They choked the supply line to Lionel Messi and
avoided fouls around the edge of the penalty area and blocked the Zabaleta path
on the right. They narrowed the playing field and squeezed the match into their
comfort zone. On transition, they looked to pick a long ball into the pockets
occupied by Robin van Persie.
Argentina insisted on playing on the right involving
Zabaleta and Messi tried central runs towards goal. The Dutch had a plan of tripling
up on him. Mascherano performed at the highest level as he anticipated each
move and intercepted every ball played through and across midfield. He sprayed
the passes to the front-runners and took charge of the middle of the park. His
authority was complemented by the unexpected work-rate of Perez.
Perez worked well and hard and took the weight off
the shoulders of Messi. This enabled the South Americans to take grip of the
match in the second half as their attacks became more meaningful and
threatening. Argentina pressed a little higher with the front players fore-checking
and winning the ball as soon as it was lost. The longer the match progressed
without the goal, matters changed and the match swung to the Dutch.
They took the match by the scruff of its neck with
controlled forward movement. Both sides took single long-range shots and went
to reserve mode. Arjen Robben got control of the ball and ran at the defenders,
touching and keeping the ball for a little too long. Mascherano recovered and
tapped the ball for a corner kick.
Substitutes, Palacious and Maxi Rodriguez had
clear-cut chances to put the match away. The former got himself into the box
after chasing a looping ball from midfield. Face to face with Cillisen, he
rushed his headed attempt over the goalkeeper. The goalkeeper had fainted to
comeout and forced the striker’s action, making it easy for himself to collect
the weak header.
Messi had been quiet for a while as he suddenly
appeared with a strong run from the right flank. His cross eluded all but
Rodriguez tried a side-footed volley, an action that showed some indecision on
his part. He could have controlled the ball and tucked it past the keeper.
While Messi spent most of the extra time marked out
of the match, Robben created himself room by his mobility to various positions
in front and midfield. He shifted to either wing and touched the ball as often
as he liked. This made his threat real with every touch.
The penalty shootout failed to supply the Dutch
drama as Romero stole the show with acrobatic saves of Vlaar and Sneijder penalty
kicks. Although Robben and Kuyt converted, it was the clinical Argentinians who
tucked in theirs successfully.Messi, Lavezzi, Aguero and Maxi Rodriguez
converted to book a date with Germany in Maracana on the 13th of
July 2014.
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