World Cup 2022: Holland Coach Van Gaal Opens Up on Messi’s Weakness

• Louis Van Gaal says his technical team spotted a deficiency in Lionel Messi's style of play
• Messi is having an impressive World Cup campaign, failing to score in one of four games
• The 71-year-old tactician remains unbeaten in his 11 World Cup matches as a manager

Dutch manager Louis Van Gaal has revealed he has spotted a flaw in Lionel Messi's game.

Van Gaal's Holland are on a collision course with Argentina for a spot in the semi-finals of the ongoing 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

His side remains one of the few unbeaten sides in the tournament.

The veteran manager has disclosed he has hatched a perfect plan to combat the threat of Lionel Messi, who has scored three goals so far in the tournament, BR Football notes.

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"Messi is the most dangerous creative player, he is able to create a lot and to score goals himself," Van Gaal told NOS via All Football.

"But when they lose the ball and the opponent has possession, he doesn't participate much, and this gives us chances [to exploit]."

When pushed to disclose his plan for Friday's showdown, the 71-year-old manager refused to disclose any more information.

"You will see on Friday. I won't tell you."

Dutch legend backs Messi's Argentina

Robin Van Persie wants just one team besides the Netherlands to emerge as champions of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, as the line-up for the quarter-finals takes shape.

The former Arsenal and Manchester United star is tipping La Albiceleste to go all the way to become champions, if they scale through the hurdle of the Oranje.

Van Persie wants Argentina as champions of the world for a third time because of star player Messi, who he says deserves to win the World Cup trophy.

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De Paul disrupts Messi's interview

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that the Argentina World Cup camp is overflowing with excitement at the moment.

La Albiceleste are already through to the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup after a shaky start, thanks to a starring role by Messi for the South Americans.

The 35-year-old experienced a bizarre moment however, while doing an online interview with former teammate Sergio Aguero ahead of the quarter-final clash with the Netherlands.