Argentina look to 'leader' Lionel Messi for more World Cup magic against Croatia

After spiky victory against Netherlands, South Americans head into semi-final with talismanic attacker in excellent form

Argentina's Lionel Messi during a training session at Qatar University in Doha, on Monday, December 12, 2022. The South American side take on Croatia in the World Cup semi-final on Tuesday. PA

Argentina's Angel Di Maria slides into a tackle during training. PA

Argentina players including Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and Angel Di Maria. Reuters

Argentina's Julian Alvarez during training. AP

Argentina's Lionel Messi during training. PA

Argentina players during training. EPA

Argentina's Lionel Messi during training. Getty

Argentina's Lionel Messi during training. Getty

Argentina attacker Angel Di Maria. AFP

Argentina's Julian Alvarez during training. PA

Argentina's Lionel Messi during training. PA

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni during training. Reuters

Argentina's Lionel Messi during training. AFP

Argentina's Lionel Messi during training. AFP

Argentina's Alexis Mac Allister during training. PA

Argentina's Lionel Messi during training. AFP

Argentina's Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez. AP

Argentina's Angel Di Maria. AP

Argentina's Lionel Messi during training. AFP

Argentina's Lionel Messi during training. PA

Argentina's Enzo Fernandez controls a ball during training. AP

Argentina's Lionel Messi during training. AP

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni. AP

Argentina's Lionel Messi during training. Reuters

Ninety two seconds into his first cap for Argentina, Lionel Messi received a red card. It was a notoriously inauspicious start, way back in 2005, to what would become a record-breaking international career.

For a little longer than 92 seconds on Friday, part of Messi may have feared his time on the game’s greatest stage, the World Cup, would end with a flurry of sending-offs around him.

There have been heightened emotions among the eliminated during the knockout phase of this World Cup, high profile tears or distress for superstars from Cristiano Ronaldo to Neymar to Harry Kane, but no match has been angrier than Argentina and the Netherlands’ spiky, see-saw quarter-final. Messi’s was among ten Argentinian names, including two on the coaching staff, that ended up in referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz’s notebook.

The Dutch, losers via penalty shoot-out, received eight yellow cards, two shown to Denzil Dumfries, in a contest peppered with incidents of gamesmanship: insults exchanged, intimidation of spot-kick takers, objects apparently thrown towards players from the bench, and the ball thumped, hard and venomous, by Argentina’s Leandro Paredes at the assembled Dutch coaching staff and substitutes.

At the moment that Lautaro Martinez converted the winning penalty, some telling photographs were taken from up in the stands. They showed the players gathered in the centre-circle, and vividly captured the animosity.

Most of the Argentinians in frame are seen pausing to taunt the crestfallen Dutch before making the traditional sprint to congratulate their goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez, and the scorer, Lautaro.

There’s Paredes turning to shout something at his beaten opponents; there’s Nicolas Otamendi gesturing, hands behind his ears, while Gonzalo Montiel, Alexis Mac Allister and German Pezella roar defiantly and directly at the beaten men. Angel Di Maria creases his face into a mocking grin.

But there’s one player in the central throng looking in the opposite direction, not at the defeated Dutch but straight ahead, towards the goal and the spectators behind it. He is the winning captain. Messi had already moved on from the squabbling, and although he would settle some scores with his Dutch antagonists in his post-match interviews, his mind had already fixed on the next phase of what has been a rollercoaster journey.

Lionel Messi and Leandro Paredes celebrate after Argentina defeated the Netherlands in the penalty shoot-out in their World Cup quarter-final at the Lusail Stadium, on December 9, 2022. Getty

Argentina players celebrate at the end of the match. AP

Nicolas Otamendi of Argentina celebrates after their victory. Getty

Argentina players celebrate after their win. Getty

Lautaro Martinez celebrates after scoring the winning penalty for Argentina. Getty

Lautaro Martinez scores the winning penalty for Argentina. Getty

Argentina players celebrate after their win in the penalty shoot-out. Getty

Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez saves from Virgil van Dijk of the Netherlands in the penalty shoot-out. AP

Wout Weghorst scores for the Netherlands during penalty shoot-out. AP

Wout Weghorst celebrates after making it 2-2. AP

Dutch striker Wout Weghorst scores his second goal. Getty

Lionel Messi celebrates scoring Argentina's second goal. Reuters

Argentina's Lionel Messi scores from the spot to make it 2-0. PA

Netherlands substitute Wout Weghorst celebrates after making it 2-2. Getty

Dutch defender Denzel Dumfries fouls Marcos Acuna of Argentina in the box which leads to an Argentina penalty. Getty

Nahuel Molina celebrates after scoring for Argentina in the first half. Getty

Nahuel Molina finishes past Dutch goalkeeper Andries Noppert to score for Argentina. AP

Argentina's Lionel Messi surrounded by Cody Gakpo, Memphis Depay and Frenkie de Jong of the Netherlands. EPA

Nahuel Molina scores for Argentina. Getty

Wout Weghorst of the Netherlands celebrates after scoring his second goal. AP

Tempers fray late in the game after Leandro Paredes booted the ball at the Dutch bench. Getty

Argentina's Lionel Messi curls a free-kick over the bar. Reuters

Referee Antonio Mateu shows a yellow card to Jurrien Timber of the Netherlands. AP

Nahuel Molina celebrates with Lionel Messi after scoring for Argentina. Getty

Nahuel Molina after scoring for Argentina. AP

Tempers fray late on the game. Getty

Lionel Messi on the attack for Argentina. EPA

Wout Weghorst heads home his first goal for the Dutch. PA.

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni argues with Spanish referee Antonio Mateu after assistant coach Walter Samuel was shown a yellow card. AFP

Lionel Messi of Argentina curls a free-kick over the bar. Getty

Argentina on Tuesday face Croatia, as tough and worldly as any squad in Qatar, with Messi knowing this, the fifth Argentina side he has represented at a World Cup, and the second with which he has reached a semi-final, can be vulnerable tactically.

On matchday one, Saudi Arabia pushed up high against Argentina and, against most expectations, brought an end to a 36-match unbeaten run for Messi’s South American champions. The Dutch, on the back foot for most of the first 90 minutes, drew level in stoppage time thanks to a clever set-piece manoeuvre, a moment of sophisticated thinking amid all the crude snarling.

But where there’s Messi, there’s a match-winner, and his form, at 35, has been excellent for the past four months and through this, perhaps his last major tournament with his country. He has scored in four of five matches in Qatar, converted three penalties, including the first in the shoot-out against the Dutch, but missed from the spot when Argentina were drawing 0-0 with Poland.

He was still man of the match in that 2-0 victory. “He’s our leader,” said the Argentina full-back Nicolas Tagliafico. “It’s Messi who drives us on, and who motivates us. Knowing we have him on the pitch means we put in that little bit more.”

Argentina beat Netherlands on penalties: Player ratings

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

Tagliafico will man the left-back position because Marcos Acuna’s booking in the quarter-final leaves him suspended. Likewise right-back Montiel is banned.

There are fitness doubts over Rodigro De Paul and Di Maria, although head coach Lionel Scaloni says they should both be healthy enough to play some part in a contest where fully engaging with Croatia’s formidable midfield looks vital. De Paul and Di Maria would both have their uses for that task.

Croatia beat Argentina 3-0 in the group stage at the last World Cup, a low point in Messi’s chequered history in the tournament. It’s a precedent not relevant to today, insisted Scaloni, although he expects the 2018 finalists, conquerors of Brazil on Friday, to “give us problems. They play as a team, and you get the feeling they have a strong group spirit”.

The absence of Acuna in particular looks like a damaging consequence of the card-heavy quarter-final. “The game the other day was played as it had to be played,” said Scaloni. “That’s on the Dutch side and on our side. In matches like that there will be moments of argument. But we know the right way to lose. And we know the right way to win.”