Defiant Dutch deny favourites’ flair

Argentina 0 Holland 0

Juan Riquelme was the orchestrator at the heart of Argentina’s midfield and there was enough quality on show to suggest either team could hold aloft the trophy in Berlin on July 9.

As it is, the draw means Argentina play Mexico in the last 16 while Holland face Portugal.

This World Cup has been blessed with some fine spectacle and some wonderful matches but no-one has brought a thrilling rhythm on and off the field quite like Argentina.

The first half was played to an accompaniment from the stands which was truly hypnotic.

The football, too, had a pleasing tempo and always at the heart of the action was Riquelme.

The Villarreal midfielder has that precious sporting gift, the ability to find space and time where others cannot. He organised the major share of Argentina’s attacking options in a match to test the power.

A muscle-flexing exercise with the prize of winning Group C, but also one eye on the tough challenges ahead after both teams had qualified for the knockout phase by beating Serbia and Montenegro and the Ivory Coast.

Chelsea’s Arjen Robben was rested as the Dutch made five changes from the side which beat Ivory Coast, while Manchester United’s Edwin Van der Sar was equalling a Dutch record of 112 caps held by former Barcelona and Rangers star Frank de Boer.

For Argentina, there was a first start for Lionel Messi, the youngster saddled with the tag of the new Maradona and whose boots bear the words La Mano de Dios — the hand of God — overlaid on an 86 symbol, and who has been recovering from a thigh injury.

Much is expected of Messi and Argentina, who had set the tournament alight with their 6-0 demolition of Serbia and Montenegro.

And it was Argentina who commanded so much of the territory and possession.

If it had been a boxing match Argentina would clearly have won the first half on points. Carlos Tevez sent a left-foot shot spinning past the far post, a Riquelme corner was tipped over by Van der Sar and a thunderbolt of a shot from Maxi Rodriguez sailed just wide of the goalkeeper’s flying dive and his post.

A Riquelme free-kick also sliced across Van der Sar’s goal and defender Khalid Boulahrouz stuck out a boot and was relieved to see the ball come back off the angle of bar and post.

Holland’s only threat of note in the first 45 minutes came from a near-post strike from Dirk Kuyt.

Riquelme picked up where he left off in the second half, a surging break and a right-foot shot skimming just wide of the post.

But the Dutch are a dogged and determined team, technically adept and defensively sound. They clearly also had an eye on the future, withdrawing first Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy and then Arsenal’s Robin van Persie to conserve energy.

For all Argentina’s dominance Phillip Cocu might have given the Dutch the lead with a left-foot shot tipped aside by Roberto Abbondanzieri.

After 70 minutes, Messi was replaced by Julio Cruz but the extended run-out will have sharpened the teenager’s fitness.

Bigger and better nights could be afoot before the tournament is done.

HOLLAND: Van der Sar, Boulahrouz, Ooijer, Jaliens, De Cler, Sneijder (Maduro 86), Cocu, Van der Vaart, Van Persie (Landzaat 67), van Nistelrooy (Babel 56), Kuyt.

ARGENTINA: Abbondanzieri, Burdisso (Coloccini 24), Ayala, Milito, Cufre, Mascherano, Maxi, Cambiasso, Riquelme (Aimar 79), Messi (Cruz 69), Tevez.

Ref: Luis Medina Cantalejo (Spain).