Messi’s Argentina go through on penalties after Dutch comeback
Emiliano Martinez saved the first two Dutch penalties to give Argentina a huge advantage and Lautaro Martinez sent Andries Noppert the wrong way to set up a date for the South Americans with Croatia in the semi-finals on Tuesday. Messi celebrated with arms aloft in front of the massed ranks of Argentina fans, his hopes of securing football’s biggest prize at the fifth attempt intact for a few more days. “Argentina are among the four best in the world because they show that they know how to play every game with the same desire and the same intensity,” said the seven-times Ballon D’or winner. Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Quarter Final – Netherlands v Argentina – Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar – December 9, 2022 Netherlands’ Memphis Depay in action with Argentina’s Cristian Romero REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed “A lot of joy, a lot of happiness. We didn’t have to go to extra time or penalties, we had to suffer. But we got through and it’s impressive.” A third ben...