The second of four quarter-finals comes from Lusail Stadium as the Netherlands and Argentina go to battle for a place in the final-four at the FIFA World Cup.
These countries share a rich history of clashes at the World Cup, having met five times at the event prior to this crucial quarter-final in the Middle East. Most significantly of them all, Argentina beat the Netherlands, 3-1, in the 1978 final as the host nation stormed to a first world title.
In modern times, they met in the 2014 semi-finals and could not be separated from the first whistle until the last. This match-up became the first World Cup semi-final to end goalless and La Albiceleste advanced to the final after winning on penalties.
In 2006, they had fought out another 0-0 draw in the group stage. The last time the countries went head-to-head at this stage of the tournament was in 1998; the South Americans were victorious by two goals to one.
A frame of #FIFAWorldCup legends 🖼️ 😍
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🇳🇱🇦🇷 Will new portraits be added after the Quarter-Final? pic.twitter.com/F8dYo7yc6B
In what could be his very last game as Netherlands manager, Louis van Gaal has to contend with the champions of South America for a place in the final-four in Qatar.
Van Gaal has never been on the losing side at a World Cup match, not including penalty shootouts, and the 71-year-old is also unbeaten in 19 matches since returning as Netherlands manager in 2021.
Louis van Gaal has only lost one World Cup game in 11 matches.
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It was against Argentina on penalties in the 2014 semifinal ⏪ pic.twitter.com/p3evR9A82t
Netherlands are one of four nations yet to taste defeat at this World Cup, though this last-eight tie will undoubtedly be their sternest test yet. The men in orange scored a convincing win over a youthful USMNT to advance to the quarters for the fourth time at their last five World Cup events.
At their last World Cup outing in 2014, Die Oranje reached the semi-finals and took home the bronze medal after they had ended runners-up in South Africa four years prior, narrowly pipped to the trophy by Spain.
The Dutch are three-time runners-up and no other nation has reached as many World Cup finals without winning one.
Only twice this century have Argentina failed to reach the quarters or beyond: in 2002 they exited from the groups and four years ago they went out in the last-16, at the hands of eventual winners France.
Of their last nine encounters with European nations in the World Cup knockouts, just once have Argentina won in regular time.
The last time either of these teams were involved in a penalty shootout at the World Cup was against each other, eight years ago. The Dutch had edged Costa Rica, also on penalties, in the quarters but couldn’t find a way past a Lionel Messi-inspired Albiceleste.
In his side’s last-16 tie versus Australia last week, the Argentina skipper scored the opening goal in what was the 1,000th appearance of his illustrious senior career.
It was Messi’s third goal at Qatar 2022 and ninth overall at the World Cup finals, moving him above countryman and legend Diego Maradona. Remarkably, this was only his first goal in the knockout phase at the tournament.
Netherlands are priced 3.60 to prevail over their South American opposition in regular time and progress to the semis for a third time since 2010. Argentina are priced 2.20 to overcome the orange army, while odds of 3.10 for the tie to be decided beyond 90 minutes. (Bet365)
