Lionel Messi was jumping for joy, spinning his arms around. The captain of the Argentine selection rushed to goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, his face buried in the lawn, to kiss him. I said to myself that this guy must be as delighted that his team is qualified for the semi-final of the World Cup, as relieved not to have played his last match in the World Cup.
#CursedSoccerPlate sometimes ironizes football fans – yes, the one that is played with a ball and the foot – on social networks. A way like any other to make fun of those who claim that the most beautiful sport in the world is boring. We wish them to have seen the two quarter-finals of the World Cup on Friday. Two matches with anthology goals, which will mark the history of the World Cup. And not just that of Qatar.
The duel between Argentina and the Netherlands (Argentina won 2-2, 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out) concluded a crazy day which saw Brazil, big favorites of the competition, suffer a crushing defeat – heart in the shootout (1-1, 4-2 in the shootout), after Croatia equalized at the very end of extra time. The Brazilians themselves scored in the first period of extra time with a magnificent goal from Neymar, after an archetypal one-two.
It seemed bent, as they say in Belo Horizonte, when the Auriverdes defenders got tangled in their brushes a few minutes from the end, leaving Mislav Osic alone on the left flank, who crossed for Bruno Petkovic in the 117e minute.
Croats, like the aftermaths in James Bond movies, never die.
They were surprisingly dynamic, after a round of 16 match which also went to the penalty shootout (against Japan), thanks to an effective mix of youth and experience. Luka Modric, 37, seemed to have taken a youth serum as he hovered over the midfield. Dejan Lovren has returned to the level of his Liverpool era alongside Joko Gvardiol, one of the tournament’s young sensations.
PHOTO DARKO BANDIC, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Neymar Jr. in tears after Brazil lose to Croatia
Dominik Livakovic played the match of his life, blocking ten Brazilian shots on target, even before the penalty shootout. Croats never give up. They are not world vice-champions for nothing. This time they want to go all the way, and why not, take their revenge on the French.
The genius of Messi
On their way, they will meet Argentinians who believe more than ever that this is their year (especially since the elimination of their Brazilian rivals). What doesn’t kill makes you stronger, goes the saying. Argentina’s World Cup curtain raiser defeat to Saudi Arabia gave them some scares, but never as much as this quarter-final against the Netherlands. The Argentinians took the lead over the Dutch after a rather sterile start to the match, without fluidity, marked by a physical and closed game. The Orangecondensed in midfield, blocked the axis.
Lionel Messi struggled to get away for the first half hour. But he only needed a few centimeters, courtesy of a feint in front of Nathan Ake – the shadow of his shadow – to deliver a divine pass between the legs of the Dutch defender and a first international goal to Nahuel Molina , at the 35e minute. A flash of genius.
The Dutch fell behind for the first time in the tournament. At half-time coach Louis van Gaal made two changes, more attacking, and the Batavians tested the Argentine defense more. But Denzel Dumfries, so far flawless in the tournament, snagged Marcos Acuña in the box and Messi doubled Argentina’s lead from the penalty spot.
The frustrated Dutch began to lose patience and tempers flared. We would have thought we were in Copa America… The Orange however, they have not given up.
On a simple center in the area, Wout Weghorst scored in the 83e header, causing an extremely tense end, during which the Dutch had more chances to score than in the whole match.
The Argentinians ended up being caught up in their lack of discipline, with a very bad foul on the edge of the box, at the very last minute of stoppage time. And that’s when the Dutch in turn had a blow of genius: an incredibly daring free kick, a combination on the ground that took the entire Argentinian team by surprise – and probably most of the spectators, everywhere in the world. Weghorst, again, made it 2-2.
PHOTO RICARDO MAZALAN, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wout Weghorst (right) of the Netherlands as he scores the equalizer
The kind of exercise performed in training that you hardly ever see in a match, a fortiori at the last second of a World Cup knockout game…
Extra time began much more calmly than the end of regulation time… until the Argentinians in turn began to attack with the energy of desperation in the last ten minutes. Virgil van Dijk blocked a close-range shot from Lautaro Martinez that could have silenced his detractors. Then Enzo Fernandez’s free kick crashed into the post at 120e and last minute.
Penalty taker intimidation specialist Emiliano Martinez did the rest, frustrating Van Dijk and Steven Berghuis. Argentina was not going to escape the match a second time. Lautaro Martinez scored the last of five shots. This team rescued from the waters, more convinced than ever, on a mission for the nation and for its Messi, will be difficult to beat.