Argentina beat Netherlands in penalty shootout to advance: Live updates and reaction
5/6 v 1/4 – Argentina have won the most penalty shootouts of any side in World Cup history (5 wins from 6), while only Spain (4) have lost more penalty shootouts at the World Cup than Netherlands (1 win from 4). Contrast. pic.twitter.com/kkvd0QJVh4
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 9, 2022
Argentina beat Netherlands on penalty kicks at the 2022 World Cup and will play against Croatia for a place in the final.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi superbly set up Nahuel Molina for their first-half opener before converting a penalty kick to put his side on course to face Croatia for a place in the final.
But Wout Weghorst’s header 10 minutes later sparked his side into life and he then forced an additional thirty minutes when he scrambled the ball home with only seconds left.
Neither side could find a winner, with Argentina the side to prevail on penalties, winning 4-3. They will face Croatia in the semi-finals after their shock shootout victory over Brazil.
Background reading
Kings of shootouts
Brutal pic.twitter.com/mLx8AhMTEF
— Paul Campbell (@campbellwpaul) December 9, 2022
Argentina have now won five penalty shootouts at the World Cup, the most in the history of the tournament. Along with their sole loss, the six total shootouts they’ve participated in also stand as the most in history.
This is the fourth time Argentina have reached the semi-finals. In their previous three trips, they reached the final each time.
Argentina know how to entertain
Argentina know how to entertain
Argentina might be the most compelling type of World Cup team: blessed with a genius, emotional to a fault, and utterly vulnerable. They can beat and lose to absolutely anyone, as tonight underlined.
If they want to actually win this tournament though, they need to learn from the late-game problems they had against Australia and Netherlands. Dropping deep and inviting pressure clearly doesn’t work for them – and while they recovered well psychologically, Croatia won’t be so easily beaten in a penalty shootout
