4 legendary confrontations that brought together Argentina and the Netherlands .. Messi faces the most difficult test
Lionel Messi hopes to take an additional step towards his first title in the FIFA World Cup, when he leads Argentina against the Netherlands in an upcoming match in the quarter-finals of the Qatar 2022 World Cup on Friday, which brings to mind epic confrontations between the two ancient teams.
AFP takes a look at the highlights of the World Finals clash between La Albiceleste and The Mills.
- 1974: Cruyff and his comrades reviewed - Argentina stood helpless in front of the "total ball" presented by the Netherlands from the start until the end, which led to its fall, 4-0, not even the extent of the Dutch superiority.
Johan Cruyff was at the height of his bid, opening and closing the scoring in a match in which the Orangeman performed amazingly with new tactics that made a quantum leap in modern football.
This victory contributed to Argentina's exit from the second round of the group stage (according to the system at the time), and the Netherlands qualified for the final, only to fall to Gerd Muller and West Germany.
1978: Dutch fall, military celebration - In the absence of Cruyff, who was the victim of a horrific kidnapping attempt before the tournament, the Netherlands lost a second successive final against the hosts in a version used by Argentina's brutal junta to whitewash their image.
Allegations of match-fixing and political pressure in Argentina's favor swirled throughout the tournament, but the tight and sometimes violent contest would have smiled at the Netherlands had Rob Rensenbrink's shot not been blocked at the last minute.
Argentina achieved its first title in the World Cup in extension, thanks to its star, Mario Kempes, who opened the scoring in normal time (1-1), before giving his country the lead in extension, raising his score to six goals in the tournament, so that Argentina would eventually win 3-1.
- 1998: Bergkamp's touch - Dennis Bergkamp scored many amazing goals in his career, but few of them were as important or aesthetic as the one he achieved in the 90th minute in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in France, giving the Netherlands a fatal victory 2-1.
The Dutch national team included resounding names such as Patrick Kluivert, the brothers de Boer, Edgar Davids in the middle, and the protector of the den, the rock Edwin van der Sar.
An advantage was given to Argentina in the last quarter of an hour, after Arthur Naumann was sent off with a second yellow card, following his intervention on Diego Simeone in the 76th minute.
But she did not benefit from this numerical superiority for a short period before Daniel Ortega was sent off with two yellow cards in a row, the first for deliberately falling in the penalty area and the second after he butted Van der Sar, who confronted him for claiming obstruction.
The match was on its way to two overtime periods, but a magical touch sealed the victory.
Frank de Boer raised a wonderful long ball from behind the midfield line behind the defenders to Bergkamp, the Arsenal striker at the time. He tamed it in an amazing way and dodged Roberto Ayala before he shot with his right foot on the outside of the goal, scoring one of the most beautiful goals in the World Cup finals.
- 2014: Penalties put Argentina in the final - Louis van Gaal, the current coach, led the Netherlands in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil when it fell in the semi-finals with a penalty shootout against Argentina.
Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben were at the disposal of the feat coach, while Messi was at the peak of his levels with the tango team, but the match ended in a goalless draw after the original and extra time, which lacked opportunities.
In the quarter-finals against Costa Rica, Van Gaal ventured into goalkeeper Tim Krul instead of Jasper Silesen at the end of the extension, to take penalties and win his bet after he made two saves and the Netherlands won 4-3.
Van Gaal did not repeat this maneuver against Argentina, and the Netherlands went out after losing 4-2 with two missed kicks by Ron Vlaar and Wesley Sneijder.
Argentina went to the final and lost it against Germany 1-0 in the extension, to remain its last achievement in 1986.
After eight years in Qatar, the confrontation between Van Gaal and Messi and the few faces that were in Brazil in 2014 is renewed.
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