The World Cup dream for the Dutch national team has been shattered in a hard way. The Dutch came back to 2-2 just before time via former AZ striker Wout Weghorst after a 2-0 deficit. In the final penalty shootout, the Argentinians won 4-3. As a result, the quarterfinals are the final station for the Netherlands.
The confrontation with Argentina can rightly be called a World Cup classic. It was the sixth time that both countries met each other in a final tournament. Only Brazil against Sweden (seven times) and Argentina against Germany (seven times) was played more often. Amsterdammer Steven Bergwijn was in the base. He was preferred to Hilversummer Davy Klaassen. Lionel Messi, the great star of Argentina, created the first significant chance after 22 minutes.
He dribbled himself well before shooting the ball high over the goal. That turned out to be the go-ahead, because a few minutes later the Orange also had an opportunity. After a combination with Memphis Depay, Bergwijn produced a roller far next to the goal. De Fries had to fish the ball out of the goal moments later. A splitting pass from Messi went straight through the Dutch defense, after which Nahuel Molina scored: 1-0.
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After Ajax player Daley Blind was taken to the side for Luuk de Jong, the formation was changed to 4-3-3. Before that, Messi had already shot a free kick just over. The PSG superstar was also responsible for the second goal against. Denzel Dumfries floored Messi, after which referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz pointed to the penalty spot. The Argentinian then shot the ball impeccably behind Noppert: 2-0. In the final phase of the match, Van Gaal brought in Wout Weghorst to force a goal. That worked a few minutes later.
Weghorst helps Orange
From a Berghuis cross, the former AZ attacker headed the ball behind goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez: 2-1. The Orange seemed reborn and went ostentatiously looking for the equalizer. Berghuis had a huge chance, but the ball ended up in the side net. Unbelievable but true, in the last minute of injury time Weghorst did the impossible by still making 2-2. He pushed a free kick behind Martínez and shot the Netherlands into extra time.
In that extension, the Orange got away well several times. Lautaro Martínez had another great chance in the second half of extra time, but his shot was blocked by Virgil van Dijk. Moments later, Weghorst was in the path of an effort by Enzo Fernandez. Noppert made a feline save on Martínez. Fernandez shot hard on the post.
Penalty kicks
The penalties were missed by Van Dijk and Berghuis. Teun Koopmeiners, Weghorst and Luuk de Jong did hit the mark. Martínez used the last penalty kick of the series, as a result of which the Netherlands was defeated. This ends the third Van Gaal era without a world championship.
Setup Orange: Noppert; Dumfries, Timber, Van Dijk, Aké, Blind (L. De Jong/65); De Roon (Koopmeiners/46), F. De Jong, Gakpo (Lang/113); Depay (Weghorst/79), Bergwijn (Berghuis/46)
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