Louis van Gaal, manager of the Netherlands, refused to tell reporters his tactics against Argentina in the coming FIFA World Cup quarterfinals game at the press conference on Thursday.

"We're not going to reveal our tactics to you as that'd be stupid to reveal," van Gaal said. "You want to block and close the pass lines [to Messi]. I don't think there's too much hoo-hah about this."

The Netherlands and Argentina have been long-time rivalries in the World Cup. Argentina beat the Netherlands in the final in 1978 to win the championship at home. Eight years ago in Brazil, they won again in the semifinal on penalties to reach the final.

Though the Dutchmen haven't ever won a title or reached a final with a victory against Argentina, they have defeated the South American powerhouse multiple times during World Cup knockout stages.

When the two teams play each other at Lusail Stadium on Friday, van Gaal may meet Angel Di Maria, who used to play under him in Manchester United during the 2014-15 season. It was not a pleasant campaign for Di Maria who told TyC Sports that van Gaal is his biggest problem and the "worst" manager in his career.

"Angel Di Maria is simply a really good football player," van Gaal said when asked about Di Maria's remarks about him. "At the time in Manchester, he had a lot of personal issues – there was a break-in at his house – and that affected his fitness that year."

"So the fact that he'd refer to me as a worst trainer – that's one of the few players who would say that – that's sad, I don't like it that he said it, it's a pity, unfortunate. But that's just the way it is – a head coach needs to take decisions that don't always end well," van Gaal added.

Memphis Depay of the Netherlands attended the press conference with van Gaal and praised his manager. "Our head coach shows character and a sense of humor, and people appreciate it," Depay said. "We haven't lost a game yet and our discipline in the team has tightened up when he arrived, which is important in a tournament. Everybody knows his vision, character, and that's one of his biggest qualities to build a team. He's a coach who's very clear, he has a vision that's clear to him and he brings it over to the group clearly."

At 71, van Gaal revealed that he will step down as the manager of the Dutch national team after the World Cup. "I'll stop being head coach [of the Netherlands after the World Cup]. I'm only doing this for the country, it's an emergency situation," he said, but he didn't rule out the possibility to manage again in the future.