World Cup 2022 LIVE updates: Argentina, The Netherlands face off for place in semi-finals against Croatia

Key posts

Croatia beat Brazil on penalties to reach semi-finals

Al Rayyan, Qatar: Croatia have battled past tournament favourites Brazil 4-2 on penalties to reach the World Cup semi-finals following a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes.

The 2018 runners-up came through their second consecutive shootout after beating Japan also on penalties in the last 16 and will now face either the Netherlands or Argentina who play each other later on Friday (Qatar time).

Brazil’s Neymar, left, and Croatia’s Luka Modric vie for the ball.Credit:AP

In an evening filled with tension and drama, Brazil superstar Neymar thought he had won the game when he rifled in an extra-time goal for the five-time world champions.

Reuters

Click here to read the story.

A very even start

15 mins: The two sides have put on a very even start with possession shared and defences holding solid.

Netherlands just had a promising attack into the box but couldn’t create a shot on goal.

Argentina 0, Netherlands 0

Dutch skipper dodges Messi questions, Germany coach spared axe

Doha: Virgil van Dijk deflected several questions about his looming confrontation with Lionel Messi but admitted the Netherlands would be cautious in their approach against Argentina in Friday’s (6am Saturday AEDT) World Cup quarter-final.

The Dutch skipper stuck to the same line in fielding a flurry of inquiries about how he and his teammates will deal with the threat of Messi at the Lusail Stadium.

Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk.Credit:AP

“It’s not about me, or the Netherlands, against Messi, it’s about the Netherlands against Argentina,” he repeated several times at a news conference on Wednesday.

Click here to read the story.

Looking for a new team to follow? Here’s our World Cup quarter-finals guide

By Vince Rugari

Doha: The Socceroos might be out of the running, but that doesn’t mean you can’t attach yourself to a different World Cup bandwagon.

The pointy end of the tournament is here, with only eight teams left standing from the 32 who entered. As you’d expect, there are some belting matches to come.

Neymar of Brazil celebrates with Raphinha, Lucas Paqueta and Vinicius Junior after scoring the team’s second goal via a penalty during the Round of 16 match between Brazil and South Korea.Credit:Getty

Here’s a look at the four quarter-finals, the teams involved — five from Europe, two from South America, and one North African underdog — and the cases for and against supporting each of them.

Choose wisely.

Click here to read the story.