#FIFA2014Brazil- SEMI FINALS Live Discussion-Argentina vs. Netherlands

Head-to-head

• Argentina's victory over the Netherlands in the 1978 final is the only time they have beaten the Dutch in eight meetings in all competitions (D3, L4).
• They haven't met for eight years since a 0-0 draw at the 2006 World Cup.
• Lionel Messi (29), Arjen Robben and Angel Di Mara (both 25) are the players with most completed dribbles in this tournament.

Argentina

• This is Argentina's first World Cup semi-final since 1990, when they went on to lose to Germany in the final.
• They have never lost a World Cup semi-final, winning the previous four.
• Each of Argentina's five wins at this tournament have come by a single goal margin.
• They are yet to be behind once in their five matches so far.
• Not including penalty shootouts, they have lost just one of their last 16 World Cup matches (W12, D3).
• Lionel Messi has created 19 goalscoring chances in this World Cup, the most of any player.
• Argentina have scored with 11% of their shots from outside the box, the best success rate of any side at this World Cup.
• This is the first time Argentina and Brazil have made the semi-final stage at the same tournament.
• Gonzalo Higuain ended a goal drought of 528 minutes without a goal for Argentina when he scored the winner against Belgium. He now has as many World Cup goals as Lionel Messi, despite having played four games less.

Netherlands

• This is the Netherlands' third semi-final appearance in their last four World Cup finals.
• Netherlands have lost just two of their 12 World Cup games against South American teams, not including penalty shootouts (1978 final v Argentina and 1994 quarter-final v Brazil).
• Against Costa Rica, the Dutch made 692 passes, the most they've recorded in a single World Cup match (1966-2014).
• Ten of the Netherlands' 12 goals in this tournament have come after half-time and their last four goals have come after the 75th minute.
• In their quarter-final, the Netherlands recorded the 11th instance of a team hitting the woodwork three times in a World Cup match (1966-2014).
• The Dutch are the only team to concede more than one penalty at this World Cup.
• Wesley Sneijder has played more World Cup games than any other Dutchman (16).
• Their shoot-out victory over Costa Rica was their sixth in major tournament history and they have now won two and lost four. It was the first time they have converted all their penalties in a shootout in a major tournament.
• They have had seven different goalscorers at this World Cup, more than any team.

MOST RECENT MEETING

Netherlands 0-0 Argentina (21 June 2006)