Quarter Finals
Argentina 1 Belgium 0:
Higuain Finally Breaks his Duck as Sweet Strike Catches Red Devils Cold in Brasilia
Daily Mail UK, 5 July 2014
Quote:
Argentina: Romero, Zabaleta, Demichelis, Garay, Basanta, Biglia, Mascherano, Lavezzi, Messi, Di Maria, Higuain.
Subs: Orion, Campagnaro, Gago, Perez, Maxi Rodriguez, Augusto Fernandez, Federico Fernandez, Palacio, Alvarez, Aguero, Andujar.
Belgium: Courtois, Alderweireld, Van Buyten, Kompany, Vertonghen, Fellaini, Witsel, Mirallas, De Bruyne, Hazard, Origi.
Subs: Mignolet, Vermaelen, Lukaku, Mertens, Defour, Lombaerts, Dembele, Januzaj, Chadli, Ciman, Bossut.
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Italy)
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FULL-TIME: Argentina 1-0 Belgium
90+4min: Messi with a chance to seal it! No! The Barcelona forward runs in one-on-one after a counter but sees his shot superbly blocked by the onrushing Courtois.
At the other end Lukaku's low cut-back falls for Witsel 20 yards out who volleys over. That's Belgium's chances gone you feel.
90+3min: Argentina are in full out defensive mode now, but it isn't one of desperation. Without trying o put a curse on it, Sabella's team have looked very organised in dealing with Belgium's attacks.
90min: Boos from the Brazil and Belgium fans as Perez runs into Pablo Zabaleta - going down and needing treatment in the process. That shaves off a few more seconds as five extra minutes are added.
88min: There's a big physical presence in the Belgium attack now with Fellaini and Lukaku, but both don't really have the officials on their side.
Vertonghen's long ball looks to have found the Chelsea striker inside the box, but after Jose Basanta loses out in a tussle, he goes to ground for little reason - winning a free-kick in the process. Very poor officiating
85min: It's route one, but at least Belgium are giving this a go. Kompany hoofs the ball for Lukaku on the edge of the box, whose knockdown results in De Bruyne's low 20 yard shot deflecting just wide of the post.
Foot loose: Belgium's Vincent Kompany (left) and Argentina's Lionel Messi fight for the ball
83min: That's a rare sight - the Argentina full-backs bombing forward. Pablo Zabaleta manages to reach Belgium's right byline but his back post cross is just too far over the head of Palacio as Belgium bring the ball out.
Argentina substitution
81min: Final change from Argentina as Higuain takes the long route off, shaking hands with the referee, before to a loud standing ovation from the Argentina fan
78min: This is a very France-esque approach from Belgium, who are not playing like a side who are just over 10 minutes away from being dumped out the World Cup.
Argentina are hardly making it hard for them as they not really attacking themselves, but with a goal lead, they don't really need to. It's all on Belgium and so far they are not delivering.
Belgium substitution
75min: Final change for Belgium as Nacer Chadli comes on for the disappointing Hazard.
Held off: Belgium's defender and captain Vincent Kompany (left) vies with Argentina's forward Gonzalo Higuain
74min: Belgium are starting to huff and puff but they are getting no closer to troubling Romero, as Lukaku's knock on for Fellaini inside the box results in the Argentina defence clearing.
Argentina substitution
71min: Just under 20 minutes left and Argentina make a second switch as Lavezzi departs in favour of Rodrigo Palacio.
64min: At least Belgium have shown some fight since making those changes but still Romero remains untroubled in his goal, can Belgium apply a little bit more pressure to make a game of it?
61min: It's been the story of Belgium's tournament - make changes and watch the rewards come in.
The Red Devils have their best chance of the second half as Vertonghen crosses high into the box where Fellaini nods over the bar.
Belgium double substitution
59min: Here come the Belgium changes though as Mertens and Lukaku replaces a rather unhappy Mirallas, who stamped the floor while walking off, and the anonymous Origi.
Clipped: Argentina's forward Ezequiel Lavezzi (left) was brought down by Belgium's defender Vincent Kompany
58min: Belgium are going to make these changes soon because as the hour mark approaches, Romero has still hardly a save to make.
Meanwhile Argentina have some injury concerns as Ezequiel Lavezzi needs treatment after being caught on the ankle by Kompany.
55min: Brilliant from Higuain! The striker nutmegs Kompany as he charges at goal 25 yards out, but as he meets one-on-one with Courtois he fires high past the keeper and off the crossbar.
He should really score, especially after doing the hard work in getting past the Red Devils captain beforehand. That's the last warning fr rMarc Wilmots who has Dries Mertens and Lukaku now ready to come on.
53min: First yellow card of the game for Eden Hazard, and it's probably out of frustration given the lack of time we have seen him on the ball today.
The Chelsea midfielder leaves his foot in on a a tackle with Lucas Biglia and a yellow card is the easy option for the referee.
51min: If anything it's Argentina who will get the next goal as Higuain narrowly misses out on doubling his tally.
The striker cuts inside from the left on the byline, before his low shot towards the near post deflects off Daniel van Buyten before flying just wide of the near post.
48min: Early threat from Argentina as they win a free-kick 30 yards out, but Messi's lofted pass to the back post is overhit and too far in front of Jose Basanta as the ball bounces out for a goal kick.
SECOND-HALF: Argentina restart as both sides remain unchanged
...but Lukaku has spent the entire half-time period warming up. The Chelsea striker should be on pretty soon i would imagine.
Leap to the left: Belgium's goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois dives to his left to try and keep out Lionel Messi's free-kick
PLAYER WATCH: Divock Origi (Belgium)
Well... I say player watch, there hasn't been much at all to see from Divock Origi.
The Belgium striker hardly saw the ball at all in the first period, with most of his touches coming from the centre-spot - taking a kick-off twice...
Here's his heat map from the first half, Time for Romelu?
So can Belgium produce a turnaround in the second half? It would have to be a historic one.
Argentina haven't lost a World Cup game after scoring first since 1958. Sabella's team perhaps deservedly at the break, as their attacking play has looked far more dangerous.
Belgium's has been close to non-existent though and it wouldn't surprise me to see Romelu Lukaku on for the second half.
HALF-TIME: Argentina 1-0 Belgium
Over the bar: Argentina's Lionel Messi (out of picture) fires over the bar from his 19-yard free-kick
45min: There will be two added minutes before the break. It's been a slow burner so far, but the potential is there...
42min: And now there's something for the Argentina defence to consider too. Jan Vertonghen whips a superb out-swinging cross towards the near post, which a diving Kevin Mirallas throws his body at to just nod wide.
40min: Too close it is - even for Messi. The Barcelona forward agrees that the dip over the wall is too difficult, so instead opts for power to blast towards the top corner on Thibaut Courtois's side - firing just over in the process.
39min: Big chance for Argentina now though as Messi dances past Axel Witsel before Fellaini has two kicks to bring him down on the very edge of the box for a free-kick.
Some may this free-kick is just too close to goal - it's going to be hard to get the dip to sneak over the wall and under the crossbar that's for sure.
36min: Belgium seem to be struggling with Argentina's through balls so far but we still just have the one goal to speak of. In truth the game has gone a little flat since Di Maria picked up his injury. Plenty of similarities with yesterday's clash between France and Germany so far - and that's not a good thing.
Packed out: Spectators inside the Garrincha Stadium watch the quarter-final action
Argentina substitution
33min: Well I thought Di Maria had recovered. The Real Madrid midfielder is down again and this time he isn't coming back on to the field as he is replaced by Enzo Perez.
31min: Di Maria seems to have recovered from that knock as he jogs back on to the field, while local fans boo after Argentina play a back-pass to Romero. Brazil fans really are against slow negative play.
29min: Trouble for Argentina. After Di Maria runs on to a through ball, the midfielder cuts on to his left foot before seeing his shot well blocked by last-man Kompany from 20 yards.
Straight after the shot though, the midfielder went down injured and is now getting treatment on the field.
26min: Better from Belgium. De Bruyne collects a pass 25 yards out, and with a sight of goal lets fly with rising effort which Romero dives to the right to parry clear. It was a comfortable height for the keeper but still a smart stop.
Standing tall: Marouane Fellaini of Belgium barges Lionel Messi of Argentina off the ball
23min: Belgium have all the ball now, but they look very short of ideas as Argentina look happy to wait for a mistake and hit on the counter.
Alejandro Sabella's side really do look confident at this stage, with Di Maria showing an array of flicks and tricks to get past Marouane Fellaini and another Belgium team-mate.
20min: Belgium have just started to come into this game more in the last 10 minutes, but crucially Sergio Romero is enjoying a rather untroubled time in goal right now. Divock Origi has barely had a touch in attack.
17min: I'm starting to think De Bruyne should leave corner taking duty to someone else...anyone else for that matter. Another delivery from the midfielder fails to find a team-mate as Argentina survive another set-piece.
14min: Belgium can't even create anything from a set-piece at the moment. Vincent Kompany sprints 70 yards up the field to meet a De Bruyne corner, but an awful delivery from the former Chelsea man which finds nobody leaves the Belgium captain shaking his head in disgust as he chases back.
11min: And Belgium haven't responded. Argentina fans are bouncing around like the semi-final spot is already theirs.
Judging by how their team continue to press for a second goal, you can see why. It's been a terrific start from the two-time winners.
Time for the fans: Sergio Aguero of Argentina greets supporters inside the Garrincha Stadium
Instinctive: Gonzalo Higuain of Argentina scores his team's first goal on the volley
Calling No.9: Argentina's forward Gonzalo Higuain (right) celebrates scoring the opening goal
GOAL! ARGENTINA 1-0 Belgium
8min: That's magnificent from Argentina. Lionel Messi's swift feet see him dodge a couple of challenges in midfield, and he starts a move which ends with a pass deflected towards Gonzalo Higuain on the edge of the box
With brilliant technique the Real Madrid striker volleys across goal into the bottom corner. Brilliant effort.
7min: Belgium haven't quite going yet as it's Argentina that have taken control of the ball and played with a little swagger - a swagger we have seen precious little of in this tournament.
4min: Angel di Maria may have scored in the last game but he was woeful for the most part in the last 16.
Signs are that he has improved today though, as he skips past a Kevin de Bruyne challenge before cutting inside and seeing his 18-yard shot blocked.
Sending out a message: Players of Argentina and Belgium hold up a Say No To Racism banner before kick-off
KICK-OFF: Belgium get us going in Brasilia
Out come the players in a sunny Brasilia
The teams are out and as like yesterday, both captains will read out an anti-discrimination message before the anthems.
Backing Belgium, chaps? Brazilian soccer fans hold up a banner saying good bye to Argentina
BLAST FROM THE PAST: Argentina 2-0 Belgium (1986)
It could have so easily been England facing Belgium in the 1986 semi-final but after a mixture of magic and dark arts from Diego Maradona to see off the Three Lions, it was Argentina facing Belgium in the last four.
Belgium defeated the South Americans 1-0 in 1982, but Maradona and Co got their revenge four years later as Diego scored twice to defeat the Red Devils.
Leading the way: Vincent Kompany of Belgium leads the team out for a warm up
Wrong direction: Belgium's forward Eden Hazard (C) warms up before the start of the quarter-final