After Holland’s penalty shootout defeat to Argentina, defender Virgil van Dijk has claimed that ‘the whole lot had gone in’ for the Dutch gamers in penalty coaching.
Louis van Gaal’s aspect crashed out of the World Cup quarter-finals after a heroic comeback noticed the sport finish 2-2 earlier than the penalty shootout noticed Argentina progress.
Liverpool’s van Dijk stepped up first for Holland and noticed his effort saved by Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez and, upon reflection, he admits the shot ‘might have been extra within the nook’.
Virgil van Dijk winces after watching his spot-kick saved throughout the quarter-final shootout
Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez dived to his proper to make the essential cease towards van Dijk
Talking to Dutch outlet NOS, captain van Dijk stated: ‘We educated so much for it. All the things had gone in. Till tonight. Then you can be very dissatisfied. That hurts so much.’
When requested on his spot-kick miss, the defender stated: ‘That has to do with all types of issues. It was exhausting. May have been a little bit extra within the nook.
‘Sadly, these issues occur in soccer. It is time to observe once more and I am going to do this,’ stated Van Dijk.
The Dutch centre-half took the primary penalty of the shootout – which Martinez saved – earlier than Argentina’s Lionel Messi stepped as much as the plate and dispatched his second spot-kick of the evening.
Straight after van Dijk, Steven Berghuis stepped as much as the plate and – regardless of going within the reverse nook – additionally noticed his effort saved by Martinez.
The Liverpool defender took the primary penalty of the shootout which they finally misplaced
Steven Berghuis sits on his knees after watching his effort additionally get saved by Martinez
Van Gaal’s aspect did properly to earn a shootout within the first place, after miraculously clawing the sport again to 2-2 with two late targets.
Substitute Wout Weghorst bagged himself a brace after coming within the 78th minute of the match. The primary, a flicked header that left Martinez no probability.
The second was a well-worked free-kick routine, which got here within the remaining moments of regulation time, that noticed the sport go to extra-time.
There was chaos as tensions boiled over with each units of groups receiving a lot of yellow playing cards for a brawl in direction of the top of the match.
Argentina missed just one effort, by Enzo Fernandez, which noticed them progress to the semi-finals the place they’re going to place Croatia subsequent Tuesday.
Argentina gamers rejoice after reserving their locations within the semi-finals of the World Cup
