Argentina 0-0 Holland AET: (Argentina win 4-2 on penalties)
- adamhigginsuk
- Jul 10, 2014
- 4 min read
Racing to the finish line: The delighted Argentina players celebrate their penalty shoot-out success after confirming their place in the World Cup final (Picture from Zimbio.com)
ARGENTINA will face Germany in the 2014 World Cup final after beating Holland 4-2 on penalties in a disenchanting semi-final in Sao Paulo.
In a complete contrast to Germany’s 7-1 annihilation of Brazil 24 hours earlier, both sides created few clear-cut opportunities in a goalless 120 minutes at the Arena Corinthians.
The Netherlands overcame Costa Rica on spotkicks in the quarter-final but boss Louis van Gaal was unable to call upon penalty expert Tim Krul having made all three substitutions.
But Sergio Romero stole the limelight from Jasper Cillessen with saves from Ron Vlaar and Wesley Sneidjer as Maxi Rodriguez scored the winner to maintain Argentina’s 100% record in the shoot-out.
Alejandro Sabella’s side will play in their fifth World Cup final and first their 1986 triumph over West Germany as they succeeded where South American foes Brazil failed in reaching Sunday’s showpiece at the iconic Maracana in Rio.
It will be a third World Cup final meeting with the Germans, who will still be overriding favourites, as skipper Lionel Messi will seek to match the inspiration of his compatriot Diego Maradona.
Coach Louis van Gaal will be frustrated his side did not offer any significant attacking intent throughout a turgid spectacle as the Dutch were unable to make up for their 2010 defeat by booking a second consecutive final appearance.
Their formalities will be completed with the academic third place play-off in Brasilia against the host nation on Saturday before van Gaal takes over the managerial reins at Manchester United.
The former Bayern Munich boss gambled with the fitness of AC Milan midfielder Nigel De Jong, who started just eight days after being ruled out for a month with a groin injury as Memphis Depay dropped to the bench.
Captain Robin van Persie was also included despite experiencing stomach problems which forced him to train alone.
Argentina, who wore black armbands in memory of Alfredo di Stefano who passed away on Monday at the age of 88, were two different from their 1-0 victory over Belgium in the last eight as Marcos Rojo and Enzo Perez came in for the injured Angel Di Maria and Jose Basanta.
Both sides were cautious in their immediate approach and unable to gain the upper hand in a committed and steady start.
Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneidjer had the first attempt at goal which flew wide of the post after finding room 20 yards out before Argentine captain Lionel Messi drilled a low free-kick into the grateful clutches of goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen on 14 minutes.
Argentina made strides down the flanks and tried to fashion openings from wide areas without troubling the Holland defence.
The first meaningful opportunity arose midway through the half when Ezequiel Garay got in front of Ron Vlaar to send a stooping header over the crossbar from six yards.
Despite sustained spells of possession, the Dutch struggled to impose their attacking weapons with Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie kept uncharacteristically quiet as the Argentines established a measure of command.
A scrappy and cagey affair was summed up as Javier Mascherano appeared to sustain concussion in a clash of heads with Georginio Wijnaldum but deemed himself able to resume after several minutes on the sidelines.
Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir expressed leniency amid several robust challenges as Martin Demichelis got away with blocking Wesley Sneidjer but Bruno Martins Indi picked up the first booking for a bodycheck on Messi shortly before the break.
With his side underwhelming, Van Gaal opted to change to a flat back four at the interval as Daryl Janmaat replaced Martins Indi with Dirk Kuyt switching to the left hand side.
The tactical and tense spectacle continued to disappoint with both sides lacking in attacking quality and control in their passing.
Argentina remained on top with Ezequiel Lavezzi and Gonzalo Higuain pulling into wide areas in a bid to make something happen but the towering presence of Aston Villa defender Ron Vlaar stood firm to deal with any delivery.
Feyenoord winger Jordy Clasie made his first appearance of the tournament for the Dutch in place of De Jong in the hope of breaking the conservative nature.
The dullest of stalemates produced just one shot on target in normal time as the rain belted down in Sao Paulo.
The South Americans were the more enterprising side and created a dangerous glimpse of goal when Enzo Perez measured a superb cross which Higuain stabbed into the side netting.
The two players involved in that move soon made way as Sabella threw on strikers Sergio Aguero and Rodrigo Palacio after 82 minutes.
Rojo gave Cillessen a routine test with a long-distance shot before Mascherano made a crucial intervention to thwart Robben as the uneventful contest drifted into extra-time.
Van Gaal opted to withdraw van Persie for Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, a change which had the desired effect in the round of 16 against Mexico, while former Liverpool midfielder Maxi Rodriguez replaced Lavezzi for the Argentines.
It took 98 minutes for Holland’s first shot on target as Robben called Sergio Romero into action with a 30-yard strike and Kuyt had a shot on the turn blocked by Garay.
In a game of minimal openings, Rodrigo should have done better when failing to generate power in a tame header straight at Cillessen before Rodriguez mishit a shot into the turf but a penalty shoot-out would inevitably determine the winner.
The impressive Vlaar was first up to the spot but Romero dived to his left to keep the Dutch centre-back at bay before Messi gave Argentina the advantage with a confident conversion.
Robben levelled for Holland by finding the bottom corner but Garay lashed into the roof of the net and Sneidjer was thwarted by a flying stop from Romero.
Aguero dispatched into the corner to put the Argentines at match point and, although Kuyt kept his cool to slot home, it was left to Rodriguez to smash the ball past a helpless Cillessen to seal Argentina’s ticket to the final.
Last updated: 9 July 2014 23:55pm
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