The 2014 World Cup has been considered by many one of the best tournaments of all time. With a number of eye-catching goals and incredible performances, fans will be hoping for something similar on Wednesday evening.
Argentina will meet the Netherlands in São Paulo in the second semifinal match, with both looking to earn the right to take on Germany on Sunday. After what happened on Tuesday in Belo Horizonte, both these sides have a lot to live up to.
We will take a look at some stats and facts that could ultimately help decide Wednesday’s fixture.
Trailing Is Not Their Thing
On paper, Alejandro Sabella’s squad may be one of the best at the tournament. They have a number of talented players who are on some of the world’s top clubs, but they just seem unable to put it all together. Despite all of that, the South American’s may not have looked all that impressive this tournament, but they have yet to trail in any of their matches.
Unable To Find The Net In The Knockout Stage
Van Persie’s diving header against Spain will be one of the stand out moments of this tournament. Not only was he able to notice Casillas off his line and make a quick decision, but his execution was fantastic. The Manchester United striker netted three goals in three group matches, but when it comes to the knockout stage, the flying Dutchman has never scored a goal.
As he battles a stomach bug, it is still unknown if he will feature in Wednesday’s match against Argentina, but if he does, he will be out to put an end to that streak. It is incredible to think that from 46 international goals, none have come in an elimination match.
Putting A Stop To Lionel Messi & Arjen Robben
Everyone knows what the Argentina captain is capable on and off the ball, but regardless of that, it is not easy to stop him. He has had a few mediocre performances this tournament, but he has come out with some vital goals for La Albiceleste. He scored what ended up being the winning goal against Bosnia, a late winner against Iran, and two important goals against Nigeria.
Messi leads the tournament with 19 created chances. Whether he is having a go at goal or laying it off for a teammate, the Dutch defenders who have conceded four goals in five matches will be put to the test.
On the flip side, Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben has been terrorizing defenders the entire tournament. At times his talent may be overlooked, but his footballing ability is extremely important within the Dutch squad. He is not only capable of taking on defenders and beating them one on one, but he can also pick out a fantastic cross, or even a perfect pass to put his teammates in on goal. Against an Argentine defensive unit that has shown some signs of vulnerability, Robben will certainly get a few chances on goal.
Continuing The South American Dominance
Both these countries will meet for the ninth time on Wednesday, and the Dutch will be confident of continuing their positive trend. From their eight meetings, the European side has come out victorious four times, with Argentina only winning once.
The last time they met was in the 2006 World Cup, where they played to a scoreless draw. Argentina’s only victory over the Oranje was back in the 1978 World Cup, where they won 3-1 after extra time, earning the South American’s a World Cup title in their own country.
Furthermore, in 12 World Cup matches against South American opposition, Holland has only lost twice (vs Argentina 1978, and vs Brazil 1994).
First Semifinal In 24 Years
La Albiceleste seem to always underachieve on the big stage. Since they finished second in 1990, getting back to the semifinals has been a tall order. In 1994 they crashed out in the round of 16 falling 1-0 to West Germany in the 85th minute.
Since then, they were eliminated in the quarterfinals in 1998, a premature group stage exit in 2002, but in the last two tournaments they have made it to the quarters. That will not be enough for the Argentinian fans, and they would want nothing more than to be able to play for the chance to win a World Cup title on the soil of their Brazilian rivals.
Watch the 2014 World Cup Semi-Final Argentina vs Netherlands
Don’t miss the highly anticipated match featuring South America's last hopefuls Argentina against Louis van Gaal's mighty Netherlands. Guided by captain Lionel Messi, the Argentines will do everything they possibly can to ensure they make the final which will be played at the Maracanã. The match kicks-off at 4pm EST / 1pm PST / 8pm GMT.
Check our complete and comprehensive global broadcast listings across all platforms (Internet, TV and Radio) Check Argentina vs Netherlands LIVE broadcast listings.
