Argentina qualified for the semi-finals of the World Cup after a meeting with a fabulous scenario against the Netherlands on Friday evening (2-2, 4 tab to 3). She will return to Croatia next Tuesday.
Special Envoy to Qatar
The World Cup in Qatar holds its legendary match. And the most experienced will only be half surprised to see that it is still the poster between the Netherlands and Argentina that has kept all its promises. Time will tell where this quarter-final stands next to the fabulous memories of the 1978 final won by the Argentinians (3-1) or the 1998 quarter-final won by the Dutch (2-1) after the divine gesture of Bergkamp, but the scenario as crazy as it was brilliant glimpsed on Friday evening in a match which seemed promised to the Albiceleste will not have left any of the 88,000 supporters present at the Lusail Stadium indifferent. For a moment out of time. Delicious for Argentinians. Cruel for the Dutch. Next Tuesday, Croatia, falling from Brazil (1-1, 4 pens to 2), awaits Lionel Messi’s band with a firm footing. But the dreams of planetary coronation for the Pulga are more vivid than ever.
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Friday evening, Lusail Stadium, 0:58 (local time), Lionel Messi, 35, of a usual reserved, is in a trance with all the Albiceleste and takes his foot to savor the qualification in the semi-finals of the World Cup ( 2-2, 4 tab to 3) with the supporters. He stretches time like a child eager to still enjoy the sandbox with his buddies. His nation has just gone through all the emotions after a penalty shootout finally won against Oranje in tears and inconsolable.
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For four days, the whole of Argentina will be in turmoil, not to mention the more than 50,000 “hinchas” present in Qatar and who turn every speaker upside down with their noise, warmth and unfailing support. The Albiceleste came close to drama in a match that will be remembered for its unexpected scenario, its extreme tension and its magical outcome in a stadium with the false air of La Bombonera. If Neymar and Brazil are at the door, Messi’s Argentina can still believe in the best. In this crazy World Cup where Germany, Spain, Belgium and Brazil are already back at home, this is no small feat.
In his quest for a World Cup that has slipped between his feet since the start of his career, Lionel Messi will once again have fulfilled his role and assumed his responsibilities, like the first shot on goal attempted and converted, as if to show the way to his own. Neymar, 5th Auriverde shooter, would have dreamed of such a scenario… The already very real Argentinian legend is just waiting to write a new chapter in his story. The most beautiful. The biggest. But there are still two peaks to climb. But Friday night, it was time for digestion. To enjoy a deafening end of the evening. Just before, the PSG striker had done everything to close the deal as quickly as possible, in order to avoid the trap like the Brazilian rival three hours earlier.
The disappointing Netherlands
In a close match with the far too schooly Oranje, the former Camp Nou idol settled everything. At the 35e minute, he grabs the ball in midfield, resists the return of Aké, then finds an impossible passing angle for Molina who crucifies Noppert (1-0). A pass that is worth a goal for the Argentinian, as his licked gesture surprised everyone, the Dutch defense in the first place. Sign that at his twilight, Lionel Messi still manages to surprise everyone. The very definition of artists. The rest of the quarter-final was akin to a formality, in a false rhythm as Louis van Gaal’s men showed nothing. Barely if Memphis Depay, missing on the lawn, had wet his jersey. Why climb into the quarter-finals to try nothing, take so little risk, stay so restrictive in a pattern of play, we said to ourselves in the stands… And since Messi was not satisfied, he came to add a little goal from the penalty spot after a foul on Acuna to establish the domination of his team (2-0, 73e). The ticket for the semi-finals was almost in the pocket of the Argentines. Before everything falls into irrationality, fury and uproar.
It first took the coaching of Louis van Gaal for the balance of power to be reversed. In large widths. At the end of the second period on the verge of falling into fistfights, with extreme tension on both sides, Wout Weghorst, who came into play, gave hope to the Oranje (2-1, 83e) with a nice uncrossed header. In the aftermath, on a handover from the giant of 1.97m, Berghuis sent a slightly deflected missile into Martinez’s small net (85e). For sacred shivers on the Albiceleste side. Before tempers flared with a general fight initiated… by Leandro Paredes, customary to the fact, after a voluntary shot in the direction of the opposing bench (88e).
What followed was breathtaking. Panting. And enjoyable for the football observers that we are. Side fans, it’s another story as the tension was pushed to its climax. On a final free kick after ten minutes of added time (!), against a hot Argentinian bench and a Lionel Messi warned for a gesture of humor, the Dutch genius resurfaced. While everyone was waiting for the strike, Koopmeiners sent a small pass to Wout Weghorst, who controlled before going on from the left in front of Martinez (2-2, 90 + 10). A brilliant combination and an unexpected double from the giant of Besiktas synonymous with an unreal turnaround. Legendary. For a totally crazy scenario.
The extension was of the same ilk. Engaged in a boxing fight in twelve rounds, the two selections, close to knockout, went blow for blow. Causing amazement and shivers in the stands of an incandescent Lusail Stadium. Like this shot on the post of Fernandez in the 120e minute of play… You know the rest with the penalty shoot-out. An untenable Romero with two entry stops, then the deliverance with the composure of Martinez to deliver an entire people. Impossible for Lionel Scaloni’s men not to share this qualification with their fans, the latter making the pleasure last for long minutes after the match, aware of having experienced a legendary match. And to have passed very close to the road exit. Tuesday, we will have to do it again against Luka Modric’s Croatia. Four days to digest, recuperate and recover from your emotions. Long live football.