Sao Paulo: Fuelled by decades of hurt, Lionel Messi’s Argentina and Arjen Robben’s Netherlands will carry competing motivations into the tantalising World Cup semifinal showdown at Sao Paulo’s Corinthians Arena on Wednesday (Thursday in India).
Argentina, who last reached the final in 1990, will be determined to pay appropriate homage to former great Alfredo Di Stefano, who died on Monday aged 88, while arch rivals Brazil could by then be awaiting in the final.
The Netherlands, meanwhile, are eager to rediscover their group stage swagger and prove they are finally ready to claim football’s greatest prize after agonising final defeats in 1974, 1978 and 2010.
“The semifinals are fantastic, but we know what it feels like to lose a World Cup, and we would love to win,” Dutch utility man Dirk Kuyt told the official FIFA website.
“Argentina are a world-class team and they deserve to be in the last-four. But we want to measure ourselves against the best, and not only measure, but win. That’s why we’re here.”
The second of Holland’s final losses came at the hands of Argentina, who won 3-1 as hosts at a Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires broiling with the menace of the country’s military dictatorship.
It is, however, the only time in eight encounters that they have bettered Holland, who memorably won a 1998 World Cup quarterfinal in Marseille thanks to a majestic last-minute goal by Dennis Bergkamp.
Di Stefano never graced a World Cup, either for Argentina or his adopted Spain, but on Wednesday another Argentine great embraced by the Spanish can tighten his grip on this year’s tournament.
Messi met with quarterfinal heartbreak at his first two World Cups, but in Brazil the Barcelona superstar has played with a decisiveness that suggests he may be about to definitively make his mark on the game’s biggest stage.
Dutch dangerman Robben is in similarly scintillating form, but for all the stars on show, the game in Brazil’s sprawling financial capital will also be a painstakingly prepared tactical battle.
Vlaar doubtful, but di Maria out
The Netherlands needed penalties to see off Costa Rica in the last-eight and as the panache that saw them crush Spain 5-1 in their opening game begins to ebb, it is their coach who has taken centre-stage.
Louis van Gaal was heralded for a decisive tactical switch against Mexico and then pulled off a masterstroke against Costa Rica by sending on reserve goalkeeper Tim Krul, who saved two penalties in the shootout.
The future Manchester United manager has played with a three-man defence in three of Holland’s five games to date and his innovations mean that his teamsheet will be awaited with great anticipation.
One name unlikely to feature, however, is centre-back Ron Vlaar, who is a serious doubt due to a knee injury.
Joel Veltman is in line to come into central defence alongside Bruno Martins Indi and Stefan de Vrij, unless van Gaal opts for a back four.
Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella, whose side beat Belgium 1-0 in the quarterfinals, is without influential midfielder Angel di Maria due to injury, but left-back Marcos Rojo is available again after suspension.
Messi from outer space
Gonzalo Higuain’s goal against Belgium showed that Argentina are not entirely dependent on Messi, but midfielder Javier Mascherano has warned his side that they face an evening of knife-edge tension against the 2010 runners-up.
“It will be a very tough match, Netherlands is a great team and they do almost everything right,” Mascherano said in an interview with Argentina’s official news agency, Telam.
“They are very experienced and have got a lot of great players, and they were at the last World Cup final although they lost,” he added.
“We have to make the most of our game. We didn’t show all we’ve got, but that was in part because of the way our rivals play,” said Mascherano.
He believes Argentina can get past the Dutch and lift the trophy in Sunday’s final against either hosts Brazil or Germany, who meet in the first semifinal, because they have four-time world Player of the Year Lionel Messi who is a special talent.
“Messi is the world’s best player, he gives us illusion, makes us believe we can be champions. He’s from outer space,” Mascherano added. (AFP)