DOHA: Argentina set up a semi-final showdown with Croatia after beating the Netherlands 4-3 on penalties following a thrilling 2-2 extra-time draw in a World Cup quarter-final classic.
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Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was the hero in the shootout for the South Americans after Argentina squandered a Lionel Messi-engineered two-goal lead in the final minutes of normal time.
Also read: ‘It hurts a lot’: Van Dijk reflects on Netherlands’ penalty shootout defeat to Argentina
Argentina is persistently ranked as the second-best team in South America. They have topped the FIFA World Rankings on many occasions, including as recently as 2017. Argentina is the fifth favorite in Qatar’s upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup Finals.
The Argentina national football team has won two FIFA World Cups, one in 1978 and one in 1986, making them one of the most successful national teams in the world. Argentina was runner-up three times, in 1930, 1990, and 2014.
In the ongoing event of FIFA World Cup 2022 being held in Qatar, Argentina has played 5 matches, out of which it lost the first one against Saudi Arabia but won the next four against Mexico 2-0, Poland 2-0, Australia 2-1 and Netherlands on penalty kicks 2(4)-2(3).
The match against Netherlands will be remembered for the 18 yellow cards and one red dished out by Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz to set a record.
Also read: How many goals have been scored so far at World Cup 2022?
