Dutch goalkeeper on Messi: He's human

Andries Noppert is ready to face Lionel Messi if the Argentina star takes a penalty kick in tonight's quarter-final.

"He's the same like us. He's a human," the Netherlands goalkeeper said.

Messi has scored 21 times from 26 penalty attempts for Argentina among his 94 international goals. He converted his spot-kick to put Argentina ahead in the opening 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia, then had his penalty saved by Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny as Argentina won 2-0 to reach the round of 16.

Noppert, 28, was released from second-division Dutch club Dordrecht at the end of the 2019-20 season, joined the top flight's Go Ahead Eagles in January 2021 and moved to Heerenveen this season.

"It's about the moment," Noppert said. "He can also miss, and we see it at the beginning of this tournament."

Noppert was in goal in the opening 2-0 win over Senegal - the second Dutch player to make his international debut at a World Cup after midfielder Dick Schoenaker in 1978.

Noppert has allowed two goals in four matches and saved 15 of 17 shots on target - an 88.2 percent save percentage that is second-best in the tournament behind Tunisia goalkeeper Aimen Dahmen, who saved nine of 10.

"[Noppert] is quite direct and outspoken," Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal said. "He can stop balls."

Center-back Virgil van Dijk said the Dutch have to prepare to play not just the 35-year-old Messi.

"I'm very cautious of what Argentina can bring because they are a fantastic team," Van Dijk said. "We have to prepare well in all departments."

The Netherlands are the best football nation never to win a World Cup, losing in the final in 1974, 1978 and 2010.

The Dutch were eliminated by Argentina on penalty kicks in the 2014 semi-finals, when Messi converted his nation's first attempt of the shootout.

"There is hunger. There is dreams. There's feeling that goes with when you participate in the World Cup," Van Dijk said. "You could be three games away from glory."

ASSOCIATED PRESS