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Attendance: 63,267
Netherlands national football team
World Cup | Semi-Finals
Jul 9, 2014 at 9pm UK
 
Argentina national football team

0-0

FT
(aet)
Argentina win 4-2 on penalties

Javier Mascherano: 'Lionel Messi needs our help'

Javier Mascherano challenges Argentina to offer more help to Lionel Messi ahead of the World Cup semi-final against the Netherlands.

Javier Mascherano has called on his Argentina teammates to give more help to Lionel Messi ahead of Wednesday's World Cup semi-final against the Netherlands.

Messi has been the key player for Alejandro Sabella's side during the tournament, but Mascherano believes that they cannot afford to rely on his Barcelona teammate as they look to reach the final for the first time since 1990.

"Leo has rescued us in a few matches but we can't just rely on him," the 30-year-old told FIFA.com. "The team should be there to support him just as we were against Belgium, when he controlled the game with everyone's help.

"That's what we're aiming for - even though we know we have great individual players, the team comes first."

Argentina have been handed a boost with the news that Robin van Persie is a doubt for Wednesday's game.

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Netherlands' defender Stefan de Vrij celebrates scoring their third goal during a Group B football match between Spain and the Netherlands at the Fonte Nova Arena in Salvador during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 13, 2014
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Netherlands Netherlands32107
Q Senegal flag Senegal32016
3 Ecuador flag Ecuador31114
4 Qatar Qatar30030

Group B

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Q England flag England32107
Q United States USA31205
3 Iran Iran31023
4 Wales flag Wales30121

Group C

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Q Argentina Argentina32016
Q Poland Poland31114
3 Mexico Mexico31114
4 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia31023

Group D

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Q France France32016
Q Australia Australia32016
3 Tunisia Tunisia31114
4 Denmark Denmark30121

Group E

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Q Japan Japan32016
Q Spain Spain31114
3 Germany Germany31114
4 Costa Rica flag Costa Rica31023

Group F

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Q Morocco Morocco32107
Q Croatia Croatia31205
3 Belgium Belgium31114
4 Canada Canada30030

Group G

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Q Brazil Brazil32016
Q Switzerland Switzerland32016
3 Cameroon flag Cameroon31114
4 Serbia Serbia30121

Group H

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Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Republic of Korea South Korea31114
3 Uruguay flag Uruguay31114
4 Ghana flag Ghana31023


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