Argentina’s unsportsmanlikeness: provocative exultation in the face of the Dutch ravine

all World leaves a legacy of images destined to go down in history. Netherlands-Argentina, a quarter-final match with epic traits in the way the game has developed, will be no exception. But the most impactful snapshots produced by the meeting are sure to cause discussion.

The shots, which immediately went viral, briefly followed Lautaro Martinez’s decisive penalty kick. On one side are the Argentine players, already celebrating. On the other, the Dutch opponents, some with their heads down, others already lying on the ground in disappointment. However, the exultation of the Alviceleste players has an evidently provocative nature: the eyes are on the Netherlands football players with angry shouts and annoying gestures. More than celebrating the victory, at this moment Alviceleste celebrates the defeat by the oranges.

Argentinians cheer teasing the Dutch

The Argentine group splits in two at the time of the penalty converted by Lautaro Martinez. Some players aim for El Toro to catch up and celebrate qualifying for the semi-finals together (Messi will be the only one to go to Emiliano Martinez, who is decisive in his defenses).

Several footballers, on the contrary, linger for a few moments next to the midfield circle, with the aim of cheering on the opponent, already clearly beaten by defeat. The most striking is Otamendi, who parades in front of the group in an orange shirt, with his hand close to his ears. Paredes, Montiel and Di Maria paraded with him, shouting something in the direction of the Dutch.

The fight in the second half started by the excesses of Paredes

The game, tense and disputed given the stakes, experienced several moments of tension: above all the fight that broke out in the second half after a pass from Paredes towards the Dutch bench, following a hard tackle on Aké. It is no coincidence that Paredes was one of the most heated in the final party under the noses of the Dutch.

Argentina arrived particularly loaded for this match, not only for their value, but also for the way Van Gaal prepared them in the press conference the day before. The Dutch coach did not hide behind circumstantial words and also spoke freely about Messi, using tones and terms that the Argentine number 10 did not like.

Messi himself celebrated the momentary 2-0 goal by putting his hands to his ears in front of the bench occupied by Van Gaal. A defiant gesture that betrays the competitive anger he carried throughout the match and which he transferred, as usual in his role as captain and leader, to the rest of the group. As evidenced by the photos of the final exultation that are going around the world.