On Tuesday, we saw the last two teams go at it to see who would qualify for the Quarterfinals of the World Cup. Belgium went against a dreaming USA team hoping to make history for the first time since 1994 and Argentina went against Switzerland, who gave them a heck of a game and made La Albiceleste struggle to score. Yet we saw Belgium take the late winning goal and take out USA out of the World Cup and we saw Argentina do the same thing to Switzerland and get the late winning goal from Angel Di Maria. This Saturday, we will see Argentina face the Red Devils of Belgium to see who would secure a spot in the semi-finals and face either Netherlands or Costa Rica. Argentina had a bit of competition in the group stage and Belgium seemed to have it easy.
Argentina faced Bosnia and Herzegovina who made the world cup for the first time ever in team history, a struggling Iran team and a strong and speedy Nigerian team. They opened up their group by facing Bosnia and won 2-1, faced Iran and won 1-0 and faced Nigeria last and won 3-2. With the 9 points in their table they won the group and went on to face Switzerland in the round of 16. Switzerland went into the game with high hopes and dreaming high but with the late winner of Angel Di Maria with assist coming from Lionel Messi got them into the Quarterfinals and ending the days of Switzerland in Brazil.
Belgium seemed to have an easy group stage as they faced Algeria, Russia and South Korea. They opened up their group by facing Algeria and won 2-1, went against Russia in Rio de Janeiro, winning 1-0 and went against South Korea, beating them 1-0 in Sao Paolo. With 9 points in their table, they were able to obtain a spot in the round of 16 and face a struggling USA team. USA gave them a heck of a rain but the defense lacked and Tim Howard’s 16 saves wasn’t enough as Belgium scored in extra time and won 2-1. This sent USA home and gave Belgium a step closer to the final.
Argentina did great in their group stage but seemed to struggle in the Round of 16 as the team seems to confine to much in their star, Lionel Messi, and hope that one player can get them through the world cup and help them win it all. But Argentina has to think bigger than that and start believing that this isn’t a one-man team and they all need to work together and not just trust in Messi. The last time we saw Argentina lift the cup was in 1986 with star Diego Maradona and before that in 1978 as hosts of the world cup. The last two world cups, they ended in the Quarterfinals losing to Germany both time in 2010 and 2006. With stars Angel di Maria, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Marin Demichelis, and goalkeeper Sergio Romero, they seem like an unstoppable team, but they will have to work together as a whole team and not just Lionel Messi and Argentina right behind him. If they don’t underestimate their opponent and work as a team, they will be able to take out Belgium and advance to the semi-finals.
Belgium in the other hand had it easy during the group stage and didn’t struggle as much with USA even though Tim Howard was there to be the hero. The best Belgium has done in the world cup was fourth place in 1986 when Mexico hosted the world cup. The last time they qualified was in the 2002 World Cup and was sent home in the Round of 16 by Brazil. They didn’t qualify in 2006 and 2010 but this year they came strong. With Chelsea stars Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard, Thiabaut Courtois, Manchester United’s Adnan Januzaj and Marouane Fellaini, and defenders Thomas Vermaelen, Vincent Kompany and Daniel Van Buyten, they look very strong and if goalkeeper Courtois continues his unbeaten streak and great form, they will be more than unstoppable and obtain a spot in the semi-finals.
Prediction: As Belgium continue their ways in the world cup, they will fight hard to send Argentina home but if Argentina stops thinking as a one man team and work together as a whole team, they have a chance to win and advance. My prediction will be Lionel Messi and his Albiceleste team as they work together and stop confining in Messi.
Starting line-ups: Argentina: Romero, Garay, Zabaleta, Gago, Di Maria, Higuain, Messi, Mascherano, Rojo, Fernandez, Aguero
Belgium: Courtois, Alderweireld, Kompany, Vertonghen, Witsel, De Bruyne, Fellaini, Hazard, Mertens, Van Buyten, Origi
Argentina will go up against Belgium on Saturday, July 5th at 1PM PT. We will be seeing a tough match with the hopes of either team winning for those who are Belgium fans and those who are Argentinian fans.
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