Argentina’s hard-fought qualification on penalties against the Netherlands had a tango script for the press.
Olé, the main sports newspaper in the country, highlighted in its headline: “Let’s go, Argentina! Suffered and on penalties, to the semifinals”.
La Nación also highlighted the emotional charge involved in the match at the Lusail stadium. “Nerves, drama, happiness: Argentina’s cataract of emotions, which enjoys and is in the semifinals of the World Cup”, wrote the newspaper in its headline.
Clarín highlighted the performance of goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, who stopped the Dutch team in the penalty shootout, defending the charges by Van Djik and Berghuis. “Argentina reached the semifinals thanks to a huge Dibu Martínez on penalties against the Netherlands.”
The Englishman The Sun also praised goalkeeper Martínez, placing him as responsible for the classification. Dibu Martínez, as he is called, plays in the Premier League for Aston Villa.
In the Netherlands, which saw growing excitement with the possibility of ending the drought of World Cup titles, the elimination was a disappointment.
“The Orange are left out again against Argentina on penalties,” wrote De Telegraaf, citing the elimination on penalties also for Messi’s team in the semifinals of the 2014 World Cup.
De Volkskrant reported that “after a fascinating comeback, Laranja went down on penalties”.
“Despite frequent training sessions on penalties, things went wrong,” said the newspaper.
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