Marcos Acuña and Gonzalo Montiel are suspended for the Croatia match in the semi finals of the World Cup.

Acuña and Montiel both received their second yellow cards of the World Cup in Argentina’s penalty shootout win vs. Netherlands in the quarter finals. Acuña received his first yellow card against Poland while Montiel was yelloe carded against Saudi Arabia.

Lautaro Martínez commented on his penalty against Netherlands, the Argentina national team and the referee.

Martínez was brought on as a substitute for Argentina in their penalty shootout win vs. Netherlands and scored the decisive penalty which sent Argentina to the semi finals of the World Cup. Speaking in an interview with TyC Sports, here is what he had to say:

“The truth is that yes, I got a decisive penalty, like at the Copa America. In that walk, I was very calm because I am confident in my work, I work for that. I want to get better every day and bring joy to the people that are watching us.

“I thought of my daughter who was born during the pandemic and changed my life. Sometimes things work, sometimes they don’t but I deserve to be here.”

In regards to the referee:

“Some of the decisions were weird but that is for other people to talk about. We played and we didn’t deserve to go to penalty kicks. We have a great goalkeeper and he showed it.”

Rodrigo De Paul spoke about his injury, the Argentina national team and the World Cup.

De Paul had not trained with the team on Wednesday but did play for Argentina in the penalty shootout win vs. Netherlands. Speaking to TyC Sports after the match, here is what he had to say:

“The emotion is for what we have achieved, for what my team mates did and above all, for the support I have received these three days to be able to be here. The truth is that it angers us that this information leaks because we want to manage it very cautiously.

“Some had me out of the World Cup, saying I was out. Not only do you have to bear the anger of having something there but also to reassure the family. I did a big job with the physiotherapists and doctors.

“It was consensual and always being asked. I knew that once I would be in, I couldn’t leave after 10 minutes. There was a lot of pressure on me. Thank God the work that was done made everything go well.”

In regards to the World Cup:

“Our goal was to be in the top four. To arrive on the first day and to leave the last. We were champions at the Maracana, we had an incredible qualifiers, we broke the record for undefeated matches and today we are in the semi final. I think what we have achieved is impressive and I am very grateful to be part of all this.”

Lionel Messi spoke about the Argentina national team, the semi finals and the referee.

Messi scored and had an assist for Argentina vs. the Netherlands in the quarter finals. Being named as the Player of the Match, Messi spoke to the media about the team. Here is what he had to say:

“Argentina are among the four best in the world because we showed that we know how to play every match with the same desire and the same intensity.

“This team understands the moments of the match. When they have to play, they do. When they have to defend, they do.

“A lot of joy and relief. It wasn’t to go to penalty kicks. We suffered too much for how it all happened. But the it’s the quarter finals of the World Cup. Going through is the most beautiful and impressive thing.

Regarding the match vs. Croatia in the semi finals:

“Croatia have showed that they are a great team. At times, they played on equal footing with Brazil. It’s a team that has been working with the same coach for a long time and they know each other very well.”

He also spoke about the referee:

“I think that FIFA cannot use this referee for this type of match because he is not up to the task.”

And about the fans:

“We are really enjoying the people, going little by little. We are very happy.”

Argentina have won a World Cup classic with a 2-2 (4-3) win on penalty kicks and are in the semi finals of the World Cup.

For a second time in three editions, Argentina will be playing in a semi final. A tight game vs. the Netherlands in the quarter finals but it was Lionel Messi with a goal and an assist and the drama of penalty kicks.

Lionel Messi provided the assist of the tournament, a no look pass which split the Dutch back line and found Nahuel Molina. It was a great control by Molina and a toe poke to score and give Argentina the 1-0 lead. now has the most World Cup assists in the knockout stages, since Opta started recording them in 1966 with five, overtaking Pele who had four.

The second half saw very little chances by both sides until Marcos Acuna was tripped inside the Netherlands penalty area and Argentina were awarded a penalty kick. Lionel Messi would take it and he would score.

Messi has now scored 10 World Cup goals, joint top scorer with Gabriel Batistuta for all time goals in a World Cup by an Argentine. He now has four goals in this World Cup.

But the match was not over. The Netherlands would score off a cross and a header by Weghorst to pull one back. And the drama was on.

Referee Lahoz added 10 minutes of injury time and in the ninth minute, the Dutch were awarded a penalty after a foul by Pezzella. A free kick played short and Weghorst again would score and the Dutch were level.

It would go to extra time and Enzo Fernandez would come close as he hit the post in the 120 minute. For the first time in this World Cup, Argentina would go to penalty kicks.

Emiliano Martinez, just like at the Copa America, would be the hero. Martinez saved the first two penalty kicks by the Dutch, the first by Virgil van Dijk and the second by Steven Berghuis. Argentina took a 3-1 lead and Enzo Fernandez would miss his. Weghorst and Luuk de Jong would score theirs but Lautaro Martinez would score his and Argentina are through to the semi finals!