Argentina vs Netherlands, World Cup 2014 Semi-final Highlights: Argentina Beat Netherlands 4-2 on Penalties; Face Germany in Final
Argentina prevail in penalties to enter World Cup final for the first time in 24 years. Catch all highlights here.
Argentina beat Netherlands 4-2 on penalties to set up final showdown vs Germany. Netherlands will play hosts Brazil for the third place. (FIFA World Cup Tracker | Matchcentre | Match Report)
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04.20 (IST): It's all over! Argentina have prevailed in the penalties, winning it 4-2! They now face Germany in the final. Netherlands will take on Brazil for the third place play off.
04. 19 (IST): Maxi Rodriguez scores! Argentina are through to the World Cup finals!
04.18 (IST): Kuyt slots one at the back of the net to keep Netherlands alive. Argentina are one shot away from a World Cup final.
04.17 (IST): Super-sub Sergio Aguero keeps Argentina's score ticking. Makes it 3-1 now.
04.16 (IST): SAVED! Romero makes an acrobatic save to deny Sniejder!
04.16 (IST): Garay maintains Argentina's lead with a good finish. Argentina lead 2-1.
04.15 (IST): Arjen Robben scores, pulls one back for Netherlands. 1-1 in penalties.
04.14 (IST): GOAL! Messi puts Argentina 1-0 ahead in penalties.
04.13 (IST): Penalties! Netherlands' Vlaar takes the first shot. SAVED! Sergio Romero makes a good save!
04.02 (IST): Extra-time ends! Netherlands and Argentina fail to score and the game now heads into penalties. For the first time in 16 years, a penalty shootout will determine a World Cup finalist.
03.49 (IST): Nasty collision! Argentina's Pablo Zabeleta is down and is receiving some medical treatment after a nasty mid-air collision with Netherlands' Dirk Kuyt. 107 minutes done, 0-0.
03.45 (IST): The first period of extra-time sees a similar fate as the previous 90 minutes. No goals in it. Argentina and Netherlands' quest for the elusive goal now shifts to the second period of extra-time.
03.40 (IST): Netherlands have made most of the attack in the first half of the extra-time so far. Robben has made his runs and taken a shot on goal but can't see the back of the net. 102 minutes played, nil-nil.
03.34 (IST): No game time for Tim Krul today then? Van Gaal makes his final change, bringing on Klaas Jan Huntelaar for Robin van Persie.
03.21 (IST): Netherlands and Argentina have failed to score in 90 minutes. This game now heads to extra-time.
03.13 (IST): Argentina's last throw of dice? Sergio Aguero is on for Gonzalo Higuain.
03.11 (IST): Messi has made his runs, so has Robben. It's Still 0-0. Just 10 minutes to go.
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02.52 (IST): It has been a game of 'oohs and aahs' for the fans. They're still out there cheering for their sides as the last 25 minutes beckon.
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02.49 (IST):Â Â Both Argentina and Netherlands lacking the spark in the final third. One hour is up, still nil-nil.
02.38 (IST): Early free-kick for Netherlands as Robben is brought down just outside the box. Sniejder curls the ball in but fires it high above the crossbar. 49th minute, 0-0.
02.35 (IST): The second half is underway! Never before has a World Cup semifinal finished 0-0 in 90 minutes.
02.15 (IST): Half-time! The first 45 minutes of the second semi-final has ended goalless.
01.58 (IST): Oh dear! Argentina's Javier Mascherano went up for a header and seems to have taken a knock. He is on the ground and getting medical attention. The game is approaching the half-hour mark with the score at nil-nil.
01.54 (IST): Argentina have had the majority of the chances so far. They haven't been able to capitalize so far.
01.49 (IST):Â Not much of urgency in attack from both sides. Argentina earned a free-kick in the 16th minute which Messi hit straight to the Dutch goalkeeper's hands. 19 minutes gone, 0-0.
01.42 (IST): A conservative start from both sides if you consider yesterday's semis between Brazil and Germany. Ten minutes played, nil-nil.
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01.30 (IST): Argentina kick off! Can Lionel Messi break his knockout stage jinx today?
01.28 (IST): The fans are ready! Can Netherlands defy Lionel Messi & Co. and reach their second successive World Cup final?
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01.27 (IST): The players have made their way out, the national anthems are being sung! The winner, either of Netherlands or Argentina, will face Germany for the title showdown.
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00.16 (IST): With Angel di Maria out with injury and Aguero starting on the bench, a lot of eyes will be on a certain Lionel Messi, who has been very good in the tournament so far.
00.15 (IST): No Sergio Aguero for Argentina. They line-up as: Romero; Zabaleta, Demichelis, Garay, Rojo; Mascherano, Biglia, Perez; Messi, Lavezzi, Higuain
00.14 (IST): Netherlands: Cillessen, Kuyt, Vlaar, De Vrij, Martins Indi, Blind, De Jong, Wijnaldum, Sneijder, Robben, van Persie
00.13 (IST): Good news for Netherlands! Robin van Persie is fit to start for the semis clash vs Argentina. Line-ups coming up...
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Argentina vs Netherlands 2014 Factfile
- This is Argentina's first semi-final appearance since 1990.
- Argentina have lost just one of their last 16 World Cup games.
- Lionel Messi has created the most goal-scoring chances in the World Cup (19).
- Argentina are yet to trail for a single minute of this World Cup.
- Argentina have never lost a World Cup semifinal (Thrice).
Argentina vs Netherlands Head-to-head
- Netherlands and Argentina have met eight times with the former winning four and three games ending in a draw. The only tie won by Argentina was in the 1978 World Cup final.
Argentina vs Netherlands Preview
With a rampant Germany awaiting in the final, Argentina and the Netherlands face selection dilemmas going into their World Cup semi-final on Wednesday.
The match, starting in Sao Paulo at 1.30 am IST, will be a clash of the brilliance of Lionel Messi and Arjen Robben. After Germany's 7-1 evisceration of Brazil, it will also be a new pressure cooker showdown between Europe and South America.
But Holland's captain and lead striker Robin van Persie is a doubt due to a stomach problem, while Argentina must do without influential midfielder Angel di Maria due to a thigh strain. (Read more)
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Louis van Gaal's mind games vs Argentina
The Netherlands will need to do more than simply muzzle Argentina's Lionel Messi if they are to prevail in Wednesday's World Cup semifinal, according to coach Louis van Gaal.
With four goals and some show-stopping displays to his name, Messi is emerging as the player of the tournament, but van Gaal says that it would be dangerous to expend too much energy worrying about him.
"We are playing against Argentina," he told Tuesday's pre-match press conference in Sao Paulo. (Read more)
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RVP doubtful for semi-final clash vs Argentina
Netherlands captain Robin van Persie is a doubt for his side's World Cup semi-final against Argentina on Wednesday with a stomach problem, coach Louis van Gaal said.
"Robin van Persie has an intestinal problem and I didn't want to take a risk," said van Gaal on the Manchester United striker, who trained apart from his team-mates this morning.
Asked if van Persie would be fit enough to line up against Argentina at Sao Paulo's Corinthians Arena, Van Gaal replied: "I don't know. (Read more)