The Battle of Lusail (Arabic: معركة لوسيل, Spanish: Batalla de Lusail, Dutch: Slag van Lusail) is the nickname of a football match played in the quarter-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup between the Netherlands and Argentina at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar on 9 December 2022. Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz issued a FIFA World Cup record 18 yellow cards and one red card, setting a new record for cautions at any FIFA-administered international tournament.
The Netherlands and Argentina had previously met nine times, developing a rivalry with one another; the Dutch won four of the nine matches, while the Argentines won one match, with the other four matches ending in a draw, two of which saw Argentina winning on penalties. Five of the prior matches occurred in the World Cup: a 4–0 win for the Dutch at the second group stage in 1974 was replied with a 3–1 win for the Argentines in the 1978 final. The Dutch won 2–1 in the 1998 quarter-finals prior to two goalless draws in the 2006 group stage and at the semi-final stage of the previous major tournament where they both had made an appearance, the 2014 FIFA World Cup held in Brazil, which had finished 0–0 after extra-time, with Argentina prevailing 4–2 after penalties.[3] The previous game had been similarly intense and close but had not featured the same level of animosity between the players. Lionel Messi for Argentina and Daley Blind for the Netherlands were the only players who took part in that fixture who were also on the pitch in Lusail, in addition to Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal.[4]
The Netherlands entered the game having been undefeated in their 19 previous international matches.[5] During pre-match interviews with the media, the Dutch side offered comments that were later revealed to have upset the Argentine side.[6] Van Gaal stated to Dutch publication Nederlandse Omroep Stichting: "Messi is indeed the most dangerous player who creates the most chances and also makes them himself. But on the other hand he does not play much with the opponent when he has possession of the ball. That is also where our chances lie."[7] After the two countries' previous World Cup matchup ended in a penalty shootout, the Dutch manager insisted that the team were practicing for such an outcome, stating "we hope we will have a minor advantage if we have to take penalties."[8] Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez later stated that he screenshotted Van Gaal's comments on his phone and referred to them frequently as motivation.[9] Dutch goalkeeper Andries Noppert told reporters days before the match that he felt confident in beating Messi from the penalty spot.[10] Van Gaal also said that "we've got a score to settle with Argentina for what happened two World Cups ago."[11]
The first half of the game was relatively balanced, with both sides never having a clear-cut chance for the opening half-hour of the game. Both teams had dominant spells, with Argentina coming close to creating a chance several times but being stopped by a disciplined Dutch defense.[12] Walter Samuel, the Albiceleste assistant manager, was cautioned at around the half-hour mark. Argentina forward and captain Lionel Messi then cut through the Dutch defense with a precise pass to assist Nahuel Molina for the first goal of the night.[13]
The half was relatively incident free but the game started getting more antagonistic from the 43rd minute onwards when the first yellow card was handed to Dutch center-back Jurriën Timber, which was quickly followed by a trio of yellow cards for his team-mate Wout Weghorst, who was on the bench at the time, as well as Argentines Cristian Romero and Marcos Acuña, who received his second caution of the tournament and was thus rendered unavailable for the semi-finals. The half ended with Argentina in control, and the Dutch failing to create a clear goalscoring opportunity.[13]
The second half was highly dramatic, as the game intensified and the Dutch pressed on for an equaliser. Acuña was brought down at the edge of the box around the 70-minute mark, and the resulting penalty was converted by Messi. The goal was awarded, despite encroachment in the box by Nahuel Molina before the penalty was taken, to hand the Argentines a two-goal lead with only 20 minutes of regulation time remaining. Messi then celebrated in front of Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal and the Dutch bench. The goal was also Messi's tenth goal in a World Cup match, tying Gabriel Batistuta's record for most World Cup goals by an Argentine player.[14] Messi celebrated the goal by cupping his hands around his ears in front of the Dutch bench, which was considered a jibe toward Van Gaal. The gesture was reminiscent of a goal celebration sometimes used by former Argentina player Juan Roman Riquelme, whose relationship soured with Van Gaal when they were both at Barcelona in the early 2000s.[15][16] Shortly after Messi's goal, a pitch invader ran onto the field in the 75th minute, but was quickly apprehended by security.[17] As the Dutch players searched for a crucial goal, tempers rapidly flared as Memphis Depay and Lisandro Martínez both received yellow cards.[13]
The Dutch then made substitutions to capitalise on the height and physical size advantages they had over the Argentine side. Weghorst, who had picked up a yellow card on the bench, was one of these substitutions, coming in for Depay.[14][18] Weghorst then scored to make the score 2–1, beating the keeper with a header after a cross by Steven Berghuis. The Dutch then intensified the search for a vital equalising goal, and tempers flared greatly with several cautions handed out. Berghuis was given a yellow-card as anger increased between the two teams.[13]
In the 88th minute, Leandro Paredes fouled Nathan Aké, before booting the dead ball right into the Dutch bench, leading to a major scuffle as the incensed Dutch players closed in on Paredes, who was shoved to the ground by Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk. The Argentina bench then came to back their player up with pushing and shoving observed, as Paredes was promptly carded.[19] The incidents caused tensions to increase to such a degree that even Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni was cautioned.[13]
As regular time ended, 10 minutes of extra stoppage time was announced. During the 100th minute, a free kick was awarded to the Netherlands just outside the box, giving the side one final opportunity to draw the match level. Rather than kicking the ball above the wall the Argentine players set up, Dutch midfielder Teun Koopmeiners kicked a delicate pass to Weghorst, who snuck through the wall and quickly scored to equalise and send the match to extra time.[20]
After the shock of the last-minute equaliser, the Argentina players immediately went on the attack, trying to reimpose the goal advantage. However, resolute defending by the Netherlands saw the game stay tied. Argentina pressed on, creating several chances, and coming closest to scoring a goal when a shot by Enzo Fernández hit the goalpost. With the game tied after extra time, the match progressed to a penalty shoot-out.[13]
Netherlands captain Van Dijk took their first penalty. His shot to the left was blocked by an athletic save from Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez. Messi then took the first penalty of the shootout for his side, and his second penalty of the night, sending the keeper the wrong way to coolly slot his penalty, giving Argentina an early 1–0 advantage. Martínez would then use several psychological tactics and measures of gamesmanship to distract his opponents and delay their penalty shots. Prior to Steven Berghuis turn, Martínez pretended to hand the ball to him before dropping it. Berghuis' effort was then saved by Martínez.[21] Paredes would then score to give Argentina a 2–0 advantage after two turns each. Martínez kicked the ball to the side prior to Teun Koopmeiners taking his shot.[21] However, Koopmeiners would score, giving the Netherlands their first penalty of the night and reducing the deficit to 2–1. The advantage would be restored by Gonzalo Montiel, whose penalty gave Argentina a 3–1 lead and made the game match point for the Dutch. Weghorst had to score his penalty, and he delivered, to again reduce the arrears for the Dutch to 3–2.
The Netherlands would then use their own intimidation tactics against Argentina. Dutch players accompanied and verbally abused Fernández to rattle his confidence prior to his turn. This included Weghorst; after he scored he walked directly towards Fernández and exchanged words with him as the latter approached the penalty area.[22] Fernández was then given a chance to take Argentina to the semi-finals, but his penalty went wide to the left – Argentina's first miss of the shootout and leaving the total at 3–2. Luuk De Jong also had to score, and despite Martínez kicking the ball to the centre circle prior to his turn, he delivered. De Jong's penalty marked the 3–3 equaliser for the Netherlands, leading to a decisive fifth penalty for Argentina.[21] As Lautaro Martínez started walking from the centre circle, he was accompanied and harassed by several Dutch players, particularly defender Denzel Dumfries, who was given a yellow card for unsporting behavior.[23] Netherlands goalkeeper Andries Noppert would also attempt to intimidate Lautaro Martinez once the latter arrived in the penalty area.[24] Despite the mind games of the Dutch, Lautaro Martínez would still score, securing the 4–3 total and giving Argentina their second consecutive victory over the Netherlands in penalty shootouts.[1]