Emiliano Martinez put on a punishment saving masterclass as Argentina beat the Netherlands in a shootout to settle an exhilarating World Cup quarter-last.

After Lionel Messi illuminated Lusail Arena to score and help, Argentina appeared to be drifting to a semi-last conflict with Croatia,

just for Wout Weghorst to hit a support and seal a momentous 2-2 draw. Aston Estate plug Martinez then became the dominant focal point,

saving from Virgil van Dijk and Steven Berghuis as the Dutch fell on punishments to Argentina in a rehash of the 2014 semi-last.

Enzo Fernandez sent his punishment wide to give the Netherlands trust as Luuk de Jong opened home yet

Lautaro Martinez would whip in the champ to send Argentina through 4-3 on punishments.

The misfortune was the first tasted by Louis van Gaal since he returned for a third stretch responsible for the Netherlands,

with the 71-year-old currently resigning from the board briefly time. Messi's sorcery appeared to have motivated an agreeable triumph

for Argentina following his fine help for Nahuel Molina and his last part punishment - yet Burnley striker Weghorst had different thoughts.

In a testy tie, Spanish official Antonio Mateu given out 14 alerts as the players from the two sides were engaged with more than one skirmish.

Messi's no-look, switch pass 10 minutes before half-time not just confounded two Head Association title-winning protectors in Van Dijk

and Nathan Ake yet was weighted flawlessly, permitting Molina to score his most memorable global objective before the captain multiplied the lead with a

cool 73rd-minute punishment after Marcos Acuna - whose previous booking rules him out of the semi-last - had been stumbled by Denzel Dumfries.