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Attendance: 63,267
Netherlands national football team
World Cup | Semi-Finals
Jul 9, 2014 at 9pm UK
 
Argentina national football team

0-0

FT
(aet)
Argentina win 4-2 on penalties

Javier Mascherano: 'Lionel Messi needs our help'

Javier Mascherano challenges Argentina to offer more help to Lionel Messi ahead of the World Cup semi-final against the Netherlands.

Javier Mascherano has called on his Argentina teammates to give more help to Lionel Messi ahead of Wednesday's World Cup semi-final against the Netherlands.

Messi has been the key player for Alejandro Sabella's side during the tournament, but Mascherano believes that they cannot afford to rely on his Barcelona teammate as they look to reach the final for the first time since 1990.

"Leo has rescued us in a few matches but we can't just rely on him," the 30-year-old told FIFA.com. "The team should be there to support him just as we were against Belgium, when he controlled the game with everyone's help.

"That's what we're aiming for - even though we know we have great individual players, the team comes first."

Argentina have been handed a boost with the news that Robin van Persie is a doubt for Wednesday's game.

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Netherlands' defender Stefan de Vrij celebrates scoring their third goal during a Group B football match between Spain and the Netherlands at the Fonte Nova Arena in Salvador during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 13, 2014
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Euro 2024 fixtures header
Friday, July 5
 
5pm
Quarter-Finals
Spain
vs.
Germany
 
8pm
Quarter-Finals
Portugal
vs.
France
Saturday, July 6
 
5pm
Tuesday, July 9
Wednesday, July 10
Sunday, July 14
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


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