Argentina, Netherlands clash on Wednesday
By: Brian Graham - StatFox
2014 WORLD CUP SOCCER
NETHERLANDS vs. ARGENTINA
Kickoff: Wednesday, 4:00 p.m. EDT
Arena Corinthians – Sao Paulo, Brazil
Line:
Argentina +140, Netherlands +207, Tie after Regulation +225
Over/Under: 2.5 Goals (Over +170, Under -192)
Argentina hopes to celebrate its nation's Independence Day on Wednesday when it meets the Netherlands in the semifinals of the 2014 World Cup.
Neither team has had an easy path to the semifinals, as the Dutch trailed Mexico by a 1-0 score 87 minutes into their Round of 16 match before scoring twice in a seven-minute span to win 2-1. The game-winner came on a disputed penalty kick. Then in the quarterfinals, the Netherlands needed a penalty-kick shootout to decide a scoreless match with heavy underdog Costa Rica. Backup goalkeeper Tim Krul, a last-minute substitution for the shorter Jasper Cillessen, saved two shots to lead the Netherlands to victory. The Maracana has won all five of its matches in this tournament, with all five victories coming by a one-goal margin. In the Round of 16 contest, Argentina failed to score until the 118th minute in a 1-0 win over Switzerland, but got on the board in the 8th minute in the quarterfinals and barely held on for a 1-0 win over Belgium. That sent the Maracana into the semifinal round for the first time since 1990 to meet a Dutch club that will be playing in its third semifinal in the past five World Cups, a run that includes a runner-up showing in 2010 when it fell 1-0 to Spain. While Argentina is likely to see the return of forward Sergio Aguero, who missed the quarterfinal match because of a thigh injury, the team will be without starting midfielder Angel di Maria, who suffered a thigh injury of his own in the win over Belgium. The Netherlands will once again be missing defensive-minded midfielder Nigel de Jong, who suffered a groin injury versus Mexico. His likely replacement, Leroy Fer, is also hurting with an injured hamstring is considered questionable for Wednesday. This is a rematch of the 1978 final when Argentina beat the Netherlands 3-1 in extra time. However, the Dutch returned the favor by beating the Maracana in the 1988 World Cup quarterfinals.
The Netherlands had scored multiple goals in each of their first four World Cup matches, outscoring their opponents by a wide 12-4 margin, but were unable to score against Costa Rica despite 20 total shots, with 15 of those going on goal. The Dutch allowed only six total shots (three on goal) to the Ticos, and held sizable advantages in possession (64% to 36%) and corner kicks (11-1). But the Netherlands played sloppy in the quarterfinal win, committing 15 fouls and picking up two potential costly yellow cards (defender Bruno Martins and forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar), while being whistled for 13 offsides. Plenty of Dutch players have tallied in the goal-scoring column in this tournament so far, a list that includes the club's top player, forward Arjen Robben (three goals), forward Robin van Persie (three goals) and forward Memphis Depay (two goals).
Superstar Lionel Messi has arguably been the best player in the World Cup, and has carried Argentina with four of his team's seven goals, and he also set up teammate Angel di Maria's one-timer with a perfect pass at the 118th minute to escape past Switzerland in the Round of 16. Messi has made 180 passes in the tournament despite constant double and triple teaming from opponents. The other three World Cup tallies for the Maracana came on a fortunate own goal by Bosnia-Herzegovina, Marcos Rojo's game-winner versus Nigeria and Gonzalo Higuain's volley in the 8th minute for the lone goal of the quarterfinal victory. Although Argentina has not dominated in this tournament as many experts expected they would versus a perceived weak schedule, they have won possession in all five matches with 55% against Bosnia-Herzegovina, a whopping 70% versus Iran, 57% against Nigeria, 61% versus the Swiss and a slight 51% advantage against Belgium. The Maracana have also fired 39 shots in the knockout stage with 29 going on goal (74%), giving them 57 total shots with 42 on net (74%) in the past three matches combined. After generating only two corner-kick chances in their World Cup opener, they have produced 38 corner kicks over the past four contests, totaling 16 in the two knockout-stage wins. The Maracana played a very clean tournament in group play with only 24 total fouls and one yellow card (Rojo). However, in the knockout stage, they have been whistled for 30 fouls, including four yellow cards (Rojo, di Maria, midfielder Lucas Biglia and defender Ezequiel Garay). Rojo was not allowed to play in the quarterfinals because of his two yellow cards, but he will be back to help his team on Wednesday.
By: Brian Graham - StatFox
2014 WORLD CUP SOCCER
NETHERLANDS vs. ARGENTINA
Kickoff: Wednesday, 4:00 p.m. EDT
Arena Corinthians – Sao Paulo, Brazil
Line:
Argentina +140, Netherlands +207, Tie after Regulation +225
Over/Under: 2.5 Goals (Over +170, Under -192)
Argentina hopes to celebrate its nation's Independence Day on Wednesday when it meets the Netherlands in the semifinals of the 2014 World Cup.
Neither team has had an easy path to the semifinals, as the Dutch trailed Mexico by a 1-0 score 87 minutes into their Round of 16 match before scoring twice in a seven-minute span to win 2-1. The game-winner came on a disputed penalty kick. Then in the quarterfinals, the Netherlands needed a penalty-kick shootout to decide a scoreless match with heavy underdog Costa Rica. Backup goalkeeper Tim Krul, a last-minute substitution for the shorter Jasper Cillessen, saved two shots to lead the Netherlands to victory. The Maracana has won all five of its matches in this tournament, with all five victories coming by a one-goal margin. In the Round of 16 contest, Argentina failed to score until the 118th minute in a 1-0 win over Switzerland, but got on the board in the 8th minute in the quarterfinals and barely held on for a 1-0 win over Belgium. That sent the Maracana into the semifinal round for the first time since 1990 to meet a Dutch club that will be playing in its third semifinal in the past five World Cups, a run that includes a runner-up showing in 2010 when it fell 1-0 to Spain. While Argentina is likely to see the return of forward Sergio Aguero, who missed the quarterfinal match because of a thigh injury, the team will be without starting midfielder Angel di Maria, who suffered a thigh injury of his own in the win over Belgium. The Netherlands will once again be missing defensive-minded midfielder Nigel de Jong, who suffered a groin injury versus Mexico. His likely replacement, Leroy Fer, is also hurting with an injured hamstring is considered questionable for Wednesday. This is a rematch of the 1978 final when Argentina beat the Netherlands 3-1 in extra time. However, the Dutch returned the favor by beating the Maracana in the 1988 World Cup quarterfinals.
The Netherlands had scored multiple goals in each of their first four World Cup matches, outscoring their opponents by a wide 12-4 margin, but were unable to score against Costa Rica despite 20 total shots, with 15 of those going on goal. The Dutch allowed only six total shots (three on goal) to the Ticos, and held sizable advantages in possession (64% to 36%) and corner kicks (11-1). But the Netherlands played sloppy in the quarterfinal win, committing 15 fouls and picking up two potential costly yellow cards (defender Bruno Martins and forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar), while being whistled for 13 offsides. Plenty of Dutch players have tallied in the goal-scoring column in this tournament so far, a list that includes the club's top player, forward Arjen Robben (three goals), forward Robin van Persie (three goals) and forward Memphis Depay (two goals).
Superstar Lionel Messi has arguably been the best player in the World Cup, and has carried Argentina with four of his team's seven goals, and he also set up teammate Angel di Maria's one-timer with a perfect pass at the 118th minute to escape past Switzerland in the Round of 16. Messi has made 180 passes in the tournament despite constant double and triple teaming from opponents. The other three World Cup tallies for the Maracana came on a fortunate own goal by Bosnia-Herzegovina, Marcos Rojo's game-winner versus Nigeria and Gonzalo Higuain's volley in the 8th minute for the lone goal of the quarterfinal victory. Although Argentina has not dominated in this tournament as many experts expected they would versus a perceived weak schedule, they have won possession in all five matches with 55% against Bosnia-Herzegovina, a whopping 70% versus Iran, 57% against Nigeria, 61% versus the Swiss and a slight 51% advantage against Belgium. The Maracana have also fired 39 shots in the knockout stage with 29 going on goal (74%), giving them 57 total shots with 42 on net (74%) in the past three matches combined. After generating only two corner-kick chances in their World Cup opener, they have produced 38 corner kicks over the past four contests, totaling 16 in the two knockout-stage wins. The Maracana played a very clean tournament in group play with only 24 total fouls and one yellow card (Rojo). However, in the knockout stage, they have been whistled for 30 fouls, including four yellow cards (Rojo, di Maria, midfielder Lucas Biglia and defender Ezequiel Garay). Rojo was not allowed to play in the quarterfinals because of his two yellow cards, but he will be back to help his team on Wednesday.
