ARGENTINA VS NETHERLANDS
Lusail Stadium in Doha is going to witness the fireworks in Qatar today. Giants Argentina and Netherlands will clash in the second quarter-final match at 12.30 IST. A repeat of the 2014 World Cup semi-final match in Brazil is going to take place today. Argentina entered the final after defeating the Netherlands in a penalty shootout.
Louis van Gaal's Orange army take to the field today determined to atone for that one defeat. They enter the group stage unbeaten. And figures from the last two World Cups give them hope. The Dutch team, which entered the 2010 World Cup finals, reached the semi-finals in 2014 but failed to qualify in 2018. The Netherlands can overcome Argentina, who arrive with the strongest players in Europe, such as Van Dijk, Diong, Depay, Dumfries, Gakpo, Dilitt, Klaasen, and Blind. On the other hand, Lionel Scoloni and his team are determined to regain the title they lost in 2014. This could be superstar Lionel Messi's last World Cup, the Albiceleste will bring out the forgotten fight in today's match. What greater gift could Messi give them than the World Cup? After losing to Saudi Arabia in their first match at this stadium, Argentina defeated Mexico in their next match. Messi and his team will be able to repeat that feat. Meanwhile, it is yet to be confirmed if their midfielder Rodrigo De Paul is available for today's match. The player trained alone yesterday as he had minor problems with his muscles. There is no doubt that it will be a huge blow for Argentina if DePaul is unable to play. Fans hope that the he will play anyway. In the last 5 matches played between these two teams, both teams have won 2 each. A match was tied. We can see a life-and-death battle in which those who lose today will be eliminated from the World Cup. The winners of the Brazil-Croatia match will meet in the semi-finals. Therefore, an Argentina-Brazil dream semi-final is possible. Anyway, it remains to be seen how Messi and his team will react as the Dutch team prepares to avenge their defeat in the 2014 semi-finals.
WIN PROBABILITY
Argentina:-44%
Netherlands:-25%
Extra Time:-31%
MATCH SCHEDULE
Date:-10/12/2022
Time:-12.30 AM (IST)
Venue:- Lusail Stadium
INSIGHTS
1) This will be the sixth World Cup meeting between the Netherlands and Argentina, with only Brazil facing Sweden seven times and Argentina facing Germany more times in the competition.
2) The Netherlands have lost just one of their nine meetings with Argentina in all competitions (W4 D4), the loss in the 1978 World Cup final. However, the most recent of those four ties resulted in a penalty shootout defeat in the last meeting between the two sides in the 2014 World Cup semifinals.
3) The last two World Cup meetings between the Netherlands and Argentina ended 0-0, in the 2006 group stage and the 2014 semi-final (with Argentina advancing on penalties).
4) Since losing to Uruguay in the 1930 final, each of Argentina's last nine eliminations in the World Cup knockout rounds (including the final) have come against European nations.
5) The Netherlands have advanced from their last three World Cup quarterfinal appearances (1998, 2010, and 2014).
