexico and Poland that they are always a force to be reckoned with. And that's how they started against the somewhat arrogant Dutch. I don't know where it comes from that at every World Cup the Dutch act as if they were real favorites and the next winners, they have never won the title. In 1974 and 1978 they were enough to be runners-up and then they had to wait over 30 years to do it again. I think the self-assessment of the Dutch is really bad and this always leads to disappointments like on this evening. Argentina quickly showed who is master on the pitch. After a through pass from Messi, Molina shot Argentina 1:0 into the lead in the 35th minute. Both teams are looking for the way forward, no tactics, but they are fighting hard. With the 1:0 it also goes into the break. After the break, both teams are attacking again, but Argentina is superior, the advances are more effective. In the 71st minute, Dumfries fouls Acuna in the penalty area. There is a penalty kick, which Lionel Messi converts in the 73rd minute. Now the game should be over, and the experienced and top-class Argentina should be able to hold on to a 2-0 lead. But the Dutch are now pissed off, especially the 1.97 m long Wout Weghorst. And he shows what he can do when he heads a cross into the Argentine goal in the 83rd minute. I don't believe it. But it's not the end of the day yet. They will survive the remaining 7 minutes, but they didn't think about the injury time, which is exorbitant at this World Cup: 10 minutes. The Dutch continue to run and actually time has run out, when the Dutch get a penalty kick just outside the Dutch penalty area. And they don't just stubbornly shoot, but pass at the wall of the Argentinians, where Weghorst takes the ball and sinks it for the second time. The score is 2:2. This can't be true. The Netherlands has managed to save itself into extra time. but the Argentines are now showing character - the essence of a champion - and are showing good actions, which is why they would deserve to win. But after the extra time the score is still 2:2. Now the penalty shootout has to be used. The Argentines with their fighting attitude have just as good a chance as the Dutch to succeed. Van Dijk is the first to take it, but Martinez in the Argentine goal (surprisingly) makes a save. Booom! Now it strikes 13 for the Dutch - not the opener you want. On the Argentine side, captain Lionel Messi now steps up. He has to show one of the boys how it's done. And he sinks the ball with aplomb. 1:0 for Argentina. Now the pressure is increasing for the Dutch and the courage and fighting spirit of the Argentines is growing. Now Berghuis steps up, he has to make it, but Martinez parries again. Now the Netherlands has already missed two and that must be it. After Lautaro Martinez scores the fourth goal, it's done: Argentina is the winner and moves into the semi-finals. The Netherlands shows itself several times as a bad loser and attacks the Argentines tumultuously, so what do bad losers. Argentina deservedly wins the quarterfinal against the Netherlands with 2:2 and 4:2 after penalty.