World Cup Update: Messi magic sends Argentina into last eight

Lionel Messi shines again as Argentina sweeps Australia aside to book a date in the quarter final of the World Cup. Argentina beat Australia 2-1. (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

For clubs and for country, one thousand times and like a phoenix that he has grown to become, Lionel Messi is everything we don’t ever want to see the end of, the king in his majestic best.

Lionel Messi led Argentina to a 2-1 win on Saturday to advance to the last eight of the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Qatar where the Albiceleste will negotiate with the Netherlands for a place in the semi finals after both sides won their respective quarter final bouts.

Everything Argentina did against Australia came through Messi; he orchestrated like the best ever choirmaster and left nothing behind. From his passes that were well tailored to perfection, to his clinical goal that seemed harmless until it sailed past Matt Ryan in the Aussie’s goal, he was breathtaking.

What is left isn’t much and already, we’re missing the little magician that offers goosebumps in return for the attention we pay to his sessions; Argentina were however rattled late on but held their grounds to book a place in the last eight.

Netherlands in the other game enjoyed a result their performance wouldn’t agree with; Denzel Dumfries was no doubt the man of the match but the United States threatened without penetration; the learning curve for the Yankees would be harsh but if they come prepared next time, they’d be better for it.

It’s not all gloom and doom for the young core and they can improve having gone through the group stage without a defeat; the goalless draw against England remains their best result but many would pick their win over Iran as their best performance.

Netherlands raced to a lead in the opening minutes through Memphis Depay and then got another before halftime through Daley Blind, it’s noteworthy that both goals were scored off Dumfries assists and the Inter Milan man added the third unmarked with few minutes to play.

Argentina and Netherlands will serve a great quarter final fixture, one we can’t wait to see after the rich history between them.