Argentina will face Croatia in the semifinals of the World Cup because they have the genius Lionel Messi.
It will be against Croatia because Brazil does not have Lionel Messi.
And Croatia has the sorcerer Modric.
Messi moved the entire Dutch defense to the left in the first half and gave more to Molina down the centre-right to open the scoring, in the 34th minute of the first half. Fooled everyone.
From then on, Argentina put the Netherlands and the match to sleep, which Brazil failed to do when facing Croatia.
In the sleepy second half, Acuña conceded a penalty and captain Messi made it 2-0, in the 27th minute, with the coolness of the greats.
Since Argentina cannot live without some drama, at 37 the Netherlands scored with a header through Weghorst.
Also strange because the offensive vocation of this Holland of Van Gaal is none.
There, Argentina had to hold out.
And he gallantly resisted. Or gracefully.
Until a foul in the 10th minute of stoppage time on the edge of the area was masterfully converted by the Netherlands, who instead of hitting directly, threatened by Koopmeiners, did so with a low touch in the area where Weghorst converted Fernández and equalized 2-2 and caused its unthinkable extension.
A more or less lethargic past in the first half, as if Holland were pinching themselves and Argentina were trying to recover from the trauma.
Already in the second half Di Maria entered the field, probably thinking of penalties.
Argentina recovered and risked winning, but Van Gaal’s Holland knew how to defend themselves and was lucky.
Penalties arrive, as the crossbar saves the 3-2 with a last shot from Fernández.
If Croatia’s victory over Brazil was unfair, the Dutch would be even more so.
Van Dijke bateu and Martinez pegou.
Messi made it 1-0.
Martinez also took the second Dutch penalty.
Paredes made it 2-0.
The Netherlands returned to 1-2.
3 a 1.
2 a 3.
Fernández eliminated: 2 – 3.
3 a 3.
Lautaro Martinez honors the goalkeeper’s surname: 4 to 3!
