Sports

'We're playing against Argentina, not Messi'

Staff Correspondent
Netherlands' coach Louis van Gaal gives a press conference at the Arena de Sao Paulo Stadium, in Sao Paulo on July 08, on the eve of the 2014 FIFA World Cup semi-final against Argentina. AFP
Netherlands' coach Louis van Gaal gives a press conference at the Arena de Sao Paulo Stadium, in Sao Paulo on July 08, on the eve of the 2014 FIFA World Cup semi-final against Argentina. AFP

The Netherlands will need to do more than simply muzzle Argentina's Lionel Messi if they are to prevail in Wednesday's semi-final, Dutch coach Louis van Gaal says.

"We are playing against Argentina," van Gaal said Tuesday.

"We're preparing a strategy for a team, not individual players, so I'll be ready for Argentina and their players.

"Messi has been elected the best player in the world. There's a reason for that. If you score so many goals, you have an added value.

"But on the most important stage, he hasn't always pulled it off. He's always found it difficult to do that at international level and he wants to change that at this tournament.

"We want to stop him, so that's going to be quite a challenge."

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