Hello and welcome to Sportstar’s live coverage of the FIFA World Cup Quarterfinal between Netherlands and Argentina, happening at the Lusail stadium.
Post match comments
Lionel Messi: Argentina is among the four best in the world because it knows how to play every game with the same desire and the same intensity. This team understands the moments of the match. When they have to attack, they do. When they have to defend, they do that too. We’re really enjoying the people, going little by little. We’re very happy.
Messi on Croatia: Croatia showed that they are a great team. At times they played on an equal footing with Brazil. It is a team that has been working with the same coach for a long time and they know each other very well.
Emiliano Martinez: The first thing that comes to mind is emotion. I do this for 45 million people. Giving people joy like this is the greatest thing at the moment. We are in the semifinal because we have passion and heart. We are excited, just like the people
Stay tuned for post match press conference updates..
A place in history: With 18 yellow cards being issued, this match has broken the yellow cards tally of ‘Battle of Nuremberg’ – Read more here
Emiliano Martinez’ – Hand of god
PENALTIES
LAUTARO MARTINEZ HAS DONE IT!!!!! NED 3-4 ARG
Luuk de Jong scores to restore parity. NED 3-3 ARG
Enzo Fernandez has dragged it wide!!! NED 2-3 ARG
Weghorst is the next man in and he scores! NED 2-3 ARG
Montiel scores!! NED 1-3 ARG
Netherlands finally opens its account as Koopmeiners scores. NED 1-2 ARG
Parades doubles Argentina’s lead!! NED 0-2 ARG
Steven Berghuis’ shot is saved!!! Emi Martinez steps up big time!! NED 0-1 ARG
Advantage Argentina!! Messi comes in next and coolly places the ball into the middle of the net as Noppert dives to his right. NED 0-1 ARG
Van Dijk comes in to take the first penalty and Emi Martines dives to keep it wide!!! NED 0-0 ARG
Penalty shootouts!!
After 120 gruelling minutes, the teams are inseparable and penalty shootouts will decide the winner! This is the fourth peanalty shootouts in this World Cup
121’
RATTLED THE POST!!!! Absolutely unlucky!! Enzo Fernandez’ long range shot crashes on to the post! and looks like this match is going into penalties!
120’
Corner for Argentina and Di Maria takes it. He tries a curler into the post but Noppert gloves it out
118’
Berghuis with a brilliant run on the left as he decieves two defenders and whips out a cross but Emi Martinez comes forward to grab it
115’
CLOSE!!! Enzo Fernandez’ shot goes brushing past the cross bar after taking a deflection from van Dijk
113’ Substitution for Netherlands
Gakpo OUT, Noa Lang IN
112’ YELLOW CARD
Pezzella gets booked this time for his sliding tackle on Gakpo. This match has seen a staggering 16 yellow cards!
112’ Substitution for Argentina
Lisandro Martinez OUT, Angel di Maria IN
109’
Free-kick for Argentina as Gakpo brings Messi down. Montiel is meanwhile booked for dissent
106’
Corner for Argentina immediately. Messi takes it and whips a lofted ball staright into Noppert’s gloves
105’ Substitution for Argentina
Molina OUT, Montiel IN
105’
No additional minutes as the match goes into a break in extra-time. Argentina is absolutely stunned by that comeback. The Albiceleste have not registered a shot on target after their second goal
101’
A free-kick again and this time it is for Argentina. Martinez looked to play advantage but it is now a set piece situation. Nothing comes off it in the end
99’
Yet another free-kick for Netherlands as Frenkie de Jong is brought down.
98’
Mac Allister runs in dangerously near the box but Ake comes in with a sliding tackle to push the ball away
94’
Both teams lose posession constantly as they battle it out in the middle. Ake finally gets hold of the ball on the left and whips out a lofted cross but it goes out for a goal kick
Extra-time begins
90+12’
Otamendi is booked for arguing with the referee
90+11’ GOALLLLL
Netherlands gets a free-kick after Werghoust is fouled near the box. One last chance for the Dutch to make it count. Koopmeiners!!!!! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!!! Koopmeiners takes the kick and thinks out of the box to put in a short pass to find Weghorst inside the box who finishes it!!!
90+10’
Messi is booked for dissent
90+6’
Argentina has packed almos all of its players in the penalty box. Gakpo tries to penetrate with a cross but it is headed out by Otamendi
90+1’ YELLOW CARD
Van Dijk is booked for constantly inerfering with the referee’s decision
90+1’
Free kick for nethelrands and it is right at the edge of the penalty box. Berhuis takes the shot and it goes directly on to the Argentina wall
90’
Ten added minutes!!
89’ YELLOW CARD
Paredes is booked for an atrocious sliding tackle on Ake. An array of orange shirts come into the pitch and a fight erupts.
88’
Steven Berghuis is booked for his collision with Messi
85’
Suddenly Netherlands is back into the game. What an effort! Gakpo’s lofted ball into the box is headed out just wide by de Jong
83’ GOAAALLLLL
NETHERLANDS PULLS ONE BACK!!! WEGHORST IT IS! He excecutes a brilliant header to beat Emi Martinez with the first attempt on target! It is the other substitute Berghuis who whipped out a lofted assist
81’ Substitution for Argentina
Julian Alvarez OUT, Lautaro Matrinez IN
80’
Cody Gakpo is down and in pain after a sliding tackle from Paredes. Referee calls up Paderes but he is let off with a warning
79’ Substitution for Netherlands
Memphis Depay OUT, Wout Weghorst IN
78’ Substitutions for Argentina
Cristian Romero OUT, German Pezella IN; Marcos Acuna IN, Nicolas Tagliafico IN
76’ YELLOW CARDS
Argentina penalty box is crowded by the Dutch players after Martinez and de Jong collide. Lisandro Martinez and Memphis Depay are booked for initiating the tussle
73’
Lionel Messi it is from the spot! Cool as a cucumber!! La Pulga slots it to the right of Noppert who can only look as the ball goes past him. Messi has now equalled Gabriel Batistuta’s talley of 10 goals for argentina and is the joint top scorer for his nation
72’ PENALTY
Acuna on the left of penalty box is tripped down by Dumfries and Argentina is awarded a penalty
71’
Enzo Fernandez on the right puts in a through ball in an attempt to find Molina but Ake’s sliding tackle averts danger
Record in the reckoning? – Lionel Messi has scored nine goals at the World Cup, second only to Gabriel Batistuta (10) for Argentina. His opener against Australia last time out was his first goal in the knockout stages of the competition.
66’ Substitution for Argentina
Rodrigo de Paul OUT, Paredes IN
64’ Substitution for Netherlands
Daley Blind OUT, Luuk de Jong IN
62’
Messi takes the free kick and it is in a doable position. WHAT A SHOT!!! Messi whips out a left footed curler that brushes past the top right corner!
61’
Free kick for Argentina right outside the box as Van Dijk pushed Messi down
59’
Dangerous attack from Argentina. Messi fuels the counter as he finds a running Mac Allister in the middle. He then finds Molina on the right who runs into the box but slips while he passes the ball. Ake is there to clear it
55’
Free kick for Netherlands as Messi controls the ball with his hand. The Dutch players surround the official and urge him to take out a card but he thinks otherwise
51’
Koopmeiners’ attempted pass is intercepted and de Paul puts in a through ball. Messi runs towards it but the ball goes faster than expected. Noppert collects it safely
48’
Argentina wins a corner. Messi incharge of it. He whips out a curling cross and it finds a jumping Mac Allister but he squanders it wide
45’ Substitution for Netherlands
Marten de Roon OUT, Teun koopmeiners; Steven Bergwijn OUT, Steven Berghuis IN
Second half
Argentina will look to carry the momentum while Netherlands will hope for a turn around with Gakpo and Depay leading the attack
Meanwhile: You can have a look at our live photo gallery of this match – Here
HALF-TIME
An entertaining first 45 minutes comes to a close with Argentina in the lead. It is Messi yet again who crafted a wonderful pass to find Molina inside the box as La Celeste gained an upper hand on the Dutch. Can Argentina hold on to this lead or will Netherlands produce a comeback? We still have 45 minutes to find that out!
45+2’ YELLOW CARD
Wout Weghorst gets booked this time for an alleged arguement with the assistant referee
45’
Five added minutes
44’ YELLOW CARD
Cristian Romero is booked for handball
43’ YELLOW CARDS
Timber is booked as he pushed Acuna down. Meanwhile, Acuna is also shown the yellow card for his challenge on Dumfries. If Argentina qualifies for the semifinal, Acuna will not be in the squad as he got booked in consecutive games
41’
Free kick for Netherlands and it is a set piece situation. Gakpo whips out a lofted ball into the box but it is cleared away with ease as the Dutch are outnumbered by the defense
39’
Attack from Argentina yet again as Acuna gets the ball on the right but Dumfries cuts in with a successful challenge
35’ Argentina 1-0 Netherlands
ARGENTINA TAKES LEAD!!!! Messi orchestrates the attack with a beautiful through ball into the penalty box to find Molina who coolly places the ball below a diving Noppert into the middle of the net. Messi masterclass throughout the attack!! Additionally, this is the first time that the Dutch are trailing in this World Cup
31’
Lionel Scaloni comes into the pitch from his technical area to argue with match official Mateu Lahoz. He is let off from a potential yellow card situation
29’
Gakpo-Dumfries link up on the right as a Dutch attack brews. Gakpo then whips out a brilliant delivery in an attempt to find Bergwijn inside the box but Romero jumps high to head the ball away
28’
Gakpo gets a dangerous lofted ball at the edge of the box but he bumps into Otamendi and a free kick is awarded for Argentina
24’
Netherlands counter now. De Roon starts the attack and finds Depay in the middle. A one-two from Depay and Bergwijn inside the penalty box tests Argentina defense. Bergwijn finally decides to shoot from the edge of the box but the ball goes wide
22’
De Paul gets posession from a throw and picks Messi in the middle. Messi dribbles towards his left and attempts a long range shot but the ball goes well wide!
21’
Gakpo is incharge of the corner and he decides to go ahead with a short pass but Molina intercepts to clear the ball away
20’
Depay gets a searching ball deep inside the box but Otamendi forces the ball out of play for a Dutch corner
18’
Timber puts in a well placed through ball in an attempt to find Dumfries but the pass is a touch heavy as Martinez comes forward to collect it
16’
Threatening attack from Netherlands as Timber in the middle picks out Gakpo. A Gakpo-Bergwijn link up leads the Dutch attack. Depay gets the ball inside the box and puts in a cross but the ball is cleared from any danger
13’
Mac Allister does well to change the line of play and whips out a lofted ball to Acuna on the left. Acuna then tries to pick Fernandez, who runs into the penalty box. But the ball travels faster than the Argentina forward
10’
Messi’s brilliant dribble past three defenders rattles the Dutch backline. The PSG star puts a through ball to Acuna on the left but the latter mishits a cross and the ball goes out for a throw
8’
The ball goes back to Noppert from a Timber pass, who takes time to clear it. Julian Alvarez rushes in dangerously close to the Dutch keeper but Noppert finally kicks it away
6’
Argentina is forced back to its half as the Dutch pressure continues
4’
Free kick for Netherlands as Enzo Fernandez and Cody Gakpo clash heads. Referee stops the game for a potential concussion check but both players are up. Match resumes with a drop ball
2’
Argentina finally gets the ball rolling as Martinez picks Mac Allister, who runs into the Dutch penalty box but is dispossessed
1’
Netherlands take it slow as van Dijk gains control of the ball in the defensive half. Argentina hunts for early possession
KICK-OFF!
Netherlands will start the proceedings as Memphis Depay gets his first kick of the match. The Dutch will play from left to right
T-5
It is time for national anthems as players make their way into the middle. Netherlands’ anthem plays first followed by Argentina’s anthem.
LINE-UPS!!
Netherlands: Andries Noppert, Daley Blind, Nathan Ake, Virgil van Dijk (capt), Jurrien Timber, Denzel Dumfries, Marten de Roon, Steven Bergwijn, Frenkie de Jong, Cody Gakpo, Memphis Depay.
Argentina: Emiliano Martinez, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Otamendi, Nahuel Molina, Marcos Acuna, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Julian Alvarez, Lionel Messi
12:15am: Heads-up – Louis van Gaal is unbeaten in his 11 World Cup matches as a manager (W8 D3) – if Netherlands avoid defeat in this game, he will equal Luiz Felipe Scolari’s record of 12 games without defeat from the start of a World Cup managerial career.
12:00am: Netherlands has progressed from its last three World Cup quarterfinal matches (1998, 2010, 2014), with its only defeat at this stage coming in 1994 against eventual winner Brazil.
11:50pm: Since losing the 1930 final against Uruguay, each of Argentina’s last nine eliminations from the World Cup knockout rounds (including finals) have come against European nations, including a 2-1 loss to Netherlands in the 1998 quarterfinal.
11:35pm: The last two World Cup meetings between Netherlands and Argentina have finished 0-0, in the 2006 group stages and the 2014 semifinal (Argentina progressing on penalties).
Curious neighbours: Argentina fans watch the penalty shootout of Croatia and Brazil.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images
Absolute scenes at Education City stadium!!! Croatia has just done the unthinkable. From being a goal behind in the extra time, it has produced an outstanding comeback- with a Petkovic equaliser in the 117th minute- to win 3-2 in the penalty shootout. Croatia has now won four out of four penalty shootouts at World Cups. Click here for match HIGHLIGHTS
Meanwhile: The quarterfinal clash between Croatia and Brazil has just entered penalty shootouts!! Croatia is the only team alongside Germany to have a 100 per cent penalty shootout win record. Click here to follow the match LIVE
11:05pm: This will be the sixth World Cup meeting between Netherlands and Argentina, with only Brazil against Sweden (7) and Argentina against Germany (7) being played more often in the competition.
Predicted lineups
Netherlands: Noppert; Timber, Van Dijk, Ake; Dumfries, De Jong, De Roon, Blind; Klaassen; Gakpo, Depay
Argentina: Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Acuna; Fernandez, De Paul, Mac Allister; Di Maria, Messi, Alvarez
PREVIEW
The weight of history rests on the shoulders of today’s inheritors of the orange jersey and that of the blue-and-white striped shirts. Past players of the three-time finalist and the two-time champion have clashed in many World Cup classics, and Argentina against the Netherlands again promises to be a cracker of a game.
A wiser Louis van Gaal, back at the Dutch helm, had bolted shut the creativity of Lionel Messi, then at his peak, when they last met in the semifinals of Brazil 2014. Messi was subdued, but Argentina still went through as Wesley Sneijder and Ron Vlaar missed their penalties.
His team, van Gaal insists, is ready for all eventualities. “We support players in a scientific way to practise penalties and we hope we will have a minor advantage if we have to take penalties,” he said in his pre-match press conference.
READ: Netherlands in penalty shootouts at FIFA World Cup – Records, stats, saves and goals
The Argentines, though, had failed to win the two previous meetings – in 1998 and 2006 – Lionel Scaloni, the youngest manager here, does not want the game to go down to the uncertainties that shootouts bring. “We can’t think about penalty shootouts from now because then our focus would be lost. We should first look at 90 minutes and win the game,” he said. “The most important is how we try to damage the opponent and not get damaged ourselves. We have analysed the Dutch team and will set our team accordingly.”
A six-day break after an emotional round-of-16 win over the Aussies has helped the Argentines as the team utilised the free time to relax and rejuvenate with their families. “Moments with family members are important to unwind and enjoy the World Cup. Till the Australia game we had played four matches in 11 days, but now we are rested and ready, physically and mentally,” Alexis Mac Allister, who scored against Poland, said.
Angel Di Maria’s left-side runs and constant changing of positions was missed during the Australia game, but Scaloni expects the veteran to be available and help disrupt Holland’s plan of using Denzel Dumfries and Daley Blind through the wings.
ALSO READ: Argentina vs Netherlands, FIFA World Cup Quarterfinals – Three key battles to look out for
The Dutch had been relatively untested in group-stage wins over Qatar and Senegal before facing moments of trouble against the United States. While Memphis Depay gradually improves his fitness and game, a young Cody Gakpo has been its breakout star with three goals from four games. For Argentina, Messi has benefited from the introduction of a more mobile Julian Alvarez and has already attempted 4.8 shots on goal per game – the second most at this World Cup after Kylian Mbappe’s 5.3 – and played 3.3 key passes (the most per game).
Van Gaal has been combative about the media’s notion of the Dutch under him adopting a negative game, moving away from the rampant free football of Johan Cruyff.
He was angsty again when asked about his 3-5-2 system. “My vision has evolved; I was head coach of Ajax with a very offensive DNA and in Barcelona I learnt that you can’t always pursue that. And then, I started thinking about football in a different way and in World Cup 2014, you would have seen that vision and more teams are now using that. Football is evolving and it’s not easy to play the offensive way Ajax used to play. We also press, push and do it in varied ways, and not just defend. Brazil is also doing almost the same thing as the Dutch,” he said.
The Dutch manager has an axe to grind against Di Maria as well. The Argentine winger had called his former Manchester United boss “the worst coach of my career”.
“I am very sorry that Ángel Di María once said that I am the worst coach he has ever had. Here next to me sits Memphis. He was also in Manchester. And now we kiss on the mouth,” the oldest manager at this World Cup said. “We didn’t see eye to eye then but now we work together, and I want to kiss him on the mouth, but looks like now he doesn’t want that.”
Van Gaal’s jokes may be a little stale, but his Netherlands team will hope to be fresh and ready to scuttle the ceremonial ‘Leo Messi last dance’ that this World Cup is fast becoming.
Get all the results for the FIFA World Cup 2022 here: Full list of all matches, scores, results, goalscorers
When and where to watch
When will the Netherlands vs Argentina quarterfinal match kick-off?
The Netherlands vs Argentina quarterfinal match will kick-off at 12:30 am IST, December 10.
Where will the Netherlands vs Argentina quarterfinal match kick-off?
The Netherlands vs Argentina quarterfinal match will kick-off at the Lusail Stadium.
Where can you watch the Netherlands vs Argentina quarterfinal match in India?
The Netherlands vs Argentina quarterfinal match will be telecasted live on Sports18 and Sports18 HD. On Android and well as iOS, the 2022 FIFA World Cup will be live streamed on JioCinema.
Where can you watch the Netherlands vs Argentina quarterfinal match outside India?
Argentina – Live Stream: Telemundo
United States – TV: FOX, Telemundo; Live Stream: fuboTV, Fox Sports app, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo
Canada – TV: CTV, TSN; Live Stream: fuboTV, TSN app
United Kingdom – TV: BBC One; Live Stream: BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport Website
Australia – TV: SBS; Live Stream: SBS On Demand
New Zealand – TV: Sky Sports; Live Stream: Sky Sport
Malaysia – TV: RTM, Astro; Live Stream: Astro Go
Singapore – TV: Mediacorp Channel 5; Live Stream: StarHub TV+, IPTV, Singtel TV
Hong Kong – TV: BeIN Sports, ITV; Live Stream: Now TV, ViuTV
Nigeria – SuperSport and Showmax Pro.