Argentina 2 (4) Netherlands 2 (3): Emi Martinez saves TWO penalties in shoot-out to keep Messi’s World Cup dream alive

LIONEL MESSI’S World Cup dream is still alive. Just.

His previous four campaigns have all ended in tears, making the semis just once in that time — beating Holland on penalties to reach the final at Brazil 2014.

The 35-year-old, in his last chance saloon, is now one game away from getting there again, at the fifth attempt.

But boy, will the mini magician be thanking his lucky stars that is the case after yet another incredible, mind-blowing battle with the Dutch — settled once more from the spot.

Virgil van Dijk and Steven Berghuis saw their attempts saved by Emiliano Martinez.

And, thankfully, Messi converted alongside Leandro Paredes, Gonzalo Montiel and finally Lautaro Martinez.

But, in truth, it should never have got to that stage. Messi had been at his magnificent best, creating Nahuel Molina’s first-half opener before adding a second from the spot.

Messi’s World Cup dream was still alive, and then, in an unscripted mad finale, it suddenly wasn’t.

Holland decided to go for broke, kicking anyone that came near them and lumping balls into the box as sub Weghorst headed one home in the 83rd minute.

All hell broke loose after that.

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Leandro Paredes lost his head and decided to hoof a ball at the Dutch bench, encouraging what seemed a 40-man melee, coaching staff included.

We expected this fixture — with so much World Cup history — to have some spice.

Holland got a stunning equaliser in the 101st minute — a clever free-kick routine allowing Weghorst to poke home. Cue delirium.

As the whistle sounded, more mass needle. It was unclear who started this round of aggro but it took several minutes for everyone to be separated to get extra-time going.

Before that period got underway, 11 yellow cards had been dished out, including to Argie boss Lionel Scaloni.

This ground may as well have been plonked in the middle of Buenos Aires, such was the impressive sea of blue and white. This crowd were purring over everything Messi did. The slightest dink.

The deftest of touches. He could have tied his shoelaces to a standing ovation.

As he does these days, the little magician roamed freely at walking pace, while the rest of his team-mates shadowed Holland with a back three for the first time at this World Cup.

One suspects Scaloni did this in fear of the destructive Dutch counter. Going behind against this lot is not something you willingly sign up to.

As a result, they were cautious. Too cautious. They were slow on the ball, tempo wiped from their attack and sloppy mistakes creeping in.
They had been sucked into playing a joyless Louis van Gaal game.

Holland were enjoying this, in a psychotic, Van Gaal sort of way. The last two World Cup meetings between these two ended in 0-0 draws.

A third was on the cards. The plan was working. It was down to the kid from Rosario to make things happen. Just before the 35th minute, Messi decided that now was the moment to wreak havoc.

Cause carnage.

A rare loose ball seized upon. A few shakes of those dastardly hips and Nathan Ake was wobbling, doing his best impression of a river dance trying to keep track of the ball.

And then a pass. A wonderful, glorious, jaw-dropping pass, one that no one in the ground saw coming. Eye of the needle stuff.

A reverse pass that even caught out the vigilant Van Dijk. Its weight and accuracy was so perfect that Molina barely broke stride before slotting it past Andries Noppert.

The Dutch resistance was broken, and it then began to creak as Messi found himself back to goal with Ake trying to redeem himself.

Holland were getting frustrated. This was the first time they had gone behind in Qatar, and by the looks of it, it spooked them.

They didn’t know how to react. Van Gaal had to gamble in some form — and he did with two half-time substitutes.

Berghuis and Teun Koopmeiners on for Steven Bergwijn and Marten de Roon, while Weghorst appeared in the 78th minute.

Messi continued to shine, pulling out some of his Greatest Hits. Then, a free-kick, after being shoved over by a fearful Van Dijk.

The Liverpool defender had witnessed Messi score a similar one at the Nou Camp in the Champions League in 2019. Not this time, rippling the top of the net. But it was no bother from the spot after Dumfries hooked Marcos Acuna’s ankles.

Even at 2-1, it looked to be ebbing away from Holland’s clutches, yet German Pezzella’s foul outside the box with seconds left gave them one more chance, which they took.

Koopmeiners’ clever free-kick found Weghorst and he found the net. The 1978 final. The 1998 ‘Bergkamp’ game. The 2014 semi-final.

Add this to the World Cup scrapbook of Argentina v Holland classics. Bonkers.