5/6 v 1/4 - Argentina have won the most penalty shootouts of any side in World Cup history (5 wins from 6), while only Spain (4) have lost more penalty shootouts at the World Cup than Netherlands (1 win from 4). Contrast.
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Match Highlights: 
Croatia 1(4)-1(2) 
Brazil
Croatia edged Brazil 4-2 in penalty shootout to qualify for the semi-finals. The scores of the two teams were level 1-1 in extra-time.
In a neck-to-neck battle, Croatia edged Brazil 4-2 on penalties to become the first team to qualify for the semi-finals. Neymar scored in the extra-time to put Brazil in front before Bruno Petkovic equalised with just minutes left in the extra-time whistle. In the penalties, Croatia came out on top yet again to seal their berth in the last four.
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Match Highlights 
Netherlands 2(3)-2(4) 
Argentina
Argentina beat Netherlands 4-3 on penalties to reach semi-finals
Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martinez saved penalties from Virgil van Dijk and Steven Berghuis before Lautaro Martinez scored the winning spot kick to secure them a 4-3 shootout win over the Netherlands on Friday after their World Cup quarter-final finished 2-2 after 120 minutes. Argentina will next face Croatia, who beat Brazil on penalties earlier, on Tuesday for a place in the final.
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Unfortunately his ill wish of Messi crying with a loss against Brazil, will remain unfulfilled.
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Emi Martinez: “I heard van Gaal saying, ‘We have an advantage, if we go to penalties we win.’ I think he needs to keep his mouth shut.”
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Louis van Gaal’s record at the World Cup: W8 D4 L0
2014—Eliminated in semifinals on penalties vs. Argentina
2022—Eliminated in quarterfinals on penalties vs. Argentina
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2021—Emi Martinez saves three penalties vs. Colombia to send Argentina to the Copa America final
2022—Emi Martinez saves two penalties vs. Netherlands to send Argentina to the World Cup semifinals
Clutch 
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Most goals scored at the World Cup for Argentina:
Lionel Messi (10)
Gabriel Batistuta (10)
Diego Maradona (8)
Guillermo Stabile (8)
Mario Kempes (8)
Incredible. 
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Lionel Messi 
Netherlands:
1 goal
1 assist
37/45 accurate passes (82%)
4 chances created
2/3 successful dribbles
10 ground duels won
8 fouls won
9.0 match ratings
Greatest of all time.
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Lionel Messi is the player with most assists (5) in the knockout rounds of the FIFA World Cup, surpassing Pele (4).
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71-year-old Louis van Gaal was the first person on the pitch to pick up Cody Gakpo.
The Dutch manager has never lost a World Cup game but has been knocked out twice.
Both times by Argentina on penalties 
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Neymar: “My last World Cup? I do not know. It’s not a good idea to talk now. But I don’t guarantee anything either. It looks like a nightmare, I can’t believe what’s going on. This defeat will hurt for a long time to come”.
(Source: O Globo)
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// 
🆚🇫🇷
Morocco vs Portugal Key Stats
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Morocco and Portugal will meet for the third time, with the other two meetings taking place at the World Cup itself. Morocco won the first (3-1) in a group stage match in 1986, before Portugal prevailed 1-0 in the 2018 tournament, again in a group.
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Morocco are unbeaten in their last 5 FIFA World Cup matches (W2, D3), their longest-ever streak without defeat in the competition.
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The Atlas Lions are looking to become the first African team to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup tournament. Indeed, the last three African teams to reach the quarterfinals were all eliminated at this stage: Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002, and famously, Ghana in 2010.
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The Africans have kept clean sheets in five of their last six matches and three at this year’s World Cup, the most ever by an African outfit in a single edition of the tournament.
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Portugal have won both of their quarterfinal games at the World Cup so far, defeating DPR Korea in 1966 and England in 2006.
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England vs France Key Stats
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England have emerged victorious in the last two meetings with France in the World Cup.
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France’s last defeat came way back in 2015 and since then they haven’t lost to their European archrivals.
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England have seen themselves eliminated from this point of stage six times in the last eight occasions.
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Gareth Southgate could become the first manager to accomplish two semifinal appearances for England if they manage to get the better of the French team.
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2021: Martinez saves three penalties to send Argentina to the Copa America final
2022: Martinez saves two penalties to send Argentina to the World Cup semifinals
Messi’s hero 
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