Argentina vs Netherlands final score
A Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina saw off a spirited Netherlands fightback to book their place in the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup after a thrilling contest in Lusail.
The Albiceleste looked home and hosed late in the second half after their talismanic No.10 dispatched a penalty to follow up a barely believable assist for Nahuel Molina in the opening 45 minutes.
But the course of the game changed when substitute Wout Weghorst entered the action for the Dutch and soon headed home what initially appeared to be little more than a consolation goal.
Argentina simply could not handle the former Burnley striker's physicality, and he sent the game to extra time by poking a finish home in the final minute of time added on after a genius free-kick routine.
However, that ultimately only delayed the Netherlands' misery, with goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez producing more penalty heroics to save twice and send Argentina into the last four.
They will now face Croatia there rather than old rivals Brazil, after Zlatko Dalic's side produced yet another shock in the day's earlier game to also go through via a shootout.
Argentina vs Netherlands result
| 1H | 2H | ET | Final | |
| Argentina | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 (4) |
| Netherlands | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 (3) |
ARGENTINA WIN 4-3 ON PENALTIES
Goals:
ARG — Molina (35 mins)
ARG — Messi (73 mins)
NED — Weghorst (83 mins)
NED — Weghorst (90 +11 mins)
Lineups:
Argentina (3-5-2, right to left): 23. E. Martinez (GK) — 13. Romero, 19. Otamendi, 25. L. Martinez — 26. Molina, 20. Mac Allister, 7. De Paul, 24. E. Fernandez, 8. Acuna — 9. Alvarez, 10. Messi
Netherlands (3-4-1-2, right to left): 23. Noppert (GK) — 2. Timber, 4. Van Dijk, 5. Ake — 22. Dumfries, 15. De Roon, 21. De Jong, 17. Blind — 10. Gakpo — 7. Bergwijn, 10. Depay
Argentina vs Netherlands as it happened, highlights from 2022 World Cup
10th penalty: Lautaro Martinez to take... SCORES! ARGENTINA WIN IT!!! 4-3
9th penalty: Luuk De Jong to take... SCORES! Rolled into the net. Netherlands 3-3 Argentina
8th penalty: Enzo Fernandez to take... MISSES! A long way wide of the goal! Netherlands 2-3 Argentina
7th penalty: Wout Weghorst to take... SCORES! Netherlands 2-3 Argentina
6th penalty: Gonzalo Montiel to take... SCORES! Netherlands 1-3 Argentina
5th penalty: Teun Koopmeiners to take... SCORES! A brilliantly calm spot kick. Netherlands 1-2 Argentina
4th penalty: Leandro Paredes to take... SCORES! Power penalty. Netherlands 0-2 Argentina
3rd penalty: Steven Berghuis to take... SAVED! Martinez incredible. Netherlands 0-1 Argentina
2nd penalty: Lionel Messi to take... SCORES! Calm as you like. Netherlands 0-1 Argentina
1st penalty: Virgil Van Dijk to take... SAVED! Netherlands 0-0 Argentina
FULLTIME: All over and we are heading to penalties!
120th min: OFF THE POST!
Enzo Fernandez hits one brilliantly from the edge of the area but, while the keeper is beaten, the upright is not, and the ball flies back out to safety. So unlucky.
115th min: Chance! Lautaro Martinez runs onto a pullback and smashes it goalward but Virgil van Dijk gets his body in front.
Argentina really pushing now but do they have the time to make it count?
111th min: Lisandro Martinez makes way for Angel Di Maria — how he'd love to break Louis van Gaal's heart with a winner here given their history at Manchester United.
110th min: Messi works a yard at the edge of the box but his effort flies high and wide of the goal.
You don't get a lot of goals in extra time generally and we're still waiting here.
106th min: Back at it. Nobody will want to slip up now!
HALFTIME: No more goals in the first period of extra time. Will we see a moment of inspiration, a mistake, or penalties decide this one?
104rd min: Messi dinks a free-kick to the far post but Nicolas Otamendi can't reach it on the stretch and the ball bounces harmlessly out of play.
96th min: Argentina couldn't get out of their own box in the final 15 minutes of normal time but now they're dominating possession once again and controlling things.
Why have the Dutch stopped going long when they were getting such joy from it?
91st min: We're back underway. Here's a quick reminder of how we got here:
