Argentina have knocked out the Netherlands in a penalty shootout to set up a semi-final against Croatia,who also beat Brazil on penalties on a dramatic day of action.
Virgil van Dijk is refusing to focus on one man as the Netherlands eye going one step closer to breaking their World Cup duck when they face Argentina in the last eight.
In his 1000th professional game,the Argentine scored his first goal in a World Cup knockout match. This is how he made the goal which broke Socceroos’ hearts.
The giant-killing run of Australia at the World Cup ended at the feet of Lionel Messi and Argentina. But they earned the respect of many in the world’s media.
A fullback had a whole country dreaming and the goalkeeper whose mistake overshadowed an otherwise brilliant tournament. The Socceroos who starred and didn’t against Lionel Messi’s Argentina.
Pubs,parks,AAMI Park,Federation Square and cinemas around the city will screen Australia’s blockbuster match against Argentina live on Sunday morning.
The national mood in Argentina is confident ahead of a last-16 clash with football minnows Australia. The black hole of defeat isn’t worth contemplating.
The list of accolades and statistics make a convincing case that Lionel Messi is the best we’ve ever seen,but there’s one stat line he can’t shake. World Cups:0.
Dancing,insults and other mental trickery are par for the course when World Cup survival boils down to a penalty shoot-out - the ultimate test of nerve.
Argentina and Australia come from opposite sides of the soccer tracks,but they’re paying mutual respect as they prepare to clash.
Gavin De Niese,from Noble Park in Melbourne’s south-east,moved to Argentina alone at 13 to join powerhouse club River Plate.