A clipping of Lionel Messi’s goal against Nigeria four years ago is doing the rounds. A ball from the deep, Messi uses the left thigh and brings the ball down, a soft touch with the left and a right-footed finish into the far post. Argentina did not go beyond the last 16 in Russia, but this goal remains one of the best Messi has scored in the World Cup.

As Argentina gear up for the Netherlands for the quarter-final clash at Lusail Stadium on Friday, Messi, as expected, looms over the Dutch camp. But it’s the Dennis Bergkamp goal, which kicked out Argentina at the quarter-final stage in 1998, and similar to Messi’s goal, that got more traction. With the match tied at 1-1, Bergkamp, fresh from his double with Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal, received a ball from Frank de Boer on the left. A touch with his right foot, then another touch to leave Roberto Ayala in his wake and then, with the outstep of his right foot, finished it into the far top corner. Two-one, game over for Argentina.

“We talk about that goal. Yes, it was a great goal,” Memphis Depay, the Dutch striker, revealed at the pre-match news conference on Thursday.

Argentina and the Netherlands have historically been involved in intense contests against each other on the football field. If 1974 saw Johan Cruyff destroying Argentina, the Latin Americans got their revenge in the 1978 final. Twenty years later, it was that Bergkamp gem and then in 2014 Argentina had the last laugh winning the semi-finals on penalties.

Present Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal was also at the helm eight years ago when the Messi-led Argentines piped the Oranje army in the semis in Sao Paulo and since then, by his own admission, the venerable Dutch has evolved as a person and has learnt to be more patient. “With age, you tend to become more patient, age gives you more experience.”

Probably that’s why now he is more at ease with the Dutch team which looks increasingly oraganised as the tournament progressed in Doha.

The greatest-ever Dutch manager of the modern era, who had a bitter relationship with Cruyff, was at the helm of an Ajax squad which won the Champions League in 1995.

Under Van Gaal, youngsters like Patrick Kluivert, the De Boer brothers (Frank and Ronald), Clarence Seedorf, Edgar Davids bloomed.

“Football has evolved in the last 25 years. You just cannot attack all the time like Ajax of the 90s. You have to develop a style where your defence is compact. I did that with the 2014 Dutch squad and now others are doing the same.”

Argentine star Angel Di Maria did not get along well with Van Gaal during their Manchester United days, branding him the worst coach he played under and even Depay had problems with him.

“Well, it’s sad that Angel made a comment like that, but yes, now I know how to deal with certain situations. You can ask Depay about that.”

Known as someone who speaks his mind — like the “Brazil is a counter-attacking team” comment he made the other day — Van Gaal was very much at ease with himself and the impending battle against Argentina for the most part of the news conference.

“If Depay allows, I can kiss him on his mouth, I will do that,” was his words, which drew a wide round of applause from the media persons and had the Barcelona forward in splits. Or take this: “Our World Cup starts on Friday with the game against Argentina and then probably we face Brazil in the semis.” That was the first thing he said when asked about his thoughts on Friday’slast-eight match. “Well I do not have any disregard for the four teams we have played so far,” was more of an afterthought.

But the moment the name Messi came up, Van Gaalsnapped. “Why should I tell you about our plans?” Ever since Messi made his national team debut, he has been the name in every coach’s notebook. Even at 35, in his last World Cup, he is the man over whom rival coaches are losing their sleep.

The Dutch camp onWednesday was busy preparing for Argentina’s captain. The second and third goalkeepers were giving shot practice to the Dutch No. 1 shot-stopper Andries Noppert, at the Qatar University ground. The shots were low and to the far as well near post. It was done with an eye on Messi’s goals in this WorldCup. Mexico and Australia bore the brunt of his low shots.“It would be a big challenge to stop one of the greatest footballers ever,” defender NathanAke was saying the other day.

Argentina were fretting over the fitness of Rodrigo DePaul and Di Maria, but coach Lionel Scaloni did not want to dwell much on that. “If they are fit, they will play.”

They have also never beaten the Dutch in 90 minutes of action, but Scaloni did not want to read too much into that.

What did he say? “We know that.”

Argentina VS Netherlands

HEAD TO HEAD ⚫ Mts 9 ⚫ Netherlands 4 ⚫ Argentina 2 ⚫ Drawn 3

Talking tacticsNetherlands: Cutting the supply line to Messi will obviously top Dutch priorities. Van Gaal knows how to stop Messi — he was successful in the 2014 World Cup using Nigel de Jong to mark him — and the shrewd coach will not allow the forward any room on Saturday. The Netherlands will also do good to remember that the Argentine defence has so far not really been tested by quick counterattacks. Spraying constant attacks on an Argentine defence that is led by the 35-year-old Nicholas Otamendi may bring rewards. And Argentina have one of the shortest teams at this World Cup, so the Dutch must use the setpieces wisely.

Lionel Messi. File photo

Argentina: Relying only on Messi magic may not work against the Dutch defence. But supplying Julian Alvarez, who flies under the radar, with the right balls may help the Argentines. For that, Messi will have to drop down often to initiate moves and provide those pinpoint diagonal passes to either wings. Marcos Acuna has clocked good miles with his overlaps and will be a key man. Acuna, however, will also be busy containing an onrushing Denzel Dumfries. If Angel di Maria is fit to play, he too will be crucial to Argentina’s attacks. The South Americans also must not suffer sudden lapses in concentration, like they did against Australia in the closing stages of the Round of 16 match.

Dutchman Cody Gakpo. File photo

Short passes

⚫ The Netherlands are on a 19-match unbeaten run since elimination from the European Championship last year.

⚫ Lionel Messi has scored nine goals in 23 matches at the World Cup and is one behind Gabriel Batistuta as Argentina’s top scorer in the tournament.

⚫ The Netherlands have progressed from their last three World Cup quarter-final matches (1998, 2010, 2014). The only time they lost in the lasteight stage was in 1994, against eventual winners Brazil.

⚫ Whenever Argentina have won a World Cup quarter final, they have ended up reaching the final (1986, 1990 and 2014).