“Of course Messi is your most dangerous and creative player,” Van Gaal clarified in an interview with the TV channel NOS, but where there is a lot of light, there is also a lot of shadow, says the 71-year-old: “On the other hand, he participates not much of the game when the opponent has possession of the ball. That’s where our chance lies.” On the other hand, the Netherlands proved how quickly they can switch when they have the ball in their comfortable 3-1 win over the USA in the round of 16.
Now the Argentinians are said to be struggling in a repeat of the semi-finals of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Back then, Messi’s Argentines beat Van Gaal’s Dutch on penalties after the score was 0-0 after 120 minutes, also because Messi was neutralized by ‘Oranje’. The superstar scored in the shootout (4: 2) as the first shooter for the Argentines, but had hardly appeared offensively before that. As a collective, “Oranje” managed to not often let the game designer have an effect, even with man marking.
His circles were also disturbed by Daley Blind, who is the only one of the “Elftal” from back then who is still there in Qatar. Virgil van Dijk has also managed to make Messi look old with Liverpool before. 2019 was the final stop for FC Barcelona in the semi-finals of the Champions League at Anfield Road after a 0: 4 loss. In his memories of that time, Van Dijk agreed with Van Gaal’s assumption, but at the same time warned. “The difficult thing about him is that when we attacked, he was somewhere relaxed. But then you have to be very careful, because they always look for him when counterattacks come.”
Not a player crucial
Although the Argentines have more than just the number ten to offer, the Dutch media’s questions have been all about Messi since the quarter-final tie was confirmed. The players tried to hide the topic. “The game will not be won by one player,” said Inter Milan right-back Denzel Dumfries, who shone as a set-up and goalscorer against the United States.
Nathan Ake said of the imminent clash with Argentina’s superstar that it was “a nice job to stop him”. The Manchester City centre-back could do little with the question of whether he had asked his club coach Josep Guardiola about Messi. “I haven’t had any contact with Guardiola. But I’m sure he would tell me it’s going to be pretty tough,” Ake said succinctly.
A finale and a debut
In any case, Argentina against the Netherlands brings back memories of great duels regardless of Messi. There have already been five world championship encounters between the “Albiceleste” and “Oranje”. The most famous took place in the 1978 World Cup final in Buenos Aires, when Argentina secured their first title with a 3-1 win in extra time against the Dutch coached by Ernst Happel.
The two great soccer powers only faced each other once in a group phase, but this game had an indirect impact on the forthcoming duel. Because at the finals in 2006, Messi, who was before his 19th birthday at the time, started 0-0 for Argentina for the first time at a World Cup. At the tournament in Germany, however, the young star did not play a major role. In his last finals it looks very different.
