World Cup Daily: Despite the scare, Argentina’s dream is still alive
After every matchday of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Sportsnet.ca’s World Cup Daily weblog will recap the day’s occasions and stay up for the subsequent day’s slate of video games.
Here’s what occurred on Friday in Qatar, in case you missed it…
THE RESULTS
• Croatia 1, Brazil 1 (Croatia wins 4-2 in shootout) in Al Rayyan: Match report || Match stats
• Netherlands 2, Argentina 2 (Argentina wins 4-3 in shootout) in Lusail: Match report || Match stats
Semifinals matchup: Argentina vs. Croatia in Lusail (Dec. 13 at 2:00 p.m. ET)
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MAIN TALKING POINTS
Argentina throws all of it away, after which recaptures it
“I once held her in my arms, she said she would always stay. But I was cruel, I treated her like a fool, I threw it all away.” – Bob Dylan
Argentina continues to be alive on the World Cup, however simply barely, after managing to carry and keep away from struggling one of many biggest collapses within the historical past of the event. As a end result, the South Americans are by means of to the semifinals in Qatar, and Lionel Messi stays heading in the right direction to lastly hoist the World Cup trophy in his final look within the competitors.
A 4-3 penalty shootout victory noticed the Argentines dispatch the Netherlands in dramatic trend. But it actually didn’t need to be that troublesome for La Albiceleste, who appeared to have had the sport wrapped up when Messi transformed from the penalty spot within the 73rd minute. Before that, he arrange Argentina’s opening aim within the first half with an out-of-this-world go that took out 4 Dutch gamers. Within minutes, “WHAT A PASS” was trending on Twitter, and when Messi gave his nation a 2-0 lead, the Netherlands useless and buried.
But the Argentines let the sport slip away from them, like somebody who takes his lover with no consideration and doesn’t understand what factor they’ve going. Argentina started to ease up, and the Netherlands took full benefit after subbing on ahead Wout Weghorst late within the second half. He responded with two objectives, one scored off a well-worked, sucker-punch of a free kick deep into damage time, to seemingly break Argentina’s coronary heart.
Thirty minutes of additional time settled nothing, and when Argentina took a 3-1 lead within the penalty shootout, its prior indiscretions have been virtually forgotten. But then Enzo Fernández missed his penalty, and Luuk de Jong transformed for the Netherlands.
Surely, the South Americans weren’t going to throw away a two-goal lead for the second time? Lautaro Martínez stopped the Dutch comeback useless in his tracks with a cool-as-you-like penalty that allowed Argentina to as soon as once more really feel the nice and cozy and loving embrace of victory.
Croatia sends Brazil packing from World Cup
Brazil sambaed into the World Cup quarter-finals in Qatar, solely to stoop its means out of the competitors when it discovered an unwilling dance companion in Croatia on Friday. A aim by Neymar within the a hundred and fifth minute appeared to ship the Seleção to the semifinals for the primary time since 2014 when it hosted the event. But a resolute and defiant Croatia, led by the incomparable Luka Modrić, didn’t go light into that good evening and equalized 12 minutes later earlier than successful out in a dramatic penalty shootout.
Much has been made in regards to the Brazilians at this World Cup, and the way they’ve dazzled and entertained followers with their joga bonito. Technical ability and high quality are actually admirable qualities to have. Being ready to attract water from a deep reservoir of resolve additionally issues, although. On that rating, there’s no query that Croatia had the sting over Brazil. The Croatians have been concerned in six of the final eight World Cup matches to go to further time – they’ve progressed the final 5 occasions.
As non secular caretakers of the game, Brazil sees successful the World Cup as its birthright. Croatia reminded the South American nation that nothing comes straightforward on the World Cup, and that you will need to battle and scrap for every little thing you earn. Buoyed by the heroic goalkeeping of Dominik Livaković, the defensive stoutness of centre again Joško Gvardiol, and graft and guile of fullback Josip Juranović, and the midfield industriousness of Modrić Mateo Kovačić, Croatia justifiably discover itself within the ultimate 4 of a World Cup for the second consecutive event.
GOAL OF THE DAY
After being thwarted by Croatia for 105 minutes, Brazil lastly broke the impasse with a fabulous aim. Neymar began the attacking sequence by working straight down the center, earlier than receiving a return go contained in the field from Lucas Paquetá. The PSG star patiently rounded goalkeeper Dominik Livaković and fired a shot into the roof of the online to provide his aspect the lead.
MOMENT OF THE DAY
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QUOTE OF THE DAY
“We are raised as fighters, giving our greatest. And that’s the recipe for achievement.” – Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livaković
SIX PACK OF STATS
• Neymar has now scored 77 objectives for Brazil, tying Pele because the joint all-time prime scorer for the Brazilian males’s staff.
• Brazil has appeared in 15 World Cup quarterfinals, essentially the most of any nation within the historical past of the lads’s event.
• Brazil was the thirteenth aspect to go up 1-0 in further time of a males’s World Cup knockout stage match, however the first to finally be eradicated.
• Lionel Messi has seven profession assists on the World Cup. All the aim passes went to completely different gamers: Hernan Crespo (2006), Carlos Tevez (2010), Angel Di María (2014), Sergio Agüero, Gabriel Mercado (2018), Enzo Fernández and Molina (2022).
• Wout Weghorst is the first-ever substitute to attain twice in a World Cup match for the Dutch males’s staff.
• Wout Weghorst scored for the Dutch along with his first-ever shot on the World Cup.
Stats courtesy of Opta
THREE STARS OF THE DAY
1) Lionel Messi (Argentina): He scored one aim and arrange one other in regulation time, after which transformed throughout the penalty shootout to maintain alive his hopes of successful a World Cup in his ultimate event look.
2) Dominik Livaković (Croatia): The lanky goalkeeper made 11 saves in regulation and additional time, after which registered one other essential cease within the penalty shootout to ship Croatia by means of to the semifinals at Brazil’s expense.
3) Wout Weghorst (Netherlands): He got here off the bench within the 78th minute and proceeded to attain two objectives to drag the Dutch degree and power further time.
LOOKING AHEAD TO SATURDAY
The quarterfinal spherical wraps up with two extra video games on Saturday, beginning with Morocco vs. Portugal (10 a.m. ET). The Portuguese barely missed a beat with Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench within the Round of 16, as his alternative Gonçalo Ramos erupted for 3 objectives and an help in a 6-1 win over Switzerland. Will supervisor Fernando Santos maintain the religion with Ramos, or flip to Ronaldo to search out objectives towards a Moroccan aspect that has solely conceded as soon as in Qatar?
The late recreation sees England tackle France (2 p.m. ET). England’s three wins at this World Cup have come towards lower-ranked nations, so a showdown with the reigning world champions will simply be its stiffest check and can decide whether or not or not the Three Lions are for actual.
John Molinaro is without doubt one of the main soccer journalists in Canada, having coated the sport for over 20 years for a number of media shops, together with Sportsnet, CBC Sports and Sun Media. He is at present the editor-in-chief of TFC Republic, an internet site devoted to in-depth protection of Toronto FC and Canadian soccer. TFC Republic could be discovered right here.
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