The Netherlands meet last year’s Copa America winners Argentina on Friday night in the World Cup quarter-finals.
Louis van Gaal’s side has already beaten the reigning champions of Africa (Senegal), and Asia (Qatar) in the group stage before navigating their way past CONCACAF’s victors (USA) in the round of 16.
Argentina began the competition by losing to the second-lowest ranked nation at the World Cup (Saudi Arabia) but have improved with each outing since, showing bursts of the swagger that carried them on a 36-game unbeaten run into the competition against Australia in the round of 16.
Here’s everything you need to know about the sixth World Cup game between these illustrious nations
Netherlands vs Argentina H2H Results (All Time)
Netherlands: 4 Wins
Argentina: 3 Wins
Draws: 2
Current Form (Last Five Games)
Netherlands: WWDWW
Argentina: WLWWW
Netherlands team news:
Van Gaal is expected to have a fully fit roster at his disposal for his second World Cup quarter-final as a manager.
Steven Bergwijn replaced Davy Klaassen at half-time of the second-round victory over the US, giving the Netherlands a fleet-footed front three. However, that was only once the Dutch were already 2-0 up and could exclusively play on the counter
Argentina team news
Alejandro Gomez was forced off within five minutes of the second half of Argentina’s victory over Australia last weekend with an ankle injury. Angel Di Maria missed the tie completely while nursing a thigh problem and is building his way back to fitness.
Lionel Scaloni replaced Gomez with Lisandro Martinez to form a back-three for the final 40 minutes against Australia and may be tempted to turn to a system he scarcely uses because of the Dutch preference for a 3-4-1-2.
Netherlands vs Argentina score prediction
The style of this Dutch team has been chastised as “boring” back home – much to Van Gaal’s chagrin – but it has earned results. Against the US, the 71-year-old tactician identified a weakness – the space they offer down the flanks – and ruthlessly exploited it; both wingbacks scored and created goals.
Van Gaal hinted that Argentina’s greatest strength – Lionel Messi – may also be the weakness that the Netherlands target, describing Messi’s lack of defensive output as “where our chances lie”.
When these nations met in the semi-finals eight years ago, Van Gaal’s side played a very similar system centred on suffering (for opponents and spectators) and Messi was the beating heart of everything good that spluttered out of Argentina.
Messi and co prevailed on penalties after 120 goalless minutes in Sao Paulo and may have the edge in another tight encounter which could swing either way.
