The Argentine team beat the Netherlands from twelve steps after a 2-2 draw in 120 minutes and fulfilled its primary objective of playing the seven games in the Qatar 2022 World Cup with qualification to the semifinals.
From the statistical balance, the analysis of the advantage that Argentina squandered against a Dutch team that, within the 19 aerial duels they won, found the beginning of a recovery that fortunately did not reach, is in second place. The tie comes from a lack of concentration at set pieces after an unusual addition of time by the referee of the match, the Spanish Mateu Lahoz.
In the group statistics, Argentina maintained the indexes of the previous matches, except for the aerial duels (it won only 13), inclined to the change of scheme that Van Gaal established after the disadvantage, with the entry of the goalscorer Wout Weghorst.
In short passes, despite the change in scheme with five in the background, he accumulated 83% efficiency, and 33% of long passes, also common in previous performances in this World Cup.
This change in scheme completely neutralized the overflows of the Netherlands, since they only completed two in the entire match (15%), a remarkable performance by the central defenders: Nicolás Otamendi, Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martínez. In this aspect, it is also worth noting that Argentina won in the general duels (it completed 68 in the 120 minutes, in addition to 19 clearances).
Individual performances, the support of the Argentine team as a solid team in the Qatar 2022 World Cup
It is pertinent to start with the performance of the great hero of the penalty shootout: Emiliano, the “Dibu” Martínez. Up to now, the Argentine goalkeeper is the one with the highest efficiency of unconverted penalties, with five out of ten taken, 50%; according to the detailed report by "Data Invicta". The Argentinian goalkeeper stopped the shots of Virgil Van Dijk and Steven Berghuis.
Nicolás Otamendi's performance has not been out of place at any time since the World Cup began. Despite having obtained his first yellow card so far in the tournament, he leads seven statistical items for the Argentine national team, as well as being the footballer with the most games won in the entire World Cup in Qatar (34).
Captain Lionel Messi was key in both of Argentina's goals, firstly for the assist to Nahuel Molina, and also for his penalty kick for the 2-0 partial. In his 24 matches in World Cups (he will equal Lothar Matthaus's record against Croatia), he is the national team's top scorer in World Cups equaling Gabriel Batistuta, with 10 goals each.
The income from the bench also worked: the entry of Leandro Paredes to the game by Rodrigo De Paul, had a 90% effectiveness in passes, in addition to a fundamental statistic from SofaScore: on average for 90 minutes, he is 1st in recoveries [9.86], 1st in tackles [3.08], 1st in total passes [117.7], 1st in accurate passes [110.3], 1st in accurate long passes [4.9], 1st in passing effectiveness [94%] and 1st in duels won [8.0].
The illusion is more latent than ever. After the defeat against Saudi Arabia, the Argentine team rebuilt itself based on forced absences and superlative performances of the reserve variants. Next Tuesday against Croatia, he will seek to give Lionel Messi the great revenge that football owes him.
