HOLLAND will take on Argentina in a mouth-watering World Cup quarter-final clash TODAY.
Louis van Gaal‘s men booked their place in the last-eight with a convincing 3-1 win over USA.
How Holland are expected to line up against Argentina
But now they face their biggest challenge yet as they come up against Argentina and Lionel Messi.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward, 35, has been in scintillating form in Qatar, netting three times and producing a standout display against Australia.
He is competing in his fifth and final World Cup with the aim of winning the one trophy that has eluded him throughout his career.
But can Messi come up with the magic to fire the South Americans into the semi-finals?
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How did they get here?
Holland comfortably beat Senegal and Qatar, with an underwhelming draw against Ecuador sandwiched in between.
The Dutch then swatted USA aside 3-1 in the second round in their best performance in Qatar to date.
Argentina were stunned by Saudi Arabia in their opener as they lost 2-1 in one of THE great World Cup upsets.
But wins over Mexico and Poland ensured they topped the group, before a 2-1 victory over Australia in the last-16.
What is the team news and any injuries to worry about?
Van Gaal has a full squad to choose from ahead of Friday’s clash, with Jeremie Frimpong and Stefan de Vrij both recovering from minor injuries in time for the game.
Argentina’s Papu Gomez replaced Angel Di Maria for the win over Australia but came off with a sprained ankle in the 50th minute.
Gomez is now a doubt for the match, but Di Maria is expected to return to the fold after a problem with his quad.
Who will be the star men?
It goes without saying who Argentina’s main man is, but there are others to look out for other than Messi.
Julian Alvarez was superb against Poland and Australia, scoring in both games.
And midfielder Enzo Fernandez is another man to look out for in Lionel Scaloni’s side.
For Holland, Cody Gakpo has been their standout star so far, while wingback Denzel Dumfries produced a sensational display against USA.
Memphis Depay is also returning to form and could play a crucial role for them in the rest of the tournament having bagged a goal in the last-16.
What’s the head to head?
Holland and Argentina have met on nine occasions in the past, with the Dutch winning four, drawing two and losing three.
Among their most famous meetings include Holland’s 4-0 win over Argentina in the group stage of the 1974 World Cup, but the South Americans then got their revenge by beating them 3-1 in the final four years later.
Holland beat Argentina in the quarter-finals of the 1998 World Cup thanks to THAT famous Dennis Bergkamp goal.
But in their most recent meeting in the semi-finals of the 2014 tournament, Argentina beet the Dutch on penalties after a drab goalless 120 minutes.
SunSport prediction
This will be an incredibly competitive game between two sides operating at very similar levels. Expect a nip and tuck 90 minutes, with Argentina possibly nicking it in extra-time. 1-2 Argentina (after extra-time)
When is Netherlands vs Argentina?
Netherland’s mouth-watering fixture against Argentina will take place TODAY – Friday, December 9.The World Cup quarter-final clash is scheduled to get underway at 7pm UK time.Lusali Stadium is the allocated arena for this eye-catching contest and it can host a staggering 88, 966 supporters.Argentine sent Holland crashing out of the semi-final stage on penalties in 2014.
How Argentina are expected to line up against Holland
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What TV channel is it on and can it be live streamed?
Netherlands vs Argentina will be shown LIVE on BBC One in the UK.Coverage is set to commence from 6:15pm UK time – 45 minutes before kick-off.Viewers also have the option to stream the game live via the BBC iPlayer app or through the BBC Sport website.
Can I watch it for free?
YES! Fans in the UK can watch Netherlands’ match against Argentina for FREE as long as you have a valid TV license.
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What are the odds?
After 90 mins
Netherlands 5/2Draw 2/1Argentina 6/5
To qualify
Netherlands 13/10Argentina 6/10
*Odds courtesy of Betfair are correct at time of publication