Argentina and Netherlands will lock horns on Friday in a bid
to enter the final four at the FIFA World Cup 2022 in
Qatar. The Dutch who are one of the four unbeaten sides in the quarterfinals,
with England, Morocco and Croatia being the other three, will look forward to maintaining
that distinction while trying to exact sweet revenge on their Latin
American foes for a heartbreaking semi-final loss at Brazil, eight years ago.

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Argentina vs Netherlands: Head-to-head

* Argentina and Netherlands have played each other nine times
in the past, with the Dutch having a narrow lead of four wins, 2 ties and 3
losses to Albicelestes.

* The European side cruised to a 4-1 win in the first ever
match between the two, an international friendly in 1974 but Messi’s men were
triumphant in their last encounter in 2014.

* In World Cups, the two are tied at a deadlock of 2.5-2.5
with both sides having won two and drawn their group stage encounter in the
2006 World Cup.

* While Netherlands made light work of their rivals in the 1974
World Cup with a 4-0 win, Argentina hit back four years later to score a 3-1
extra-time victory that gave them their first World Cup in 1978 at home.

* Argentina most recently beat the Dutch on penalties [0-0
(4-2)] at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

* In the knockout stages of the World Cup, Argentina has had an
edge, having lost a quarter-final but won a semi-final and a final over the
Dutch.

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Argentina vs Netherlands: Stats

*As per the FIFA rankings updated on October 6, 2022,
Argentina are ranked number three in the World while Netherlands fill the
eighth position in the list.

*Netherlands have scored more than twice Argentina’s goal
tally against them, having 13 to Albicelestes’ 6 in their encounters.

*While team Netherlands has the same coach in charge after the
previous encounter in Louis Van Gaal, the Argentines still have Messi leading
from the front.

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Argentina vs Netherlands: Probable line-ups

Argentina’s probable 11: Messi(c),
Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Acuna; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister; Di
Maria, Alvarez

Netherland’s probable 11: Van
Dijk (c),  Noppert; Timber, Ake; Dumfries, De Roon, De
Jong, Blind; Klaasen; Gakpo, Depay

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Argentina vs Netherlands: Probable formations

Argentina’s
expected formation: 4-3-3

Netherlands’expected
formation: 3-4-2-1