Qatar has been a World Cup of many storylines, but this one may trump them all. Soccer fans are gathering around the TV to watch one of the sport’s greats get his final swing at one of the most prestigious trophies in the game.
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Lionel Messi, 35, has won every accolade in the football world except a World Cup trophy. This tournament is Messi’s last World Cup, and his destiny is to win one.
The Netherlands stands in Messi’s way. Despite being one of the greatest of all time, Messi had yet to score in a World Cup knockout round. That changed when Messi scored a beautiful goal versus Australia. Messi looks to keep up this hot streak against the Netherlands.
This Dutch squad is the most skilled side Argentina has played to date. Depay, van Dijk and de Jong look to be the spoilers in this fairy-tale run for Messi and Argentina.
Netherlands vs. Argentina Prediction
Argentina should control this quarterfinals game because this is how the Netherlands wants it to play out. A less technical team won the positional battle against the Netherlands in the last round. We expect Argentina to win the possession battle in this matchup, even though they have a more skilled side. The Netherlands wants to hit Argentina on the counter with their pacey players in front.
Neither team has any injury concerns going into this quarterfinals matchup. Both teams should be at full strength and ready to go.
The world’s opinion of this Netherlands team has changed. The Dutch had a dominant victory against the United States, reminding the world that this team has the pieces to make a run for the Cup.
The Netherlands is now a sneaky team to reach the final and could cause an upset or two on the way there. On the flip side, Argentina has been the favorite since the start, and they had a shaky closeout versus Australia, a team they should have beaten by more than two goals.
Game Prediction
Many Netherlands players, including Memphis Depay and Cody Gakpo, like to get out in the open on the counter-attack. Once the defense gets the ball, they kick it directly ahead to make Depay and Gakpo get it.
This style of play ended up being the United States’ kryptonite and easily gave the Netherlands the win. This tactic will cause the Argentinian defense many problems, as Depay is now healthy and scoring. Any mistake could be crucial with this much on the line. This Argentinian side will do anything to see their beloved leader win the World Cup. Look for Argentina to make plays like their life depends on it.
This matchup could end in a draw, resulting in penalty kicks to decide the winner. Look for either Depay or Messi to have some brilliance to tie this game up.
Betting Matchup Preview
More than 20 million American adults planned to bet on the 2022 World Cup, according to a recent survey from the American Gaming Association, the sports betting industry’s top trade group. The best soccer betting sites are taking a large share of that action.
People looking to bet on the World Cup can follow some simple tips.
Game Details
- Who: Netherlands vs. Argentina (2022 World Cup)
- When: Friday, Dec. 9, 2022
- Time: 2:00 p.m. ET
- Where: Lusail Stadium (Lusail, Qatar)
Betting Odds Summary
- Match Result: Netherlands (+250), Tie (+220), Argentina (+120)
- Both Teams to Score: Yes (+100), No (-145)
- Total: Over/Under 2.5 Goals in Regular Time 2.5 (+125/-175)
Player Props: Anytime Goalscorer
- Lionel Messi: +150
- Lautaro Martinez: +230
- Memphis Depay: +250
- Cody Gakpo: +280
- Papu Gomez: +350
Note: Odds and lines are current from BetMGM at the time of writing and are subject to change.
Player Prop Bets: Argentina vs. Netherlands
The one weakness the Netherlands’ best player, Virgil van Dijk, has is getting lost when marking a crafty playmaker. This weakness is precisely Lionel Messi. With Messi now getting the weight of not scoring in a knockout game off his back, he will be looking to add to the goal-scoring tear he’s on this year. Messi scoring a goal (+150) is a reasonable prop bet.
Papu Gomez’s technical ability should make him a good bet to get plenty of playing time. Big players show up in big moments, especially in the quarterfinals. Gomez has the talent. The +350 odds make him a viable longshot bet to finally get on the scoresheet this World Cup. Some sportsbooks list him as Alejandro Gomez.
Memphis Depay is the most vital player for the Netherlands in this match. The Barcelona striker has found the back of the net during the World Cup and will be looking to add more now that he is fully healthy. He’s a solid bet to score at +250 odds.
The Dutch have the young and promising Cody Gakpo (+280 to score). Argentina needs to watch him, as he has scored in almost every game for the Dutch. Gakpo will reinforce when the team is counter-attacking, meaning he will get clear shots on goal.
Best Bets: Argentina vs. Netherlands
- Match Result: Netherlands (+250), Tie (+220), Argentina (+120)
This game will not finish in 90 minutes, which is typical for World Cup knockout matches. Both teams may come out slow since they want to avoid making mistakes and sending everything forward in the second half. Take the tie (+220), as these teams are very close in talent.
- Both Teams to Score: Yes (+100), No (-145)
Both teams should score as it is a knockout stage, and neither team has demonstrated that they are a defensive powerhouse in this World Cup. The Netherlands let the US score, and Argentina allowed Australia to score. Bet on Yes (+100) for this match.
- Total: Over/Under 2.5 Goals in Regular Time (+125/-175)
The Over (+125) is the bet to play, as both teams score often. The Argentinian side has struggled to close out a lead, and the Netherlands plays counter-attacking soccer. Look for a relatively high-scoring game.
Quarterfinals in the World Cup are highly unpredictable. This is a big reminder that anything can happen, so make sure to bet responsibly and follow the 2022 Qatar World Cup for more developments.
