Netherlands v Argentina, 09 December 2022

Kick-off: 10.00pm local (7.00pm GMT) . FIFA world ranking: Netherlands 8, Argentina 3 . Argentina won 4-3 on penalties . After extra time -2-2 at 90 minutes . Netherlands failed in their attempt to reach the Semi-finals of the World Cup for a fourth time; previously in 1998, 2010 and 2014. (NB When they reached the Final in 1974 and 1978, there was not a Semi-final stage). . Netherlands had progressed from their last three Quarter-finals at the World Cup since losing in the last eight stage to Brazil in 1994. . Netherlands reached the Quarter-final with wins against Senegal (current African Cup of Nations holders), Qatar (current Asian Cup holders) and USA (current CONCACAF Gold Cup holders). They had now faced Argentina (current Copa America holders). . This was Netherlands first defeat in their 20 games since manager Louis van Gaal began his third spell in charge in August 2021 (won 14). . Cody Gakpo failed in his attempt to become the second player to score the first goal in four games at a World Cup tournament for Netherlands after Johan Neeskens in 1974. . Wout Weghorst became the first substitute to score two or more goals in a World Cup finals game for Netherlands. . Including the qualifying stages, Memphis Depay (13) failed in his attempt to join Ali Mabkhout of United Arab Emirates as World Cup 2022’s leading goalscorer (14). . Netherlands had now lost six of their eight penalty shoot-outs at major tournaments (World Cup and UEFA European Championships). . Argentina had now qualified for the Semi-finals of the World Cup for a fifth time; previously 1930, 1986, 1990 and 2014. (NB When they won the tournament in 1978, there was not a Semi-final stage). . Argentina had now won two of their last five Quarter-finals at the World Cup; also versus Belgium in 2014. . All of Argentina's nine dismissals during the knockout stages of World Cup tournaments had been by European opposition. . With five wins out of six, Argentina had now won more penalty shoot-outs at World Cup tournaments than any other nation. . Lionel Messi had now equalled Gabriel Batistuta’s national record of scoring ten goals at World Cup tournaments for Argentina (ten each). . Only Germany’s Lothar Matthaus (25) had now played in more games at the World Cup finals than Lionel Messi (24). . Aged 22 years and 312 days, Julián Álvarez failed in his attempt to become the youngest player to score in his first three starts in games at the World Cup finals since Peru’s Téofilo Cubillas in 1970 (21 years and 94 days). . A total of 18 yellow cards shown in this game created a new record for games at World Cup finals; previously Germany versus Cameroon in Shizuoka in 2002 and Portugal versus Netherlands in Nuremburg in 2006 (both 16). . This was the sixth meeting at World Cup tournaments. Netherland won two (1974 and 1998), Argentina won two (1978 and 2014) and one drawn (2006). .