Argentina’s victory over the Netherlands in a thrilling quarter-final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Friday kept Lionel Messi’s dream alive to finally get his hands on the much-cherished trophy. At 35, Messi knows this will be his fifth and final World Cup – and a winner’s medal would polish his legacy as one of football’s greatest ever players, placing him alongside compatriot Diego Maradona and Pele.
Argentina looked poised for a 2-0 margin in regular time as a late wave from the Netherlands made it 2-2. The Argentinian’s team eventually won the game 4-3 on penalties. Things got tense in the final stages of the match as Messi and his teammates lost their cool on a number of occasions. Messi even confronted Dutch coach Louis van Gaal after the win when other members of the Dutch support staff held him back.
Watch: Lionel Messi confronts Dutch coach Louis van Gaal
Messi had to show Louis van Gaal his place! ?️
— Leo Messi ? (@WeAreMessi) December 10, 2022
Speaking of the match, goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez came to the rescue of Argentina in a remarkable evening of drama by saving two penalties from the Netherlands in the shootout to send his country through to the semi-finals of the World Cup. The Aston Villa goalkeeper was barely tested for the better part of 90 minutes as Argentina took a two-goal lead before substitute Wout Weghorst sparked an incredible Dutch fightback in the quarter-final.
Argentina were stunned when Weghorst equalized in the 11th minute of added time, requiring an extra 30 minutes to the astonishment of the 88,235 crowd at the Lusail Stadium – almost all of them supporting Lionel Messi and his teammates.
But Martinez seized his chance to be the hero just when it looked like Argentina could face even more World Cup contention. He flew to the right to thwart Virgil van Dijk’s opening attempt from the spot.
After Messi, who had doubled Argentina’s lead with a penalty during the match, coolly rolled into his team’s first try, Martinez flung left to deny Steven Berghuis.
Enzo Fernandez drilled wide with the chance to win it for Argentina, but Lautaro Martinez made no mistake with their next kick to set up a clash with 2018 runners-up Croatia.
With AFP inputs
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