Argentina's Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona are pictured in a fans drum inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Molly Darlington(Reuters) - Lionel Messi said Argentina have felt the presence of the late, great Diego Maradona throughout their World Cup campaign, including on Friday when they beat the Netherlands on penalties to reach the semi-finals. He is pushing us and I really hope this stays the same until the end," Messi told reporters. From the beginning it was a really tough match, we knew it would be this way. Argentina will take on Croatia for a place in the final, after the 2018 runners-up beat Brazil on penalties earlier. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said despite their second-half collapse, his team had no problem finding players willing to take penalties.
