Netherlands vs Argentina - World Cup quarter-final: Team news, lineups & prediction
The Netherlands meet last year's Copa America winners Argentina on Friday night in the World Cup quarter-finals.
Louis van Gaal's side has already beaten the reigning champions of Africa (Senegal), and Asia (Qatar) in the group stage before navigating their way past CONCACAF's victors (USA) in the round of 16.
Argentina began the competition by losing to the second-lowest ranked nation at the World Cup (Saudi Arabia) but have improved with each outing since, showing bursts of the swagger that carried them on a 36-game unbeaten run into the competition against Australia in the round of 16.
Here's everything you need to know about the sixth World Cup game between these illustrious nations.
Where are Netherlands vs Argentina playing?
- Location: Al Daayen, Qatar
- Stadium: Lusail Iconic Stadium
- Date: Friday 9 December
- Kick-off Time: 19:00 GMT / 14:00 ET / 11:00 PT
Netherlands vs Argentina H2H Results (All Time)
- Netherlands: 4 Wins
- Argentina: 3 Wins
- Draws: 2
Current Form (Last Five Games)
- Netherlands: WWDWW
- Argentina: WLWWW
Netherlands team news
Van Gaal is expected to have a fully fit roster at his disposal for his second World Cup quarter-final as a manager.
Steven Bergwijn replaced Davy Klaassen at half-time of the second-round victory over the US, giving the Netherlands a fleet-footed front three. However, that was only once the Dutch were already 2-0 up and could exclusively play on the counter.
Netherlands predicted lineup vs Argentina
Netherlands Starting 11 (3-4-1-2): Noppert; Timber, Van Dijk, Ake; Dumfries, De Roon, F De Jong, Blind; Klaassen; Gakpo, Depay.
Bench: Bijlow, Pasveer, Frimpong, Malacia, De Ligt, De Vrij, Taylor, Koopmeiners, Berghuis, Bergwijn, Janssen, Lang, Simons, L De Jong, Weghorst.
Argentina team news
Alejandro Gomez was forced off within five minutes of the second half of Argentina's victory over Australia last weekend with an ankle injury. Angel Di Maria missed the tie completely while nursing a thigh problem and is building his way back to fitness.
Lionel Scaloni replaced Gomez with Lisandro Martinez to form a back-three for the final 40 minutes against Australia and may be tempted to turn to a system he scarcely uses because of the Dutch preference for a 3-4-1-2.
Argentina predicted lineup vs Netherlands
Argentina Starting 11 (3-5-2): E Martinez; Romero, Otamendi, Li Martinez; Molina, De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister, Acuna; Messi, Alvarez.
Bench: Armani, Rulli, Foyth, Tagliafico, Montiel, Paredes, Pezzella, Di Maria, Palacios, Correa, Almada, Rodriguez, Dybala.
Netherlands vs Argentina betting tips
Match result
Netherlands to win/draw – Netherlands have lost just one of their nine meetings with Argentina in all
competitions (W4 D4).
Argentina to win exactly 1-0 – Nine of Argentina’s last 10 wins in all competitions have come to nil,
while Netherlands haven’t lost a World Cup game by more than one goal since the 1978 final (last six defeats at the tournament coming by a one goal margin).
Goalless draw – No World Cup fixture has seen more 0-0 draws than Netherlands vs Argentina (2), with those two goalless draws being the last two meetings between the sides in any competition.
Netherlands vs Argentina to finish 0-0 after 90 minutes is currently 13/2*
Team to progress
Netherlands to progress – Netherlands have progressed from their last three World Cup quarter-final matches, while Argentina have been eliminated from three of their last four World Cup quarter-finals.
Argentina to progress on penalties – Netherlands have lost seven of their nine penalty shootouts (all comps all time), while Argentina have won four of their five World Cup shootouts, with their last such win coming in the 2014 semi-final against Netherlands.
Goals
Both teams to score? Yes – Argentina have scored in each of their last 13 games in all competitions, while Netherlands have scored in each of their last 19.
Both teams to score? Yes is currently 1/1*
Netherlands to score first & win – Netherlands have opened the scoring in each of their last five World Cup games (three times inside the opening 10 minutes), while they’ve won 15 of their last 16 matches in the tournament when they’ve scored first (D1).
Lionel Messi first goalscorer – Each of Lionel Messi’s last four World Cup goals have been the first goal of the game, while no player has scored the opener in more matches in the tournament’s history than Messi (6).
Lionel Messi to score first is currently 7/2*
Cody Gakpo first goalscorer – Cody Gakpo has scored five goals in his last six starts for Netherlands, while all three of his goals at the 2022 World Cup have been openers.
Memphis Depay anytime goalscorer – Memphis Depay has scored 21 goals in his last 21 starts for Netherlands.
Julian Alvarez anytime goalscorer – Julian Alvarez has scored in each of his last four starts for Argentina (4 goals) and in five of his six starts for the national side overall (5 goals).
Insights courtesy of Opta. Head to The Analyst Stats Hub for live group stage standings, top scores, match metrics, team stats and much more!
*Odds correct at time of publication. 18+. Please gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org
Netherlands vs Argentina score prediction
The style of this Dutch team has been chastised as "boring" back home - much to Van Gaal's chagrin - but it has earned results. Against the US, the 71-year-old tactician identified a weakness - the space they offer down the flanks - and ruthlessly exploited it; both wingbacks scored and created goals.
Van Gaal hinted that Argentina's greatest strength - Lionel Messi - may also be the weakness that the Netherlands target, describing Messi's lack of defensive output as "where our chances lie".
When these nations met in the semi-finals eight years ago, Van Gaal's side played a very similar system centred on suffering (for opponents and spectators) and Messi was the beating heart of everything good that spluttered out of Argentina.
Messi and co prevailed on penalties after 120 goalless minutes in Sao Paulo and may have the edge in another tight encounter which could swing either way.
Prediction: Netherlands 0-1 Argentina
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