Dutch coach Louis Van Gal open about the weaknesses of the Argentine star Lionel Messi in view of the duel between the two teams in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup.
The Netherlands-Argentina quarterfinals took place at the Lusail Iconic Stadium, on Saturday (10/12) in the morning WIB.
Lionel Messi will be in the spotlight again during the match. Messi is needed to lead Argentina to victory over the Netherlands.
However, Louis van Gaal admits he has a way of dampening La Pulga. Van Gaal also highlighted Messi’s weaknesses ahead of the Netherlands-Argentina.
“Obviously Messi is their most dangerous and most creative player,” van Gaal told NOS TV channel Waz.de.
“On the other hand, he’s not very involved in the game when the opponent has the ball. That’s where our opportunity lies,” added Van Gaal.
Van Gaal last faced Argentina when they lost 2-4 on penalties in the semi-finals of the 2014 World Cup. Even so, the 71-year-old coach is unconcerned by this poor record.
“I don’t like looking back. At that moment I thought we were going to win, so I changed my mind,” said Van Gaal.
The 71-year-old came on as a substitute for striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and then failed to take his replacement to penalties, saving two in the quarter-final against Costa Rica.
The criticisms received by the Orange Team were considered by Van Gaal not as pressure for him. Van Gaal is optimistic that the Netherlands can win the 2022 World Cup.
“We want to become world champions. I said that from the start and my players welcomed this goal. Even if it’s not the biggest opportunity, we want to seize it,” said Van Gaal.
(sry/rhr)
/data/photo/2022/12/06/638f1ae26d67b.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)