Arguably the most intriguing game of the FIFA World Cup 2022 quarter-finals takes place at the Lusail Iconic Stadium on Friday evening, as two giants of the international game go to war with the Netherlands up against Argentina.
Louis Van Gaal’s Oranje’s triumphed over USA 3-1 in the round of 16 to book their quarter-final spot while the South American champions got the better of Australia 2-1 to keep their hopes and expectations of a third World Cup gong alive.
Breakthrough star Cody Gakpo’s hot streak in front of goal may have come to an end against the US last time out, but it was Van Gaal’s lively wing-backs who took on some of the goalscoring burden to both outwit and put the United States to the sword in Saturday’s last-16 battle.
Denzel Dumfries provided two very similar assists for Memphis Depay and Daley Blind in the first half, and while Haji Wright’s impressive unorthodox flick gave the USA a glimmer of hope, Blind, with his father Danny watching on alongside Van Gaal in the dugout, turned provider for Dumfries to volley home unchallenged to settle the match.
It was the US that started the game the brighter and more penetrative side, with the Netherlands doing little to quell the talk that Van Gaal’s Netherlands had become “boring” to watch, but as the game wore on with Gregg Berhalter’s side struggling to break down the Oranje resistance, they were immediately punished with sheer ruthlessness on the counter, with Memphis Depay’s opener the pick of the goals, finishing off a wonderful flowing move.
Indeed, the Netherlands have now reached the last eight in four of their last five World Cup tournaments – the outlier being a last-16 elimination in 2006 – and they progressed to the semi-finals in both 2010 and 2014 before disappointingly failing to qualify for the Russia edition in 2018.
Not since 1994 have the 2010 runners-up failed to win a quarter-final match at the World Cup, and the Netherlands’ unbeaten streak in all competitions now stands at an incredible 19 matches, but that record will be under serious threat when they come up against a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina.
The footballing gods have long been waiting for Lionel Messi to adhere to their script in ending his knockout hoodoo, and that he did with such unerring grace, notching a trademark finish low into the bottom corner on his 1000th career match.
The Paris Saint-Germain veteran found the back of the net with a low finish before Julian Alvarez robbed Mathew Ryan of the ball for Argentina’s second – much to the amusement of the goalkeeper’s Copenhagen rival Kamil Grabara – before Craig Goodwin’s deflected strike gave Australia dreams of an unlikely comeback.
The Socceroos very nearly completed the unthinkable through Newcastle United-bound teenager Garang Kuol in the final few seconds, but for Emiliano Martinez’ stunning last-ditch save to send Argentina through to the last eight.
Argentina most recently progressed from the quarter-finals in 2014 en-route to finishing second best to a Mario Gotze winning Germany side, but they had lost their last three ties in the last eight before that in 1998, 2006 and 2010, and their hopes of world domination have ended at the hands of European teams nine times in a row since the inaugural 1930 edition.
History arguably does not favour Lionel Scaloni’s men, but a 13-game scoring streak in all competitions does, and La Albiceleste will desperately need Messi at his scintilating best as they attempt to end a barren streak in previous meetings with the Dutch.
Indeed, Argentina have failed to score in each of their last three matches versus the Netherlands, who have held La Albiceleste to two 0-0 draws in their most recent two World Cup meetings – winning the 2014 semi-final on spot kicks. The world will be hoping this contest isn’t another 0-0 encounter, especially with the dearth of quality in both squads currently.
WORLD CUP FORM:
Netherlands: WDWW
Argentina: LWWW
WHEN & WHERE?
Stadium: Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail, Qatar.
Date: Friday 9th December 2022.
Time: 19:00 PM.
TEAM NEWS
The Netherlands underwent a brief injury scare with Jeremie Frimpong (ankle) before the win over the USA, but the Bayer Leverkusen right-back formed part of a fully-fit squad, and Van Gaal should thankfully have everyone available for the quarter-final too.
In defence, Stefan de Vrij could not train over the weekend due to discomfort, but it’s very unlikely he’ll be breaking into an already settled back three of Jurrien Timber, Virgil Van Dijk & Nathan Ake. Frenkie De Jong and Martin de Roon could be Van Gaal’s favoured deep-lying midfield pairing once again, with Davy Klaasen likely to continue at the tip of the midfield and it will indeed be a fearing task for all three players aiming to keep Lionel Messi quiet on Friday evening.
Depay’s opener against the USA made it 24 goals in his last 30 outings for the Netherlands – as well as 10 assists – and the Barcelona attacker should once again partner up with Gakpo in an untouched Dutch XI.
As for Argentina, Sevilla attacker Papu Gomez came off with a sprained ankle in the 50th minute against Australia and is a doubt for the contest, but Angel Di Maria who recently stated that Louis Van Gaal is the “worst manager” he’s played under, is stepping up his recovery from a quadriceps problem and should be fit to take on his former coach who they worked together at Manchester United back in 2014/15.
Lionel Scaloni otherwise has no injury worries, especially in defence and is looking to stick with Cristian Romero and Nicolas Otamendi as his centre-back pairings, although Lisandro Martinez is certainly pushing to be involved after his stunning individual cameo against Australia in the dying moments. It won’t be a surprise to see Scaloni go to a back-five to counter the threat of Netherlands’ terrifying wing-back pairing of Dumfries and Blind.
Scaloni certainly has bags of quality at his disposal, especially in midfield but Rodrigo De Paul and Enzo Fernandez should continue because of their terrific form so far, with special praise given to the latter seeing as he’s just recently broken into such a prodigious setup.
ANALYSIS
Just how Louis Van Gaal aims to stifle and stop the influence and greatness of Lionel Messi will certainly the most intriguing facet of this fascinating match-up. Many managers have indeed tried and failed to keep the PSG veteran quiet, and Van Gaal has promised fans recently that he does indeed have a plan to stop him on Friday. Whether it’s successful is another matter entirely.
What are the ways in which to stifle Messi’s influence? Will it be to man-mark him? Could Van Gaal get Davy Klaasen or De Roon to squeeze him out, or stop him in getting the ball into the final third areas. During this tournament, Messi’s passes received have been distributed around the middle and right of the attacking half. He isn’t a right-winger in Scaloni’s setup, nor is he a false-nine.
Messi has pretty much lined up on the right of an attacking pair with either Julian Alvarez or Lisandro Martinez, given the licence to roam in between the lines, especially in the right half space, which means Netherlands will need to crowd the middle and not allow him the space in front of the back-line. If Messi receives passes wide on the right flank or back in the middle third, Van Gaal’s men will be doing their job right.
Another facet is stopping or tracking Marcos Acuna’s overlapping runs. Part of Messi’s trademark actions in the final third is him, picking up the ball in those right-half spaces and unleashing a delicious long-raking diagonal pass into the LB – Marcos Acuna’s – path as seen below , just like he did for Jordi Alba throughout their time together at Barcelona.
Both Denzel Dumfries and Jurrien Timber who plays at RCB will certainly need to be alert in tracking Acuna’s runs but also stopping him getting space to receive passes from switches and also space to get into the penalty area.
If the Netherlands can restrict the space Messi operates in, and track the runners in behind then they would have a huge chance of stifling Argentina. However, cutting out the nimble maestro will still leave the threats of both Di Maria and Rodrigo de Paul to contend with.
But, Van Gaal will have a few attacking weapons of his own which Lionel Scaloni will need to be mindful of, especially in transition. And that is the frightening and electric pace of Cody Gakpo and Memphis Depay up front. Argentina cannot afford to be slow and indecisive in the passing or those two along with Dumfries and Blind will punish them, just as the USA found out. Both Rodrigo De Paul and Enzo Fernandez along with Alexis Mac Allister will have huge jobs being swift and decisive in possession, but also being ruthless in their counter-pressing to stop the Netherlands getting the ball out to Gakpo and Depay in dangerous transitional areas of the pitch.
And what about the threat of Denzel Dumfries and Daley Blind? Both players were superb in the round of 16 clash against USA, not just because of their high and wide positions in the attacking half, but because the US failed to find solutions to match them up. A facet Scaloni will have to consider heading into Friday’s encounter. And that may mean moving to a wing-back system, but also playing a three-man defence to outnumber and stifle the immediate threat of Memphis Depay and Cody Gakpo.
A three-man backline of Lisandro Martinez along with Otamendi and Romero may well be the more plausible and sensible route to deal with Netherlands’ deadly attacking duo. But, whichever route both managers may take heading into this stunning encounter, it will almost certainly be the most tactically intriguing tie of the round.
KEY PLAYERS
MEMPHIS DEPAY
24 goals and 10 assists in his last 30 outings for the Netherlands is just simply outrageous reading and yet again highlights how pivotal Memphis Depay is to Van Gaal’s team. No longer is the former PSV Eindhoven academy starlet a out-an-out winger, but he’s completely morphed into the complete forward, and his goal against the US last time out showed.
Dropping off to link-up the play in Netherlands own half, before latching onto the end of Dumfries sizzling cut-back to unleash an unerring finish beneath the despairing Matt Turner. It was a team goal, no doubt. But Van Gaal wouldn’t have entrusted anyone else but Depay to finish off such a delicious passing move with such aplomb and world class quality.
That’s what Depay possesses in his weaponry. He’s strong and powerful, can hold the ball up well, bring others into play, is pacey and skillful, technically sound and creative in the final third and is a superb finisher when it comes down to it. A facet of his game that is somewhat underrated and underappreciated – Memphis Depay can finish. The aforementioned recent record for the Dutch fully explains such.
What a player. If the Netherlands are to somehow triumph over Lionel Messi and co on Friday evening, expect Depay to be at the centre of Van Gaal’s attacking plan.
ENZO FERNANDEZ
Of course, Lionel Messi remains Argentina’s undisputed and undeniable key man and instigator. But this tournament has seen the emergence of the country’s breakout star, and the midfield component that keeps everything ticking over for La Albiceleste – and that man is Enzo Fernandez.
It’s important to remember that the 21 y/o wasn’t even a starter heading into the tournament. In fact, Argentina looked vulnerable, disheveled and directionless without him in the defeat to Saudi Arabia. But since his goal scoring substitute cameo against Mexico, Scaloni’s men have found a new lease of life tactically and in possession.
But more crucially, they are much more robust and safe with the Benfica maestro at the base of their midfield, keeping things ticking over with some silky passing, but also possessing the energy to counter-press, break up attacking moves sitting in front of and protecting the Argentina defence. He’s registered a goal and an assist so far in the tournament, averaged 73 touches per game, 0.8 interceptions, 1.8 tackles and is only dribbled past on average 0.5 times per game. In Fernandez, La Albiceleste have found the midfield foundation they will now rely on for the next decade and beyond.
Against Netherlands, Fernandez will need to continue his tremendous form in midfield, because the country’s hope and expectation of lifting a prestigious third World Cup triumph partly rests on his broad shoulders. And it’s a huge challenge he’ll certainly take on and thrive in. He’s that good.
PREDICTED LINEUPS
Netherlands predicted XI vs Argentina: Noppert (GK); Timber, Van Dijk, Ake; Dumfries, De Jong, De Roon, Blind; Klaassen; Gakpo, Depay
Argentina predicted XI vs Netherlands: Martinez (GK); Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Acuna; Fernandez, De Paul, Mac Allister; Di Maria, Messi, Alvarez
SCORE PREDICTION:
Netherlands 1-2 Argentina – (AET)
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