Qatar World Cup: Lionel Messi speaks out on facing the Netherlands in round of 16
Lionel Messi has agreed that it will be difficult for Argentina to beat the Netherlands due to their current form under a ‘fantastic’ manager in Louis van Gaal.
The Dutch side finished the group stage as the winners of Group with seven points after three games and knocked out the USA in the round of 16 following a comfortable 3-1 victory.
The Netherlands are unbeaten in 19 matches including their four World Cup matches, since Louis van Gaal returned as the head coach of the Dutch team.
Van Gaal has regularly hyped his team that they have the quality to become the world champions later this month but they come up against their first real test when they face Argentina in the quarter-final.
Argentina beat Australia 2-1 in the round of 16 on Saturday night to reach the last eight round and Lionel Messi believes his country will have to work very hard if they fancy going through the Dutch side.
“A difficult game awaits us vs The Netherlands,” Messi said ahead of the quarter-final. “They play very well. They have some incredible players and a fantastic manager. We will have to work very hard.”
Louis van Gaal still believes his country can win the Qatar World Cup despite the fact they are coming up against Argentina in the quarter-final final.
Van Gaal: “Big countries have been eliminated. We are still here. And now we are 3 games away from something I have been saying for over a year, that we can become World Champions.”
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