Argentina celebrate in front of Netherlands stars as Lionel Messi shows true colours | Football | Sport
Argentina’s players brutally celebrated in front of the Netherlands’ after edging into the 2022 World Cup semi-finals on penalties on Saturday night. The Lusail Iconic Stadium hosted a thriller between the long-term rivals as tempers flared before and after Emi Martinez’s shoot-out heroics.
Card-happy Spanish referee Antonio Mateu lost control of the heated clash, especially as ill-feeling intensified when Leandro Paredes fouled a Netherlands man before smashing the ball towards their bench. That led to one of a few brawls between the players and the game’s 10th yellow card, a tally that eventually reached a staggering 17.
Unbelievable late scenes as the Netherlands chalked off Argentina’s two-goal lead in the 101st minute, and a tensely contested extra-time period led to penalties. But despite Louis van Gaal’s men boasting the momentum, Martinez saved their first two spot-kicks to set up the South Americans for a 4-3 triumph.
As their fate was sealed, Lionel Messi and co couldn’t help but twist the knife in Netherlands hearts, aiming their initial celebrations at the distraught team at the halfway line. It produced an iconic image that proved that even the most classy players carry a mean streak when a legacy-defining trophy is on the line.
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Argentina looked safely into the final four after Messi’s genius assisted Nahuel Molina’s opener before the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner doubled the lead from the spot. The stakes also impacted his resulting celebration, as the usually calm and unprovocative talisman cuffed his ears while looking at the Netherlands bench.
But likely in the final game of his illustrious coaching career, Van Gaal responded with two strokes of genius in the dying embers. After introducing Wout Weghorst in the 78th minute, the Burnley striker headed the Netherlands back into the game just moments later.
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And in the 11th minute of stoppage time, he finished off a masterful free-kick routine to incredibly take the game to extra time. But it ultimately wasn’t enough and called time on the Dutch’s hopes of a maiden success in the Middle East.
Argentina will face Croatia in the semi-finals after they shocked holders Brazil to deny the neutrals of a mouth-watering South American showdown next week. And given Zlatko Dalic’s side’s penalty track record, Messi and the rest of Lionel Scaloni’s squads may have to keep their nerve again to reach the final.
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