please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Argentina's Angel Di Maria is definitely out with a thigh injury, but team doctors have not yet ruled him out of the final or third-place match. Sergio Aguero has been declared fit after a thigh problem of his own and left-back Marcos Rojo returns from suspension. Netherlands coach Louis Van Gaal is awaiting news on whether Leroy Fer has recovered from a hamstring strain. Fellow midfielder Nigel de Jong is out of the tournament with a groin injury. Head-to-head Argentina's victory over the Netherlands in the 1978 final is the only time they have beaten the Dutch in eight meetings in all competitions (D3, L4). They haven't met for eight years since a 0-0 draw at the 2006 World Cup. Lionel Messi (29), Arjen Robben and Angel Di MarÃa (both 25) are the players with most completed dribbles in this tournament. Argentina This is Argentina's first World Cup semi-final since 1990, when they went on to lose to Germany in the final. They have never lost a World Cup semi-final, winning the previous four. Each of Argentina's five wins at this tournament have come by a single goal margin. They are yet to be behind once in their five matches so far. Not including penalty shootouts, they have lost just one of their last 16 World Cup matches (W12, D3). Lionel Messi has created 19 goalscoring chances in this World Cup, the most of any player. Argentina have scored with 11% of their shots from outside the box, the best success rate of any side at this World Cup. Remarkably, this is the first time Argentina and Brazil have made the semi-final stage at the same tournament. Gonzalo Higuain ended a goal drought of 528 minutes without a goal for Argentina when he scored the winner against Belgium. He now has as many World Cup goals as Lionel Messi, despite having played four games less. Netherlands This is the Netherlands' third semi-final appearance in their last four World Cup finals. Netherlands have lost just two of their 12 World Cup games against South American teams, not including penalty shootouts (1978 final v Argentina and 1994 quarter-final v Brazil). Against Costa Rica, the Dutch made 692 passes, the most they've recorded in a single World Cup match (1966-2014). Ten of the Netherlands' 12 goals in this tournament have come after half-time and their last four goals have come after the 75th minute. In their quarter-final, the Netherlands recorded the 11th instance of a team hitting the woodwork three times in a World Cup match (1966-2014). The Dutch are the only team to concede more than one penalty at this World Cup. Wesley Sneijder has played more World Cup games than any other Dutchman (16). Their shoot-out victory over Costa Rica was their sixth in major tournament history and they have now won two and lost four. It was the first time they have converted all their penalties in a shootout in a major tournament. They have had seven different goalscorers at this World Cup, more than any team. MOST RECENT MEETING Netherlands 0-0 Argentina (21 June 2006)
I wouldn't mind the Dutch winning, however I want Argentina to beat brazil in the final as they were my pre-tournament tip and I don't want united fans giving it the late that they have a World Cup winning manager!
Not been that impressed with Argentian Messi apart. The Dutch will be tired though so 2-1 Argentina for me.
Sign of a good team... semi-finals without being impressive. Now's the time to show what they can do.
not really bought into the dutch hype, think argentina will win despite being pretty unimpressive themselves so far
Rooting for the dutch, im also in the Netherlands, and about 5 mins from the germany boarder. So sunday will be an experience, but they got to get past a littke fella by the name of messi first!
Not that I'm bitter, but I hope Holland annihilate Argentina and the shock robs Mauricio of speech. Seeing him talking English next season will be annoying.
I dunno what I want. Messi deserves it but the rest of the Argentina team do not. Netherlands I didn't even think were good enough to get out of the group, but here they are. Looking okay, but not great. Also Robben is such an enormous tool.
Messi, Batigol (he made Sundays great when he was on for Fiorentina) and Ozzy are the only Argentinians I've ever liked as footballers really, NL were amazing against Spain but they haven't repeated that form yet.
