Netherlands boss Louis vas Gaal announced retirement after team's heart-breaking loss to Argentina in the FIFA World Cup quarterfinal on Saturday. Lionel Messi's mission to win the World Cup took another giant leap towards the elusive title as Argentina stormed into the semifinals after they beat Netherlands 4-3 in a penalty shootout.
Van Gaal confirmed that his side's defeat was the final match of his career. He had come out of retirement to manage the Dutch for a third spell, but is now 71 and recently battled cancer. Like at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, his team's hopes of glory were ended by a shoot-out defeat to Argentina, as a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina triumphed over his Oranje side.
"I will not be continuing as head coach – I only did it for this term, so this was my very last match," he said in the post-match press conference.
"I've had a wonderful time. It's incredibly painful to see how we've been eliminated, particularly because I did everything I could to prevent it happen.
"In Brazil, I brought on Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to win it in extra time, and I could have waited to make our final substitute, so we could bring on Tim Krul to play the penalty shoot-out in goal. Tonight, there's nothing I could reproach myself for."
Van Gaal leaves the Netherlands for the third time having not lost a single match since the last time he faced Argentina in a World Cup game eight years ago. The Iron Tulip referenced that fact in his presser and admitted he didn't feel like his side lost the game.
"In 20 matches in charge, we didn't lose a single game. I don't know how many we won – you can find out I think on Google, put in 'Dutch team, Louis van Gaal'. I don't think I've been beaten today – only in a penalty shoot-out," he concluded.
Talking about the match, Messi converted his penalty in the shootout and Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez saved two attempts. Lautaro Martinez scored the clinching penalty. The match finished 2-2 after extra time, with Messi scoring one goal and setting up another. The Netherlands equalised in the 11th minute of second-half stoppage time.
Argentina will play Croatia in the semifinals on Tuesday after the 2018 runner-up beat Brazil earlier on Friday. It is only the second time Argentina has reached the last four since 1990. In 2014, Messi was part of the team that lost to Germany in the final. He looks in the mood to get there again in a tournament that he is turning into his own personal highlight reel.
