Home > Football > World Cup > Netherlands > News

[monks data]

Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal insists that his players will not be focusing all of their attention on Argentina talisman Lionel Messi in their World Cup semi-final.

Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal has insisted that his players will not be focusing on Argentina's Lionel Messi during their World Cup semi-final.

The two teams go head to head in Sao Paulo tonight with a place in Sunday's final against Germany on the line.

While admitting that Messi is a "very important player" for the South Americans, Van Gaal believes that the whole of the Argentine side are worth monitoring.

"I'm not thinking about individual players, I'm thinking always that we have to play against a team, but Messi is a very important player," he told FIFA.com.

"So we have to play against Argentina and we have to try to stop Messi getting the ball, passing the ball, scoring goals, and you do that as a team. I hope my team can do the job."

Messi has scored four goals in five games for Argentina so far at the tournament.

ID:164215: cacheID:164215:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2014:No Data Analysis info

Restore Data

1

Amorim's "Jose Mourinho" part of fresh coaching set-up at Man United

2

Dutch Delight: Impressive Netherlands progress to quarter-finals of Nations League

3

CAR vs. Gabon - prediction, team news, lineups

4

Morocco vs. Lesotho - prediction, team news, lineups

5

Jannik Sinner vs. Taylor Fritz - prediction, head-to-head, tournament so far

6

How could Carsley make unwanted history in final England game?

7

Wirtz wizardry helps Germany subject Bosnia-Herzegovina to heaviest-ever defeat

8

Enzo Maresca "huge fan" of Bournemouth defender as Chelsea 'weigh up' potential offer

9

"We'll see" - Gyokeres speaks out on Man United interest after Amorim move

10

Amorim receives major boost ahead of Man United's trip to Ipswich