Argentina captain Lionel Messi and trainer Lionel Scaloni predicted a difficult however gorgeous come across with the Netherlands when the edges meet in Friday’s World Cup quarter-final.
Argentina beat Australia 2-1 whilst the Netherlands defeated the United States 3-1 on Saturday to arrange a tantalizing conflict between two of the nice groups of worldwide soccer who famously met within the 1978 World Cup last which the South Americans received.
“It’s going to be a very beautiful game, with two historic teams. Sadly one team has to lose and we hope it’s us who go through,” Scaloni mentioned in a information convention at 1 am in Qatar after his aspect’s last-16 victory over Australia.
Noting the age hole, Scaloni, 44, mentioned he had since his early taking part in days been an admirer of Dutch trainer Louis van Gaal, 71.
“He was an eminence back then. It’s a proud moment to face him. We know how much he has done in football, and how many people have tried to copy him,” he mentioned.
“This is one of the pleasures that football gives you, especially as it is happening at a World Cup.
“We face a hard opponent, like they all, and we are hoping to do neatly. Maybe they don’t seem to be shining like previous Dutch groups, however they’re very transparent in what they do.”
‘REALLY TOUGH’
Messi, fresh from scoring and being named man-of-the-match against Australia on his 1,000th career appearance, was similarly clear about the task ahead.
“Now we have now a in point of fact tricky conflict with Holland, who play rather well,” he told reporters.
“They have nice gamers and a super trainer, it is going to be hard-fought. It’s the quarter-finals of a World Cup and if a World Cup has been tricky from the beginning, it will get even harder at this degree.”
Scaloni said he was delighted with his players, who have won three games in a row at the World Cup in Qatar after their shock opening defeat by Saudi Arabia.
“We are happy. Today’s fit was once very tough. They put a suffocating drive on us,” he said of Australia, though he lamented his team did not extend their 2-0 lead before the Socceroos got an own goal and piled the pressure on To install equalizer.
“We wouldn’t have suffered within the final mins as a result of we had probabilities to move additional forward,” he said.
“But my gamers have been born to play in those forms of video games.”
Scaloni kept the injured Angel Di Maria on the bench, but said he hoped he would be fit to face the Dutch.
“Today he wasn’t in situation to play. I did not need to possibility it. We hope that over the following few days he can support and play within the subsequent sport,” he mentioned.