Lionel Messi previews Argentina’s World Cup clash with the Netherlands.
Lionel Messi has said he expects a ‘really tough clash’ with the Netherlands in the
World Cup quarter-finals.
Both the Netherlands and Messi’s Argentina booked their respective places in the last
eight of the competition on Saturday thanks to wins over USA and Australia.
The quarter-final will be a repeat of the classic 1998 quarter-final which the Dutch won
courtesy of that Dennis Bergkamp’s 90th-minute winner. The two nations also faced off
in the 2014 semi-final – a game Argentina won via a penalty shootout.
Speaking to the press following his star turn in La Albiceleste’s 2-1 win over Australia – a game
in which Messi scored his first-ever World Cup knockout round goal – Messi said he is expecting
a difficult game against the Dutch, stating: “Now we have a really tough clash with Holland,
who play very well.
READ MORE:Cody Gakpo responds to Manchester United transfer interest
“They have great players and a great coach, it’s going to be hard-fought. It’s the quarter-finals
of a World Cup and if a World Cup has been tough from the start, it gets even tougher at this stage.”
Messi also took time to thank Argentina’s fans for their support at the World Cup, with
over 30,000 reported to have traveled to Qatar this winter: “These are amazing feelings.
I’m really happy to share this beautiful moment, these happy moments with them all.
“The effort they are making to be here with us in every single match. I know how much they
enjoy it back in Argentina. The whole of Argentina would like to be here, but it’s not possible.
I think there’s this bond that we have, this union, which is something beautiful.
“It’s unbelievable what they transmit, the passion, their energy, their joy and we’re very thankful. It’s unbelievable.”
