09 July,2014 08:35 AM IST | | AFP
As two football powerhouses- Netherlands and Argentina - clash in their FIFA World Cup semi finals tonight, we present a light-hearted guide to the game
Jasper Cillesse vs Ezequiel Lavezzi
Just how good are they?
Netherlands: Their penalty shootout hero against Costa Rica, goalkeeper Tim Krul, will still be on the bench tonight as Jasper Cillessen starts.
Argentina: The crowd. Scores of Argentinians have crossed the border to descend in Brazil for the World Cup. Expect the noisy Argentine support to lift the team.
Weaknesses
Netherlands: A well organised defence (like Costa Rica) can make the Oranje, Louis van Gaal's tactical genius notwithstanding, look clueless.
Argentina: Over-reliance on Lionel Messi. He is only human (we think)!
Most likely toâ¦
Netherlands: Win the game thanks to a Van Gaal tactical masterstroke.
Argentina: Win the match by a one-goal margin.
They can win if...
Netherlands: If they unleash Nigel De Jong on Messi like they did on Xabi Alonso in the 2010 World Cup final.
Argentina: They keep passing the ball to Messi; let Messi take free-kicks; let Messi take corners and even let Messi be the goalkeeper if need be.
X-factor:
Netherlands: Tim Krul. He may start on the bench today, but Van Gaal might allow him a free rein to try and bully Argentina's substitutes and even coach Alejandro Sabella.
Argentina: The crowd. Scores of Argentinians have crossed the border to descend in Brazil for the World Cup. Expect the noisy Argentine support to lift the team.
