FIFA World Cup: Netherlands vs. Argentina
The second semifinal of the 2014 FIFA World Cup takes place Wednesday as the Netherlands and Argentina battle for a place in Sunday’s final against Germany.
Kickoff at the Arena de São Paulo in São Paulo is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. ET.
The Netherlands advanced to the semifinal stage of the tournament with an unconvincing penalty shootout win over Costa Rica, after 120 minutes of football finished goalless.
For a team that has looked very good during the group stages of the tournament, the Dutch have struggled in the knockout stages. They squeezed by Mexico thanks to a controversial penalty decision in the group of 16 before Sunday’s muted affair in Salvador.
Argentina meanwhile advanced to the semifinals with a 1-0 victory over Belgium. The South American side, the only team to win all five of its games, has won every game by a solitary goal. Alejandro Sabella’s side has also kept three clean sheets in five games, including both in the knockout stages.
But Argentina has looked anything but world beaters in the tournament so far. More often than not global superstar Lionel Messi has looked like an island up front, lacking support from across the field. But sometimes it’s not the best team that wins the World Cup; it’s the team that just finds way to scrape together results.
Wednesday’s semifinal matchup brings together two teams that have a history.
Argentina and the Netherlands have met four times in the World Cup, with the Dutch owning a 2-1 advantage with one draw.
In 1974, back when the tournament was contested in a round robin format, the two sides met in the second round. The Netherlands earned a 4-0 victory en route to a first ever appearance in the World Cup final.
In 1978, the two sides met where it matter most: the final. In a game that was as dirty as it was important, it took extra time to separate the two, with Argentina emerging with a 3-1 victory and winning its first ever World Cup.
In 1998, the Dutch exacted a measure of revenge, disposing of Argentina 2-1 at the quarterfinals stage of the tournament in France.
In 2006, the two sides played out a 0-0 draw in the final game of the group stages, a result that saw both teams advance to the knockout stages.
Argentina broke Dutch hearts in extra time of the 1978 World Cup final.
Check out the head-to-head history over at 11v11.com
Three times runners up in the World Cup (1974, 1978, 2010), the Netherlands will look to move one step closer to finally winning the illustrious title on Wednesday. It’s likely that Louis van Gaal will need to tinker with his lineup to ensure the team advances.
Dirk Kuyt was noticeably out of place in a wide position against Costa Rica and doesn’t look like the best out and out striker in the team. Meanwhile, the defense may be without the injured Ron Vlaar, although that remains to be seen.
Argentina, champions in 1978 and 1986, were expecting to be without striker Sergio Agüero who suffered a thigh injury against Belgium on Sunday, but he has been cleared to play. A bench start might be on the cards though. Marcus Rojo is eligible to return from suspension, but it remains to be seen if he’ll be inserted into the starting lineup. Meanwhile, Ãngel Di MarÃa is out with a thigh injury.
After Tuesday’s shocking result, it seems somewhat ill-advised to suggest that Wednesday’s game will be a defensive effort, but there’s certainly a hint of that about this matchup in the wake of the previous two rounds.
Game time weather conditions in São Paulo aren’t likely to help matters. The forecast is for heavy rain showers. Temperatures will sit around 18 degrees Celsius (65F), with humidity levels at a stifling 90 percent.
After squeezing by Costa Rica via penalty shootout, can the Netherlands make it to the final?
Bet on Netherlands vs. Argentina at Bovada
The sportsbooks have installed Argentina (+130) as the favorite over the Netherlands (+220) on the moneyline, with a draw listed at +230.
The Dutch have certainly got the better of the Argentines in recent contests but it was Argentina that took home the victory (and trophy) in the only World Cup meeting between the sides in South America.
Holland has appeared in two World Cup semifinals, losing on penalties to Brazil in 1998 and defeating Uruguay in 2010.
Argentina has appeared in three World Cup semifinals, defeating the United States in 1930, Belgium in 1986, and advancing via a penalty shootout against Italy in 1990.
Bovada has the over/under at 2 goals on its main line, although bettors can choose anywhere from 1/2 to 5 1/2 goals.
In eight previous meetings, the two sides have averaged 2.38 goals per game. That being said, the last three meetings between the sides – which include a pair of friendly matches – have resulted in just three goals combined.
There’s only one word to describe Germany’s 7-1 thrashing of Brazil…shocking!
The winner of Wednesday’s semifinal goes on to play Germany in the World Cup final in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday. The loser heads for BrasÃlia and Saturday’s third place playoff with Brazil.
Now a few words on Germany’s crushing victory over Brazil.
Nobody could have predicted the whitewashing that went on in Belo Horizonte. The game, on paper at least, should have been a close affair but those five goals in an 18-minute span – including four in six minutes – put paid to any such thinking.
The result was historic for a variety of reasons, including:
- It was the largest deficit ever in a World Cup semifinal
- It marked the first time a European side has defeated a South American side in a semifinal played in South America.
- It was Brazil’s heaviest World Cup loss ever.
- It was the first time since 1938 Brazil had lost a World Cup semifinal match.
- It was Brazil’s first loss in Brazil since losing to Peru in 1975 (that’s 29 years!).
There are dozens of other records that were broken or set in the 7-1 shocker, but for now it’s simply time to applaud the German effort. While Brazil’s defense was shaky, Germany’s precision and professional approach was equally as responsible for the result.
Now, the much dreamed about final between Brazil and arch rivals Argentina will merely be for third place, if the Argentines fail to qualify for the final on Wednesday that is.
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