This action shows all the genius of Lionel Messi
Argentina win spectacle quarter-finals on penalties – the highlights in the video
Argentina and Messi can continue to dream of the title after a highly dramatic quarter-final victory. The Netherlands make a sensational last-minute comeback, but Argentina’s goalkeeper triumphs on penalties. The highlights in the video.
Argentina wins against the Netherlands and is in the World Cup semi-finals. Lionel Messi played a key role in the victory. The Superstar makes the difference once again, especially in game-changing action.
Sa dream lives on. The dream of the greatest title a footballer can achieve – winning the World Cup. Lionel Messi is just two wins from the crowning glory after Argentina’s 6-5 on penalties against the Netherlands in the World Cup quarter-finals. The superstar played a key role in Argentina’s semifinals defeat of Croatia. It was this one action in the first half in which the 35-year-old once again showed all his genius.
Messi plays the decisive pass
Source: AFP/FRANCK FIFE
Messi took the ball 45 meters from the Dutch goal and switched to sprint mode. He picked up the pace with his inimitable small, rapid tripping steps. Thanks to his outstanding technique, he didn’t have to watch what the ball was doing at his foot. The ball has obeyed him for almost two decades. Always keeping his head up and looking at the field, Messi dribbled five contacts in the direction of the penalty area. His teammate Nnahuel Molina was lurking there.
Molina makes it 1-0 for Argentina
Quelle: AFP/PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA
Messi looked left and played a no-look pass to the right into the Dutch defence’s interface. Virgil van Dijk came too late, Molina pushed the ball past goalkeeper Andries Noppert to make it 1-0. A goal that he owed to Messi’s genius.
Messi draws level with Batistuta
After the final defeat in 2014 against Germany and the spectacular round of 16 defeat against France (3:4) four years ago, the time seems ripe for Argentina’s first World Cup title since 1986. Croatia will be in the semifinals on Tuesday (8 p.m., in the WELT live ticker) a supposedly easy opponent. But at least since the team around Luka Modric knocked out the top favorites Brazil in the quarter-finals, Messi and Co. will not underestimate the Croatians.
Croatia’s sensational semi-final against Brazil – the highlights in the video
World Cup favorites Brazil are surprisingly defeated by Croatia in the quarter-finals. After Neymar’s opening goal, the Croatians again showed strong comeback qualities and sent Brazil to tears on penalties. The highlights in the video.
In the second half, Messi followed up his dream assist with a goal. In the 73rd minute, in his 24th World Cup game, he converted a penalty to make it 2-0. It was his tenth World Cup goal in 24 games, tying Messi level with Argentina’s previous World Cup all-time leading scorer Gabriel Batistuta. The Argentines had themselves to blame for the fact that it wasn’t their decision. They let the Dutch come back into the game. Wout Weghorst saved his team with a brace on penalties.
The Argentines had better nerves there. Messi, of course, who safely converted his penalty. “It’s incredible. In the end we suffered a lot. But in the end we won. We’re a real team, we want to win. We have an unbelievable desire to win this World Cup. It will be very, very difficult against Croatia. It will be a very tough opponent,” said Messi.
