Lionel Messi vs Netherlands (World Cup 2022) English Commentary - HD 1080i

You mentioned Messi. Let's have a look at the man himself. He's 35 now, 1,001 matches, 789 goals. How much longer will we get to enjoy his sublime talent? A talent that probably won't surprise you to hear, but stood out from an early age. It'd still be the same now. I mean, everything's been said about this guy, but he is phenomenal. For the size of him, you know, the strength, the hits that he has to take, because the way he's gone past defenders at pace like he does, I mean, everyone's trying to take him out. He saw it at that age, and that's still identical now, is that because of his trickery and his ability to run with that ball at speed. I think today, what you're talking about in the clips that you showed there about man-to-man, if they go like that with him, and they adopt that with him, and he beats someone, then the game opens up, and then you're going to see there's a difference in how he affects the game. That's the thing, with man-to-man marking, that's the thing. Will he miss Di Maria? He's out injured still. I think so. He was missed against Australia. He's the only one who can bring a bit of pace into that team, you know. His dribbling ability is crossing, help Argentina in terms of creating chances, so yeah. It looks like they've gone to match up the Dutch system with Argentina. They've only conceded 16 shots in the tournament. They've made their so in four games, the fewest in the tournament by anybody. That's a real strength. They've been good in possession. They have good players in midfield to give the ball well. Obviously, most of the team have been sitting down, you know, and just give Argentina the ball, but I think today they have to be aware of especially the pace up front. Who's going to win Rio? I think it'll be a tight affair. I'm going to go through a 1-0 Argentina Messi-inspired victory. Pablo, I'm not going to put you on the spot because I know you don't want to jinx it. I know, yes. Please don't jinx it. Don't do it. Alan? Holland, just, I think it's going to be a long night. It would surprise me if he went all the way to penalties. I've been looking forward to this one. It's a goody. Argentina versus Netherlands. A game for the ages of Cruyff and Krol, of Passarella and Kempes, of that ball from De Boer and Bergkamp's balletic beauty of then and of now. An album of memories and tonight an abundance of scrumptious possibilities. May the laurels be eternal that we were able to achieve. Let us live crowned in glory. And once again, dead group stage rubber in Frankfurt in 2006 that Lionel Messi made his first World Cup start. He and Carlos Tevez played so that Prespo and Saviola could rest. Unthinkably, if they lose today, this could be his last dance. Messi. Engaged at once by de Jong. Took on the breakthrough goal against the States in the last 16. Here's Messi. Back by Fernandes. Up in the air by Derome. Came down for Molina. Molina getting forward quite a bit in these. De Puy. By Messi. Here's Molina again. Schultz scored. It's a hit at the back of Alvarez. We'll see whether that takes away a little bit of their... Romero. Challenged by Ake. He's allowed to go. Here is Messi. It's a spin off Timba. Rewards him that free kick. Molina can whip it in towards Alvarez. Van Dijk is well stationed. It came out to Lionel Messi and Messi found Acuna and thrashed it across the face and beyond. Yeah, just needed to come ahead here. To Paul. Messi. Lionel Messi. It's a glimpse. Sidesteps a player or two. Went off with a shot unusually for him. Bursts into life. In their previous meeting, which was in Frankfurt in 2006, Molina. Alvarez. Messy. Fernandez. Messi. Yeah, he wanted McAllister, but he had nothing really ahead of him. Had to go. Craftily taken by Messi. Wriggling away from Ake. And fiddling through a beautiful simple. You just don't think he's got anything to go at here. Where's the gap? There it is. It's a beauty. And Molina does not disappoint. He's made so many raids down that line. So this time he cuts in. It's maybe a tactic that surprised the Netherlands. Scored some goals, but this is a genius of an assist from Lionel Messi. A goal of sumptuous geometry. Lionel Messi found an angle that did not seem to exist. And set up for Molina what is his first international goal. Argentina have only ever beaten the Netherlands outright once. Just once. Alvarez. Messi. Look at the twist of Ake. Messi got a shot away when not many would. No. Tell him almost to stay on his left foot, but he just loses. He didn't lose Ake. He only needs not even half a yard to get that shot. The halftime whistle goes. And on the day Brazil fell, Argentina threatened again to rise. Created magically again by Lionel Messi, who found the past that few others would have seen. Lionel Messi has proved himself again irreplaceable. Messi. To Paul. Messi. Alvarez. Messi. Acuna. He'll settle for that. Free seal to corner. A quarterfinal against Brazil in 2010 in South Africa when they were 1-0 down at halftime. Messi. Oh, beautifully weighted. McAllister. Alvarez is one way. De Paul is the other. This is Rodrigo De Paul for Argentina. Alexis McAllister. Too much on it. Alvarez was wary. Messi. De Paul. Nearly put in Molina. Ake across behind Messi. By De Paul. Messi in advance of him. McAllister through the middle. Here is Lionel Messi. Goalkeeper came. There's Blint. Fernandes went to ground. Molina took it back. Messi with the full pirouette. And then the tasty touch in front of De Paul. Messi in his own time when he wants. Lionel Messi driving at the heart of them. What a free kick for Argentina in a position of great potential advantage. Yes, still showed that little bit of acceleration over five yards there to win the foul. The head of Van Dijk. And what a position this is. Messi. The netting from the outside. Yeah, Noppe was just struggling to see the ball. He wasn't sure which way Messi was going to go. Behind the goal thought he'd scored. Memphis Depay. Behind Memphis Depay. And the pressure from Messi. Once again, Lionel Messi composes himself. But there is no other credible candidate when there is him. Lionel Messi. Finals. Dream to fulfill. They have a dream to fulfill. Step by step they draw closer to the ultimate fulfillment. Well, made one, scored one. He's been at the center of things yet again. Dumfries getting sucked into the challenge. It was a foul. And who do you want at this kind of moment when the heat's on? Yeah, he's missed one, but never looked likely here. He kind of flat-footed Andres Noppe. Keeper didn't really know what to do. And with the subs, the whole of the Argentina bench rushing across. They feel it's all over, as do the fans probably. Should be some finish to the match. The Netherlands have set up here a potential grandstand finish with their first shot on target in the game. Their first attempt on target. And it was an attempt that proved fruitful. A proper. And this is Lautaro Martinez and Messi. Dispossessed by Ake fouled by Berghaus who goes into the book. Martinez clear by Otamendi. Beautifully kept by Messi. Sifted through for McAllister. And Alvarez hooked up kindly for Noppe. Come back by de Jong. Ake also crashing over the outrushing Argentine. Leandro Paredes who himself clouted the ball at the bench. Five minutes of stoppage time played. Five at least still to play. He punches the air at the award of that free kick by the Orange Army. And even the greats of the past are screaming the side on. Cambiasso there I saw. Zanetti as the 99th minute ticks into the 100th. Messi is in the book. That is incredible. The whole stadium expected a shot. Minutes tonight and here's Messi. And he was fuming. That's it for now but of course there will be more. There will be half an hour more. There could be penalties even beyond that. In the moment there are frayed tempers. There is fury on one side. Frenzied thrill on the other. There is confrontation. Pushing and shoving. Tetchiness. And on Wout Weghorst's face is emblazoned the wide-eyed thrill of a man. They met eight years ago in Sao Paulo. They went all the way to a penalty shootout. A shootout in which Sergio Romero, the Argentine goalkeeper, emerged as the hero. Saving from Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder. Petsela who gave away the free kick. Mario Goertz's goal in the second period of extra time denied them the trophy. Messi. The ref's seen that little clash I think. He's brought it back. Could be trouble here. Fernandes. Messi. Tagliafico. Fernandes. Much backed by De Jong. Even Messi out there has got overheated hasn't he? Barking at the ref. Awkward little distance this. It just requires a gentle dink. Messi lifts it in. Lots of mendy was stretching. Nothing wrong with the dink. Paredes. Messi. He delivers once more and this time harmlessly. And so we are separated from penalties now by just 15 minutes more of football. A summary again. A summary that mirrors only that which you heard a quarter of an hour ago. Molina won the large. When the world woke up on the 9th of December it assumed I think in large part that it was going to get itself a Brazil-Argentina World Cup semi-final by the end of the day. 42 fouls in the game. Yeah that whistle of the refs must be read off. Flicked in by Messi and well pouched second time by Nopper. Gets as well the Messi. Paredes for Messi. Messi to wriggle and Messi to shoot high and wide. Chelsea's throw. Messi by Gappo. Two and a half minutes to play. Messi drifting away from De Jong. Messi driving at them. Tagliafico. McAllister. The box given half a chance. Here's Messi. Fernandes deflection. Loops up over and behind. Yeah Nopper was on the ground had to get up quickly. McAllister. Otamendi. Paredes. Here's Messi. Here's Messi. He's got a corner. Messi. What a pure strike of the football. An epic whose denouement is still to come. Argentina were nearly there. Messi from the spot had taken them to the very edge of the semi-final and yet he must tread to the spot again because Wout Weghorst off the bench dragged the Netherlands back into it with almost a lot. Eight years ago in Sao Paulo stepped up first against the Netherlands and scored and sent them on their way. A nation on his shoulders. Many would have the bottle to do that but off his man. A night that has gone on forever that will be remembered. They won it once then from the spot they won it all and jig jollily into the semi-final. It was not his last dance. Messi's still alive. Argentina still alive. The Dutch dumbfounded, confounded and heading home. Yeah and there's not much shaking of hands down there. There's plenty of pushing and shoving. Players having to be separated but Messi's men have got themselves through. Argentina against Croatia in the World Cup semi-final here at Lusail on Tuesday. Nathan Ake's vacant stare. Wout Weghorst's overt sobbing indicates the weight. The weight of the sadness. Yeah such a valiant effort from the Netherlands. Such a great comeback but Emi Martinez what a hero for his country. They said a prayer. Together they said a prayer and the prayer was answered. Pempes from 78 in 2022. He celebrates his successors. Netherlands 2, Argentina 2. Argentina have it on penalties by 4-3.