Yesterday's match will be talked about for generations as we saw either one if the best performances in World Cup history, or the worst. Depends on your point of view. Today, we are all rooting for a little more excitement in the form if a close game.
Both the Netherlands and Argentina are well equipped to give is such a spectacle. They both have superstar players that are capable of dictating a match on their own. The Dutch have Arjen Robben, and, despite his sometimes blatant diving, has been a strong candidate for Player of the Tournament. Argentina's Lionel Messi, of course, needs no introduction since he is the best player in the world.
Both have the supporting players that allow their stars to shine brighter. Argentina has gotten valuable production from Angel di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain. The Netherlands have Wesley Sneijder and Dirk Kuyt.
Both have proved that they are amongst the best in the tournament through surviving close games and notching up impressive victories.
The determining factor in this match will be how well the Netherlands handles Messi. Messi's world class skill allows him to take over a game in any number if ways. Whether it's picking out a teammate's run and finding the pass to put him in on goal, finding space of his own and letting a shot fly towards the goal, or working well of the ball to become open, Messi has no limit to the ways he can destroy opposing defenses. The key to anything he does, however, is that he needs the space to do it in. Iran almost snuck their way into a result against Argentina by closing down hard on the superstar and not allowing him the room to operate. The Netherlands can succeed in much the same way. Messi trends to roam the entire pitch, so it's impossible to count on one man to mark him. Both Argentine center backs will have to work together to keep him contained.
Even if the succeed, it will all mean nothing if Argentina can contain Robben. He often operates in a more congested environment then Messi does, and has a variety of ways of dealing with this lack of space. The one he is becoming increasingly notorious for is drawing fouls. While I believe that Robben's diving, like all diving, is exaggerated, there is plenty of truth to him managing to draw calls his way. Argentina will have to walk a fine line when defending Robben, but so will he even it comes to simulation. With all the attention he has garnered for his theatrics, the referee is sure to stop giving him the benefit of the doubt.
The winner of this match will likely be whichever team contains the others star player. As a result, the stars may not be the keys of the game. Each team's defensive line will be the more important factor. Both sides are equally equipped to shut down the other, so we will see who has the better game.
I am calling for each side to find a goal or two in this one en route to a 2-1 win for Argentina. I think Argentina are the overall better team. They have Messi, for sure, but they also have other attacking threats like Higuain and Sergio Aguero. There is also the home crowd factor, something that Argentina has had all tournament long, possibly even more than the Brazilian hosts had.
After today we will have ourselves quite the World Cup Final to look forward to. Only bad part is that means this outstanding tournament is near its conclusion. Come back later tonight for thoughts on what we see today and a look ahead at what should be a great final match.
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