Louis van Gaal spots a Lionel Messi flaw

Louis van Gaal feels that Lionel Messi has a weakliness for Argentina that his opposing Netherlands team can capitalise on during their upcoming World Cup quarter-final. Messi shot the opener in his side's Round of 16 win over Australia to maintain his fine form at the World Cup – where he has now shot three goals in four participations– as he propelled his country through to the quarter-finals, where they will line up against Van Gaal's side.

In the group stages, the 35-year-old attacker found the back of the net in Argentina's surprising opening-match defeat against Saudi Arabia and also slotted in a pertinent victory for Lionel Scaloni's side against Mexico, and he did not find the net against Poland.

Van Gaal stated: "Messi is the most dangerous creative player, he is able to create a lot and to score goals himself. But when they lose the ball he doesn't participate much, this gives us chances."