Argentina are into the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup at the expense of the Netherlands following a blockbuster two-hour (and the rest) slugfest of epic proportion.
For a while it looked like it would be fairly unremarkable, but somewhere in the second half a walk in the park for Argentina kicked into overdrive and was only decided in the end on penalties.
A wild day at the World Cup ends with the second penalty shootout of the quarter-finals! 👀 pic.twitter.com/LLugoy9kiY
— 90min (@90min_Football) December 9, 2022
Considering the chaotic drama that unfolded later on, it wasn’t actually a good start.
The word you’re looking for is dull.
😬#BBCFootball #BBCWorldCup pic.twitter.com/tkQw5LdSX3
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 9, 2022
Then things quickly changed as Argentina scored. Messi made it and Nahuel Molina surging forward from wing-back gratefully scored it.
Molina’s first goal in an Argentina shirt – and he has Messi to thank for his assist! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/woeToYo0JW
— 90min (@90min_Football) December 9, 2022
He didn’t even have to look. That’s why he has seven Ballon d’Or trophies.
No-look reverse pass from Messi 👌 and the finish from Molina 👏 #ARG #NED #FIFAWorldCup
— David McDonnell (@DiscoMirror) December 9, 2022
Pass of the tournament by Messi!!! World Class
— Mark Goldbridge (@markgoldbridge) December 9, 2022
Don’t think there’s many (any?) other players who could light up a stalemate like Lionel Messi 🇦🇷
— Chris Smith (@CJSmith91) December 9, 2022
Messi has set records throughout his career but is still breaking them.
5 – Lionel Messi has assisted five goals in the World Cup knockout stages – since Opta have World Cup assists (from 1966), this is the most on record in the knockout rounds of the finals, surpassing Pelé’s four. Goat. pic.twitter.com/ScHbh5oj1b
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 9, 2022
But, I can see your halo…
Deliberate handball by Messi there but no yellow card.
— Phil McNulty (@philmcnulty) December 9, 2022
Slightly overlooked here but Messi should really have been sent off for a second yellow, after miraculously not being booked for as deliberate a handball as you can get earlier in the game…
— Sam Cunningham (@samcunningham) December 9, 2022
Messi scored from the spot in normal time and Argentina were cruising.
LIONEL MESSI WASN’T GOING TO MISS FROM THE PENALTY SPOT 😤 pic.twitter.com/Dd5N739OIP
— GOAL (@goal) December 9, 2022
This game descended into angry confrontations a few times.
why does Virgil…
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