Argentina captain Lionel Messi and coach Lionel Scaloni predicted a tricky however stunning encounter with the Netherlands when the perimeters meet in Friday’s World Cup quarter-final.
Argentina beat Australia 2-1 whereas the Netherlands defeated the US 3-1 on Saturday to arrange a tantalising conflict between two of the nice groups of world soccer who famously met within the 1978 World Cup ultimate which the South People gained.
“It should be a really stunning recreation, with two historic groups. Sadly one group has to lose and we hope it is us who undergo,” Scaloni stated in a information convention at 1 a.m. in Qatar after his aspect’s last-16 victory over Australia.
Noting the age hole, Scaloni, 44, stated he had since his early enjoying days been an admirer of Dutch coach Louis van Gaal, 71.
“He was an eminence again then. It is a proud second to face him. We all know how a lot he has achieved in soccer, and the way many individuals have tried to repeat him,” he stated.
“This is among the pleasures that soccer offers you, particularly as it’s taking place at a World Cup.
“We face a troublesome opponent, like all of them, and we hope to do properly. Possibly they aren’t shining like previous Dutch groups, however they’re very clear in what they do.”
‘REALLY TOUGH’
Messi, recent from scoring and being named man-of-the-match towards Australia on his 1,000th profession look, was equally clear in regards to the process forward.
“Now now we have a extremely robust conflict with Holland, who play very properly,” he instructed reporters.
“They’ve nice gamers and an incredible coach, it is going to be hard-fought. It is the quarter-finals of a World Cup and if a World Cup has been robust from the beginning, it will get even harder at this stage.”
Scaloni stated he was delighted together with his gamers, who’ve gained three video games in a row on the World Cup in Qatar after their shock opening defeat by Saudi Arabia.
“We’re glad. At present’s match was very troublesome. They put a suffocating stress on us,” he stated of Australia, although he lamented his group didn’t lengthen their 2-0 lead earlier than the Socceroos bought an personal purpose and piled the stress on for an equaliser.
“We should not have suffered within the ultimate minutes as a result of we had possibilities to go additional forward,” he stated.
“However my gamers had been born to play in these kinds of video games.”
Scaloni saved the injured Angel Di Maria on the bench, however stated he hoped he could be match to face the Dutch.
“At present he wasn’t in situation to play. I did not wish to threat it. We hope that over the subsequent few days he can enhance and play within the subsequent recreation,” he stated.