Introduction
The Netherlands take on Argentina in one of the biggest quarterfinal games of the 2022 World Cup. The Oranje will look for revenge over the South Americans after bowing out to them on penalties during the 2014 World Cup semi finals now again it’s Netherland vs Argentina.
In this post, you’ll Read about
The Netherlands
ArgentinaKey Battles to look out for
The Netherlands
The Dutch have had smooth sailing so far, remaining unbeaten in all their games. They took apart the USA in the round of 16, beating them 3-1 with Memphis Depay, Denzel Dumfries and Daley Blind all getting in on the act. Blind also assisted once, whereas Dumfries assisted the two other goals. The Dutch fullbacks took apart the USA, putting in cross after cross from the wings, most of which were fruitful in terms of goals. Apart from the fullbacks, they have Cody Gakpo, who is in sublime form, having scored in all the group-stage games. In midfield, Frenkie De Jong has a goal and assist, along with a passing accuracy of 89% in 4 starts. The Dutch defense has been pretty average in the sense that they have conceded in 2 out of their 4 games, making their attack look far better than their defense. The new goalkeeper, Noppert, has truly risen to the occasion, making a total of 15 saves, which is astounding for someone who was going to retire from the sport to join the police force just a few years prior to making his World Cup debut. This has helped solve the constant goalkeeper dilemma that the Dutch have had for the past decade.
Argentina
Argentina were one of the teams that were poised to take the World Cup by storm but haven’t really looked convincing even after topping the group and reaching the semi-finals. There could be various reasons for this, such as the team having set such a high standard for themselves, their unbeaten run, or even just knowing Messi plays for them is enough to make fear run through the veins of opponents and opposition fans. The team kicked off the tournament with a loss to Saudi Arabia, which was probably the most shocking result in the history of any World Cup. The Argentines bounced back by taking apart Mexico and Poland, beating both teams 2-0. These two clean sheets were definitely a boost to the Argentine defense and a relief for Emi Martinez, who has made only 2 saves in the entirety of the tournament. Another positive sign for the Argentine defense has been Montiel and Otamendi providing assists, making sure the attack isn’t only reliant on Messi. Speaking of players who have contributed to the attack aside from Messi, Alexis Mac Allister has helped in creating chances and also scoring once, whereas Julian Alvarez has scored 2 times in 2 starts, including the decider against Australia. Alvarez has sidelined Lautaro Martinez, who has scored 0 goals and missed 3 big chances in the tournament. Messi has been the most important player for Argentina, with 3 goals, 1 assist, and 3 big chances created, showing how important he is to their buildup and final third play.
Key Battles to look out for
The biggest battle in this Netherlands vs Argentina match to look out for will be Leo Messi vs Virgil van Dijk, two of the best players in their positions. We have seen this battle before, and both players have come out on top against each other, but Messi just edged it over VVD, but that’s just Messi with anyone. If the Dutch giant can keep Messi out of the game, it will eliminate the majority of the threat that Argentina poses. Molina and Acuna’s efforts to curtail the relentless Dumfries and Blind will be another deciding factor in the game. Otamendi vs Depay is a battle that most aren’t aware of but will be important with the Netherlands relying on crosses in the box to score, making sure the Aerial duels in the box play a large role in the Dutch goal-scoring conquest.
Conclusion
All in all, this Netherland vs Argentina, game should be a well-balanced one, with both sides creating chances and defending well. We predict the game will go to penalties again, with both teams looking to play it safe and not commit an attack. The midfield battle for the ball will be intense, with both teams drawing loads of fouls in the buildup. Be ready for a crackerjack of a contest on the first day of the quarter finals.
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