Two of the World Cup’s most historic teams, Netherlands and Argentina, are set to meet for a spot in the semi-finals.

The Dutch, three time runners up of the competition, have made a triumphant return in Qatar having not featured at all in the tournament four years ago.

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Louis van Gaal’s men dispatched the USA 3-1 to reach the last eight but Lionel Messi’s Albiceleste will represent a far bigger test.

Argentina, the neutral’s World Cup pick due to the support for captain Messi, overcame Australia to move within three games of glory.

Netherlands and Argentina are no strangers from meeting on football’s greatest stage, with this their sixth meeting at the World Cup!

Netherlands v Argentina: talkSPORT coverage

This quarter-final clash will take place on Friday, December 10.

The game at the Lusail Stadium will kick-off at 7pm.

talkSPORT will have live coverage immediately following Croatia’s clash with Brazil, with Adrian Durham taking over presenting duties.

Commentary from this one will the come from Ian Danter and former England defender Stuart Pearce.

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Netherlands v Argentina: Squads and team news

The Dutch successfully navigated a viral outbreak among their camp and now boast a settled squad following Memphis Depay’s return.

Argentina meanwhile have Angel di Maria back at their disposal after he was an unused substitute for the 2-1 win against Australia.

Netherlands

• Goalkeepers: Justin Bijlow, Remko Pasveer, Andries Noppert
• Defenders: Virgil van Dijk, Nathan Ake, Daley Blind, Jurrien Timber, Denzel Dumfries, Stefan de Vrij, Mathijs de Ligt, Tyrell Malacia, Jeremie Frimpong
• Midfielders: Frenkie de Jong, Steven Berghuis, Davy Klaassen, Teun Koopmeiners, Cody Gakpo, Marten de Roon, Kenneth Taylor, Xavi Simons
• Forwards: Memphis Depay, Steven Bergwijn, Vincent Janssen, Luuk de Jong, Noa Lang, Wout Weghorst

Argentina

• Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez, Geronimo Rulli, Franco Armani
• Defenders: Nahuel Molina, Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, German Pezzella, Nicolas Otamendi, Lisandro Martinez, Marcos Acuna, Nicolas Tagliafico, Juan Foyth
• Midfielders: Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allister, Guido Rodriguez, Alejandro Gomez, Enzo Fernandez, Exequiel Palacios
• Forwards: Angel di Maria, Lautaro Martinez, Julian Alvarez, Nicolas Gonzalez, Joaquin Correa, Paulo Dybala, Lionel Messi

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Netherlands v Argentina: What has been said?

Virgil van Dijk on Messi: “It is an honour to play against him.

“It is not me against him, or the Netherlands against him, but the Netherlands against Argentina. No one can do it on his own, we will have to come up with a good plan.”

Van Dijk added: “The difficult thing about him is when we are attacking, he is chilling somewhere in a corner or something.

“You have to be so very sharp in terms of defensive organisation.”

AFP

Netherlands v Argentina: Match facts

• Julián Álvarez has scored in each of his two World Cup starts – only three Argentina players have scored in their first three; Guillermo Stabile in 1930, Oreste Corbatta in 1958 and Hernán Crespo in 2006. If he starts and scores in this match, at 22 years and 312 days of age, he’d be the youngest to score in his first three World Cup starts since Téofilo Cubillas in 1970 (21y 94d).
• Lionel Messi has scored nine goals at the World Cup, second only to Gabriel Batistuta (10) for Argentina. His opener against Australia last time out was his first goal in the knockout stages of the competition.
• Memphis Depay has been involved in 34 goals in his last 30 appearances for Netherlands in all competitions, scoring 24 and assisting 10.
• Louis van Gaal is unbeaten in his 11 World Cup matches as a manager (W8 D3) – if Netherlands avoid defeat in this game, he will equal Luiz Felipe Scolari’s record of 12 games without defeat from the start of a World Cup managerial career.
• Argentina have been eliminated from three of their last four World Cup quarter-final matches, though they did win their last such match against Belgium in 2014. In each of the three World Cup quarter-final matches they’ve progressed from, they’ve ended up reaching the final (1986, 1990 and 2014).
• Netherlands have progressed from their last three World Cup quarter-final matches (1998, 2010, 2014), with their only defeat at this stage coming in 1994 against eventual winners Brazil.
• Since losing the 1930 final against Uruguay, each of Argentina’s last nine eliminations from the World Cup knockout rounds (including finals) have come against European nations, including a 2-1 loss to Netherlands in the 1998 quarter-final.
• The last two World Cup meetings between Netherlands and Argentina have finished 0-0, in the 2006 group stages and the 2014 semi-final (Argentina progressing on penalties).
• Netherlands have lost just one of their nine meetings with Argentina in all competitions (W4 D4), with that loss coming in the 1978 World Cup final. However, the most recent of those four draws did result in a penalty shootout defeat, in the last meeting between the sides in the 2014 World Cup semi-final.
• This will be the sixth World Cup meeting between Netherlands and Argentina, with only Brazil against Sweden (7) and Argentina against Germany (7) being played more often in the competition.

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