Semi-final: Holland vs Argentina
Venue: Arena Corinthians, Sao Paulo
Kick-off: 9pm (5pm, Brazil time)
TV coverage: ITV1, from 8:30pm
Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey)
Managers:
Louis Van Gaal (Holland)
Alejandro Sabella (Argentina)
Team news:
- Dutch captain Robin van Persie may miss Holland's World Cup semi-final against Argentina as he is struggling with an upset stomach.
- Van Persie has been instrumental in Holland's run to the last four of the tournament, but he had to train separately from his team-mates on Tuesday after complaining of a stomach problem.
- There was some good news for the Holland coach on Tuesday as injury doubts Ron Vlaar and Leroy Fer took part in training.
- In an interesting development, midfielder Nigel de Jong was also involved even though he had been expected to miss the rest of the World Cup after suffering a groin injury in the group stage win over Mexico.
- For Argentina, manager Alejandro Sabella has been boosted by the return of Sergio Aguero from a muscle injury for the semi-final.
Angel Di Maria may be out, but impressive full-back Marcos Rojo returns from suspension.
Key clash: Robin van Persie (Holland) v Ezequiel Garay (Argentina)
Van Persie will be hoping his luck is finally in – he has never scored in the knockout stages of a World Cup and was hugely unlucky not to change that against Costa Rica. Garay will be ready for a physical battle with the Dutch striker but will need to keep an eye on his clever movement and hope Van Persie draws the short straw again.
One to watch: Dirk Kuyt (Holland)
The former Liverpool attacker has been played on either wing and at full-back during the competition so far. His versatility has made him a valuable member of Louis Van Gaal’s squad and he could play an important role helping contain Lionel Messi who loves to cut in from wide positions.
Head-to-head record: Played 8 Holland Wins 4 Draws 3 Argentina Wins 1
Opta stats:
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- Argentina have reached their first World Cup semi-final since 1990, when they went on to finish runners-up to West Germany.
- La Albiceleste have progressed from all three of their World Cup semi-finals.
- These teams have met four times in the World Cup, with Holland winning twice and Argentina once, with one draw.
- Argentina’s victory, in the 1978 final, is their only win against Holland in eight meetings overall (L4 D3).
- Argentina have lost just one of their last 16 World Cup games (W12 D3, not including penalty shoot-outs).
- Holland have lost two of their 12 World Cup games against South American teams, not including penalty shoot-outs (1978 final v Argentina and 1994 quarter-final v Brazil).
- 10 of Holland’s 12 goals in this tournament have come after half-time.
- Holland’s last four goals in this tournament have come after the 75th minute.
- Holland made 692 passes against Costa Rica, the most they’ve recorded in a single World Cup match (1966-2014).
- Lionel Messi (29), Arjen Robben and Angel Di María (both 25) are the players with most completed dribbles in this tournament.
- Messi has also created the most goalscoring chances in this World Cup: 19.
- Against Costa Rica Wesley Sneijder recorded the 10th instance of a player hitting the woodwork twice in a World Cup match (1966 – 2014). He is the first Dutchman to do so.
- Against Costa Rica, Holland recorded the 11th instance of a team hitting the woodwork three times in a World Cup match (1966 – 2014).
- Argentina have won both their knockout stage games in this tournament 1-0; they have twice before won by this scoreline in the knock out stages of the World Cup (1986 and 1990).
- Holland’s 0-0 draw against Costa Rica was their first goalless draw in World Cup knockout stages. This ended a run of 11 World Cup knockout stage matches for the Dutch without a clean sheet.
- This is the first time Argentina have reached a World Cup semi-final in a tournament when great rivals Brazil have also done so.
- Argentina are yet to trail for a single minute of the 2014 World Cup.
- Argentina have scored with 11 per cent of their shots from outside the box, the best rate at the 2014 World Cup.
- Argentina have made 86 unsuccessful crosses, more than any other side.
- Holland are the only team to concede more than one penalty at the 2014 World Cup.
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