Lionel Messi Argentina Netherlands shootout 2022 World Cup HIC 16:9Getty

World Cup classic! Winners and losers as Argentina outlast Netherlands to reach semi-finals thanks to Messi and Martinez

What. A. Game. As beautiful as it was ugly. Full of goals and gamesmanship. And, at the end of an utterly engrossing 2-2 draw, Argentina prevailed on penalties, defeating Netherlands 4-3 in the shootout to progress to the semi-finals of the World Cup.

The Dutch were disgusted when Lautaro Martinez converted the decisive spot-kick, with Denzel Dumfries particularly incensed. He spent a good two minutes in a serious discussion with the referee, Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz, and received a red card for his troubles. We'll be hearing more about that in the coming days, no doubt.

For now, though, Argentina can bask in the glory of victory in a World Cup contest for the ages. Lionel Scaloni's side deservedly led 2-0 thanks to the genius and composure of Lionel Messi, who created Nahuel Molina's opener with the greatest no-look pass this tournament has seen since Andrea Pirlo in 2006, and then slotted home a penalty to seemingly seal his side's progression to the last four.

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The Dutch weren't done, though. Louis van Gaal, the tactical genius in his final tournament as Netherlands boss, decided to go route one in the closing stages, after sending on Luuk de Jong and Wout Weghorst.

Sticking two big men up top paid off, with the latter forcing extra-time with two late goals, the second of which arrived after a fantastic free-kick routine.

The momentum was all with the Netherlands at that point but 99 per cent of the crowd remained fully behind Argentina, and the fans played their part in a shootout success that they were still celebrating long after Lautaro had decided a crazy game in Lusail in their favour.

Below, GOAL runs through all of the winners and losers from one of the greatest World Cup matches of all time...