RETIRED Sergio Aguero was forced to step in as Holland star Wout Weghorst tried to shake fuming Argentina captain Lionel Messi’s hand after the feisty World Cup quarter-final clash.
The Dutch made a lot of noise in the build-up to the match with boss Louis van Gaal cockily suggesting his team would beat Argentina and face Brazil in the semis.
Brazil, of course, didn’t live up to their side of the bargain, crashing out to Croatia penalties, and Holland did the exact same.
Such comments riled up the Argentines, in particular Messi, who was in an unusually feisty mood.
After a few on-pitch altercations, which saw 17 yellow cards dished out, tensions spilled over at full-time.
Dutch right-back Denzel Dumfries received a second yellow card while Messi had words with Van Gaal.
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A shirtless Argentina goalkeeping hero Emiliano Martinez was also ready to rumble with a Dutch opponent.
Weghorst, whose two late goals forced the game to extra-time, was also seen trying to intimidate Lautaro Martinez before the Inter Milan ace fired home the winning penalty.
And Messi was far from impressed with the 6ft6 beanstalk.
Weghorst tried to approach Messi in the tunnel to shake his hand, in which the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner responded: “Who are you looking at, stupid? Go ahead, you stupid.”
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A number of Argentine players, including retired legend Aguero, stood in Weghorst’s way.
Weghorst told Aguero: “I’m waiting for him to give him a hand [shake].”
Smartly dressed Aguero ended with a handshake and then took himself away from the situation.
Messi later said on Weghorst AND Van Gaal: “I don’t like people talking before games.
“The number 19 (Weghorst) came and started to provoke us, bump into us, tell us things. Their coach was not respectful to us either.
“It seemed disrespectful to me, that a coach of his calibre declared [they would win] like that.
“Van Gaal does not respect the Argentina national team.”
Argentina will now face World Cup 2018 finalists Croatia for a spot in the December 18 finale.
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On the opposite side of the tournament knockout tree, current World Cup holders France are taking on England for a spot in the semis.
And dark horses Morocco are hoping to become the first African team to reach the last four by beating Euro 2016 winners Portugal.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
