Lionel Messi said Argentina have felt the presence of the late Diego Maradona throughout their World Cup campaign, including on Friday when they beat the Netherlands on penalties to reach the semi-finals.
Messi looked to have inspired Argentina into a last four clash with Croatia after he set up Nahuel Molina's opener before the break and added the second from the penalty spot.
But Argentina blew a two-goal lead deep into stoppage time before goalkeeper Emi Martinez kept his cool to save the first two Dutch penalties and Lautaro Martinez scored the decisive spot kick to send them through.
"Diego is watching us from heaven. He is pushing us and I really hope this stays the same until the end," Messi told reporters.
"When Lautaro scored and we qualified there was a huge joy. It was a weight off our chest," Messi added. "It was a very hard match. From the beginning it was a really tough match, we knew it would be this way.
"We leave that on the pitch with our people. We were really happy and we enjoyed that moment and that's what we can see here and also in Argentina because people are really happy, they are really excited and they are full of enthusiasm.
"The Dutch team made trouble for us with long balls and a lot of players in the area. In the end they drew and we suffered. But we were able to seal our passage to the semi-finals, which is what we wanted."
Meanwhile Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal said his team's loss was "incredibly painful".
Virgil van Dijk and Steven Berghuis watched in agony as their spot-kicks were saved in the shootout.
"We failed to score the first two penalties so that's when things become really hard and tough. It is a matter of being lucky, a lottery," said Van Gaal.
The 71-year-old was also coach of the Netherlands when they were beaten on penalties by Argentina in the semi-finals of the 2014 World Cup.
"This is the second time we lost to Argentina this way. Two World Cups with the same coach for the Netherlands.
"I asked the players to train and to practise penalties, so I have nothing to reproach them for. To come back and equalise... to lose on penalties is unfortunate."
Meanwhile, there was tragedy during the game as Grant Wahl, a well-known football writer in the United States, died on Saturday while covering the match between Argentina and the Netherlands.
US media seated near him said Wahl fell back in his seat in a section of the Lusail Stadium reserved for journalists during extra time of the game, and reporters adjacent to him called for assistance. Emergency services workers responded very quickly and reporters later were told that Wahl had died.
Netherlands v Argentina ratings
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NETHERLANDS RATINGS: Andries Noppert - 6. Was fortunate that his early pass wasn’t cut out, but any luck ran out when Nahuel Molina ran through and poked the ball past him. Didn’t even move for Lionel Messi’s penalty and didn’t keep any out in the shootout. Getty -
Jurrien Timber - 6. Defended aggressively and showed intent on the ball. Was booked for a push on Acuna after the foul on Dumfries and was likely close to a second after committing fouls in extra time. AP -
Virgil van Dijk - 6. Came close to poking the ball away when Molina scored the opener. Was composed, although his pass to Gakpo under pressure almost put Netherlands in trouble. Made an outstanding block to deny Lautaro Martinez. Had his penalty saved. AFP -
Nathan Ake - 6. Did well to cut out Molina’s early cross but didn’t do enough to match Lionel Messi as he set up the opener. Made some brilliant challenges, especially in extra time. Getty -
Denzel Dumfries - 6. Got into a battle with Marcos Acuna and caught up with the Argentine when it looked like he might get through, but then fouled him to concede a penalty. Booked during the penalty shootout. AP -
Marten de Roon - 5. Some of the midfielder’s passes were wayward and wasteful, while he couldn’t always match Argentina’s midfield. AP -
Frenkie de Jong - 8. Put pressure on the ball well for large periods of the game and was also comfortable in possession. Did brilliantly to beat Messi and nod the ball back to his goalkeeper. AP -
Daley Blind - 5. Completely failed to match Molina’s run for the opener and didn’t offer much when he was in attacking positions. AP -
Memphis Depay - 5. While he provided some good play to create Steven Bergwijn’s chance, the forward gave the ball away cheaply far too often. Booked for a coming together. Getty -
Cody Gakpo - 6. In a very quiet first half display, his header was easily saved. Delivered some inviting crosses in the second period, while an overhit one almost dipped under the crossbar. EPA -
Steven Bergwijn - 4. Struggled to make any real impact and dragged the ball horribly wide from his best opportunity. Booked at the end of the game despite not being on the pitch. EPA -
SUBS: Teun Koopmeiners (On for De Roon 46') - 7. While his attempted pass was blocked and put Netherlands in trouble, he often moved the ball well and slyly slipped it through for Weghorst to equalise. Scored his penalty convincingly. AP -
Steven Berghuis (On for Bergwijn 46') - 7. Tried to make things happen with his passing, eventually delivering the delightful cross that Weghorst scored from. Hit the side netting soon after. Booked for a foul on Messi. Had his penalty saved. PA -
Luuk de Jong (Blind, 65’) - 6. Lost the ball cheaply in his first involvement but battled well and provided a brilliant knockdown for Berghuis. Unlucky to see his late shot blocked. Sent Martinez the wrong way with a cool penalty. AP -
Wout Weghorst (Depay, 78’) – 9. Was booked before he even got onto the pitch but came off the bench to score a header then slid the ball in for the equaliser. Got just enough of a touch on Enzo Fernandez’s shot for it to go over. Sent Martinez the wrong way with his penalty. AP -
Noa Lang (Gakpo, 113’) – N/A. Won the ball back well inside his own box moments after coming on, then almost found Berghuis with an inventive cross. Booked during the penalty shootout. Getty -
ARGENTINA RATINGS: Emiliano Martinez - 8. Came out to meet Timber’s through ball, then comfortably held Gakpo’s free-kick delivery. Couldn’t do much to keep out Weghorst’s goals but caught Lang’s cross well. Saved the penalties from Van Dijk and Berghuis superbly. AFP -
Cristian Romero - 7. Made some great interventions, especially when dealing with crosses into the box and set-piece deliveries. Was booked for a handball. AFP -
Nicolas Otamendi - 6. Made a superb defensive header to clear Blind’s free-kick delivery, but looked panicked at the end of normal time and was booked after the whistle. Almost reached Messi’s dinked free-kick. AP -
Lisandro Martinez - 6. Put in a typically committed display but lost out to Weghorst when he scored the header to get Netherlands back into the game. Booked for a coming together. EPA -
Nahuel Molina - 8. Was busy from the first whistle and broke through to poke the ball past Noppert for the opener. AFP -
Rodrigo De Paul - 6. Helped to ensure Argentina’s midfield wasn’t overawed by the Dutch, although he hit a weak shot straight at Noppert. Slightly overhit his through ball to Messi in a promising position. AP -
Enzo Fernandez - 6. Bumped into Gakpo off the ball in the early stages and showed authority but was overpowered by Weghorst for the equaliser. Made a great block to deny L. De Jong then came close with two shots of his own. Sent his penalty wide. AFP -
Alexis Mac Allister - 6. Looked calm and showed intelligence in the first half, and laid the ball off nicely for De Paul’s opportunity. Sent De Paul too wide to capitalise on an opening and faded out of the game a bit. EPA -
Marcos Acuna - 8. Came out victorious in his battle with Dumfries, winning a penalty from the Dutch right-wing-back. He was booked for a foul on Dumfries, though. AP -
Lionel Messi - 9. Was typically brilliant in tight spaces and found Molina with an eye of the needle pass for the opener. Beat Noppert comfortably with his penalty in normal time and the shootout. Booked for dissent. PA -
Julian Alvarez - 6. Took a combative approach to the game, and while there was intelligence in his movements at times, the forward didn’t get into many positions where he could trouble Noppert’s goal. AFP -
SUBS: Leandro Paredes (De Paul, 66’) - 6. Hit Gakpo with a big tackle and then unnecessarily smashed the ball at the Dutch bench after hitting Ake with an overzealous challenge. Emphatically scored his penalty. Getty -
Nicolas Tagliafico (Acuna, 78’) – 6. Did well to put Berghuis under pressure as he smashed the ball into the side netting, but was left largely helpless as the Netherlands took an aerial approach. AP -
German Pezzella (Romero, 78’) – 4. Conceded the free-kick for the Netherlands equaliser with a stupid challenge on the edge of the box. Booked for a foul on Gakpo as he tried to run through. Sent his header off target. AP -
Lautaro Martinez (Alvarez, 82’) – 6. Cut out De Jong’s pass but didn’t do much to punish it. Unlucky to see his effort blocked by Van Dijk, then had a powerful strike saved. Sent Noppert the wrong way with his winning penalty. Reuters -
Gonzalo Montiel (Molina, ET HT) – N/A, Slipped when the chance came to deliver a cross and got himself booked for dissent. Scored his penalty confidently. Reuters -
Angel Di Maria (L. Martinez, 112’) – N/A. Looked bright and gave Argentina extra energy, while his corner delivery troubled Noppert. Getty
