Netherlands v Argentina: Cagey clash in prospect as former finalists meet again
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World Cup 2022: Netherlands v Argentina betting tips and odds
Watching the Netherlands against Argentina in the quarter-final of the World Cup sounds like a nice way to spend a Friday night.
Some fans and neutrals will remember a big Dutch win in 1974 and the ticker-tape final between the pair four years later.
Or fast forward a couple of decades to Dennis Bergkamp’s magical goal at France 98 where he plucked the ball out of the air with a great touch and finish in the final minute to seal a 2-1 quarter-final victory only to lose to Brazil on penalties in the last four.
Think Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten or Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi and there’s plenty to get misty-eyed about when considering two football powerhouses.
🇦🇷 𝑽 𝑨 𝑴 𝑶 𝑺 🇦🇷#FIFAWorldCup #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/p7u3XynJ2i
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 7, 2022
But, meetings between these nations haven’t always produced great spectacles as we look at the latest odds for our Netherlands v Argentina betting tips.
Their semi-final in Brazil eight years ago finished goalless before Argentina won on penalties, and eight years before that a group-stage clash in Germany also drew a blank.
Odds favour Argentina
Argentina are fancied to take this one according to the World Cup odds. They are 23/20 to win in 90 minutes with the Dutch 13/5 and the draw 21/10 but we suspect goals could be in short supply on Friday.
Louis van Gaal, in charge of the Netherlands national team for a third time, was criticised for his negative tactics during the group stage, although the Dutch produced their best performance of the tournament in a 3-1 victory over the United States to reach the quarter-finals.
Denzel Dumfries assisted the first two goals for Memphis Depay and Daley Blind before capping a superb display with the third to end the USA’s resistance nine minutes from time.
3085 days later… back on the #WorldCup score sheet! ⚽️🦁
🌟 @Memphis #NothingLikeOranje pic.twitter.com/fwkfRAhrx0
— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) December 5, 2022
Argentina were unlucky not to be out of sight in their opening group game, but had three efforts ruled out for offside – two from Lautaro Martinez, the first of which should have stood.
The Albiceleste then struggled to break down Mexico in the opening 45 minutes before Messi produced a superb strike from distance to break the deadlock and their third group game was also 0-0 at the break.
As the first of our Netherlands v Argentina betting tips, the first half to end 0-0 looks a good call at 13/10, while a third successive goalless draw between these teams looks a possibility at 13/2. A draw at half-time and full-time also seems plausible at 16/5.
The men in orange also look tempting at 5/4 to reach the semi-finals, while the South Americans, who had been on a 36-match unbeaten run until they ran into the Saudis, are 4/7 to advance to their sixth World Cup final.
Since then they have posted 2-0 wins against Mexico and Poland and a 2-1 victory over Australia in the last 16, so they have not exactly been running riot.
The Netherlands also seem to have mastered the art of just getting the job done. Van Gaal’s critics have branded the football under his leadership as dull but it could also be considered patient. That 21-pass move for Memphis Depay’s goal against USA was a treat to watch.
But with so much at stake a cagey affair could be on the cards and a draw with under 2.5 goals in the game is 12/5 while an Argentina win in extra-time is 9/1.
Depay is fit and firing again and 5/2 to score at anytime. Lionel Messi, with three for the tournament and 9/1 to win the Golden Boot, is 6/4.
Match Info
Where: Lusail Iconic Stadium
When: 19:00, Friday 9th December
How to watch: BBC
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
