Argentina vs. the Netherlands is a traditional FIFA World Cup matchup. On the biggest stage of them all, the sides have already clashed five times and will do it once more on Friday. In advance of the big game, we’ve compiled some of the most fascinating facts.
Previous Encounters
The first time these two countries faced off was at the 1974 finals, with the Netherlands winning 4-0 after a Johan Cruyff double. They reconnected in the World Cup final four years later, but this time Argentina prevailed 3-1 in overtime to win the championship on home soil.
Dennis Bergkamp’s historic strike in the 89th minute in 1998 helped the Oranje advance to the semi-finals.
Messi and Depay
The standout forward for the Netherlands started the games against Qatar and the United States, scoring the crucial opening goal in their round-of-16 match. In his last 30 international games, Depay has contributed directly to 34 goals, giving Oranje supporters hope for his finishing prowess going into the quarterfinals.
Continual Winners
With 14 victories out of 19 games since taking over as coach again in September 2021, Van Gaal is still unbeaten. When his counterpart Lionel Scaloni arrived in Qatar, he led an incredible 36-game winning streak. However, they unexpectedly lost their opening game 2-1 to Saudi Arabia. But they have since won three straight games.
Another score of 0-0?
Given the attacking prowess on either side of the field, it may not be the same story this time around. As it was in their previous two meetings. At this World Cup, both countries prioritized defensive stability. Argentina prefers to have possession over the Netherlands, who prefer to play on the counter.