If anybody tries to tell you that soccer is boring, you just need to show them the Netherlands-Argentina quarterfinal from the FIFA World Cup. It had goals, late comebacks, fights, and dodgy referee decisions that rival the NFL.
In the end, Argentina held on after giving up two late goals in regular time to win a penalty shootout and advance to the FIFA World Cup semifinal. Argentina will face Croatia, who beat Brazil in a shootout just an hour or so before the Netherlands-Argentina match.
The first 80 or so minutes was largely run by Lionel Messi and Argentina. He placed a perfect pass to Nahuel Molina for the first Argentina goal and then scored the second on a penalty in the 73rd minute. Then the Netherlands got back on the front foot, and not only did they score, but things got a lot more physical.
Wout Weghorst pulled one back with a glancing header, and then just five minutes later, Leandro Paredes slide tackled Nathan Aké and then fired the ball into the nearby Dutch bench. The benches cleared and Virgil van Dijk reacted by making a mad dash to bulldoze Paredes. Now you’re starting to figure out why there were 17 yellow cards, even though van Dijk didn’t get carded for his actions.
🔥 ¡EL PARTIDO ESTÁ BASTANTE CALIENTE! 🔥
👀 Otra discusión entre jugadores, ¡Falta poco para terminar el encuentro! 💥#NED 1-2 #ARG #MundialTelemundo #ElMundialLoEsTodo #NEDvsARG pic.twitter.com/m8NkW8rOYW
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) December 9, 2022
With all the extra time added, that gave the Netherlands enough time for Weghorst to get his second goal thanks to a free kick where Teun Koopmeiners passed the ball beneath the wall to Weghorst for the equalizer.
🚨 ¡SE EMPATÓ! ¡SE EMPAAAAATÓ! ¡PAÍSES BAJOS LO EMPATÓ!
🥵 ¡PARTIDAZAZAZAZO! ¡OTRA VEZ WEGHORST! ¡HABRÁ TIEMPOS EXTRAS!#NED 2-2 #ARG #MundialTelemundo #ElMundialLoEsTodo #NEDvsARG pic.twitter.com/ryK8thIaVk
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) December 9, 2022
As extra time began, Argentina started to get it back together and had a shot go off the post right before extra time ended.
In the shootout, it was all Emiliano Martínez, who saved the Netherlands’ first two shots. That wound up being the difference as Argentina won the penalty shootout 4-3 and earned themselves a date against Croatia.
🥳 ¡GRÍTALO ARGENTINA!
🤩 ¡CELÉBRENLO POR TODO LO ALTO, HINCHAS ALBICELESTES!
🇦🇷 #Messi y #ARG están en las semifinales de la #FIFAWorldCup de #Qatar2022 #MundialTelemundo #ElMundialLoEsTodo #NEDvsARG pic.twitter.com/UiaYOCQ9j5
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) December 9, 2022
In the end, it was 120 minutes of whirlwind fun even though it got a bit messy (no pun intended) sometimes. It wasn’t the most beautiful match of the World Cup but it sure was one we’ll remember.
SCENES 😍🔥
Argentina fans in Buenos Aires went WILD after advancing to the semifinals 🇦🇷 #WorldCupWatchParty pic.twitter.com/8g66QTicxX
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 9, 2022
The Argentina-Messi celebration has only began..
Uncontainable joy🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/h8Aa70V0nz
— George Addo Jnr (@addojunr) December 9, 2022
Brazil are going home while Argentina go to the semifinals… 😼 pic.twitter.com/yULR6PlGeY
— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 9, 2022
#worldcup #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/m4P7Som3Ay
— SimpsonsEFL (@EflSimpsons) December 9, 2022
Fans in Bangladesh 🇧🇩 gathered in huge numbers (approx 15000+) and celebrating Argentina's qualification to Semis #Qatar2022 at midnight 4:00 am pic.twitter.com/8eVie74o2K
— ARG Soccer News ™ 🇦🇷⚽⭐️⭐️⭐️🏆 (@ARG_soccernews) December 9, 2022
Yo viendo el partido de Argentina vs Holanda: pic.twitter.com/zBHd758oC6
— RETRO. (@ImagenRetro) December 9, 2022
On Saturday, Morocco play Portugal while England faces France to complete the semifinal bracket.
