Former Netherlands international Rafael van der Vaart has backed the Dutch to ease to a 3-0 win over Argentina, insisting the opposition ‘aren’t so great’ aside from Lionel Messi.
The two nations meet in a classic World Cup fixture fighting for a place in the semi-finals in Qatar on Friday.
Argentina famously beat Netherlands in the 1978 final with Denis Bergkamp scoring one of the competition’s most famous goals at the quarter-final stage of the competition in 1998. Eight years ago in Brazil, La Albiceleste clinched a penalty shoot-out victory to book their place in the final.
Messi is hoping to inspire his side to a third World Cup triumph having scored three decisive goals so far.
But van der Vaart has questioned the threat Argentina pose outside of their legendary no10, backing his country to cruise through to the semi-finals.
‘Messi showed himself once again this tournament, but the guys around him are.. not so great,’ van der Vaart told OP1.
Asked for a prediction, he added: ‘It will be easy! 3-0 The Netherlands.’
Van der Vaart also recalled his meetings with Messi while playing for Real Madrid in the Clasico.
‘I played against Messi. You couldn’t catch him. You wanted to kick him but he was already gone.
‘Now he is slower and he walks even more, but he can still give that crucial pass. Ronaldo relies on his body and goals but Messi is much more than just goals.”
‘I played at Real Madrid. We put Sergio Ramos on Messi. If he goes that direction? You go with him. If he goes to the toilet? You go with him.
‘After the game he was toyed around with. It’s so hard to defend him. Maybe it’s better for us not to mark him.’
Netherlands turned in their best display of the competition to beat USA in their last 16 clash last Saturday, with Memphis Depay, Daley Blind and Denzel Dumfries on the score sheet in a 3-1 win.
Argentina meanwhile saw off Australia with goals from Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez in a 2-1 win but were given a late scare with Lisandro Martinez making a goal-saving challenge in injury time to maintain their lead.
MORE : Virgil van Dijk insists it’s ‘Netherlands vs Argentina, not me vs Lionel Messi’ ahead of World Cup clash
MORE : ‘Just a counter team’ – Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal dismisses Brazil despite South Korea rout
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