The baddest game in Qatar
When football recaptured the World Cup from FIFA
By Tobias Nordmann & Stephan Uersfeld, Doha
12/10/2022, 12:48 p.m
The second quarter-final is a clear, almost boring affair for 73 minutes. But then this game turns and this World Cup experiences its most breathtaking minutes. Goal, dramas, pack formations, wild turns. What a game!
Shortly after midnight, football had triumphed over this World Cup for a brief moment. For a brief moment, just after midnight, football regained what had been taken from it by FIFA and Qatar. At the Lusail Iconic Stadium, emotions escalated in such a genuine, glorious way that maybe only football can do at this intensity. Argentina’s world collapsed while the Dutch didn’t know how or where to channel their emotions in the eleventh minute of added time. Wout Weghorst made it 2-2 with perhaps the most cunning free-kick in World Cup history. He had set his team’s dream of the World Cup on fire, and at the same time he had smothered the South Americans’ embers with his little genius. The pure essence of football.
Who would have thought? Up until the 78th minute, the game was relaxed. The Argentines were 2-0 up after goals from Nahuel Molina (35′), magically freed by Lionel Messi, and the great champion himself (meaning Messi, 73′) from the penalty spot. There was nothing to indicate that the huge emotions, the big drama and also the ugly side of football would still lurk in this quarter-final. The activists and most fans didn’t even notice the biggest shock. Well-known US journalist Grant Wahl collapsed in the first half of extra time and died shortly afterwards. According to the Wall Street Journal, he suffered a heart attack (colleague Stephan Uersfeld wrote down the background here).
The cuddly one has a good idea
In the meantime, the game had allowed itself a short break, apparently surprised by the brutal intensity of the previous minutes. Hadn’t Messi’s penalty after a stupid foul by Denzel Dumfries decided everything? The Netherlands haven’t had a shot on target so far. How could the end of the legend Louis van Gaal be stopped? The Dutch coach, who had been telling one nice story after another these days as the cuddliest coach at the World Cup, would retire after the World Cup. Also because he was suffering from cancer, he announced early on that it would be over after Qatar. The (brilliant) idea towards the end: Wout Weghorst. He came in the 78th minute, seconds earlier Emiliano Martínez had plucked a cross from the air in the penalty area and cleared two players in the process – heated atmosphere, pack formation. A colossal runabout had also set off, but was quickly stopped. Wild, it was wild.
Then came Weghorst. He pulled his team-mates into the penalty area like a magnet. He attracted the balls like a magnet. Steven Berghuis crosses from the right, the former Wolfsburg climbs up – 1: 2, hope. The forward is so hot he knocks Messi out seconds after kick-off. Lucky for him he doesn’t see yellow. He had already caught that in the first half as a bench player. He had complained. Football now unfolded its full power, its full fascination. And yes, football unfolded this mystical quality that simply cannot be explained. The long-desperate Elftal brimmed with confidence, greed, and courage. Proud Argentina atrophied into a panic orchestra. Less than two minutes after the goal, Berghuis shot the ball to the side netting. Everything seems possible. South America threatened the ultimate nightmare!
Paredes freaks out, pack formation
A few hours earlier, the Brazilians around their superstar Neymar had left the tournament with unbridled tears. In the penalty shoot-out, they failed fatally because of Croatian sorcerer Dominik Livaković. The dream of the semi-final Clasico had burst, the beauty of the game had been eaten up by the greed of the south-eastern Europeans. Now Argentina faltered, now Messi’s last big trip threatened to be stopped in the most grotesque way. And not only Argentina faltered, the whole game was out of control. The dynamic of these minutes cannot be put into words – they are the most breathtaking of this tournament. In the 89th minute, Leandro Paredes shoots the ball in the direction of the Dutch bench, forming a pack. Several players go down. A red-worthy body check by Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk is not punished. At the end of this heated, thrilling and fascinating duel there are 17 yellow cards and one yellow-red card in the statistics, a World Cup record.
The game is three minutes over time when Berghuis has a huge chance of equalizing. From 19 meters he flicks a free kick but only into the wall. Argentines are screaming with relief in the stands. The chants of victory grow louder, shaking the mighty Lusail Iconic Stadium with its 88,325 spectators. A trembling anthem grips Qatar. But the game is not over.
Like once against Arminia Bielefeld
In the tenth minute of added time, Germán Pezzella pushed Weghorst over 20 meters from his own goal. If we talk about stupid fouls, this was one of the stupidest. And was mercilessly punished with cunning and class. And like a moment that can change everything, really everything! Berghuis, who missed seven minutes earlier from the best position, no longer plays. And those who are now in charge decide differently. Instead of taking the free kick directly, Teun Koopmeiners played a pass under the jumping wall to Weghorst, who took the ball brilliantly and sank it into the right corner from eleven meters – unbelievable! Two years ago, the striker, who now plays for Besiktas Istanbul, disgraced Arminia Bielefeld in this way. Back then after 20 minutes played, not with the last scene in a World Cup quarterfinals.
Far away from these wild seconds and scenes in the Argentine penalty area, Dutch goalkeeper Andries Noppert squats near the center line. Around him a sky-blue wall, below him the green lawn of the Lusail and somewhere in the distance the rest. Andries Noppert, 28 years old, 2.03 meters tall, five international matches. Debut at the World Cup in Qatar. What a story, a former chain smoker, drinker, unemployed in between – and now stuck somewhere between his crazy career and the hope of a miracle.
Van Dijk initiates the failure
Back into the hustle and bustle: everything seems possible now, football in its purest, most beautiful form. And as the game moves towards the duel from the point, the emotionally overwhelmed Argentinians pull themselves together again. Virgil van Dijk just deflected a shot from Lautaro Martinez. Then Enzo Fernandez fails twice, first an attempt lands on the gate roof, then Noppert makes a world-class save. Then penalty shootout, no respite. Van Dijk takes responsibility as captain – and fails. Messi scores confidently. Unlike the Brazilians in the afternoon, the stars compete directly here. What a showdown. Berghuis also forgives, it was Martinez’s turn again. When Fernandez, as the fourth Argentinian, misses out for the first time, hope is born – but Noppert has no chance against Martinez’s final attempt.
In the center circle, the Argentinians are meanwhile attacking the Dutch with ugly malice gestures. They run towards their happiness, they run towards their dream. Messi’s final journey continues, what a stopover. Football, and with it perhaps the best player of all time, recaptured the World Cup that evening.