Romero sends Argentina into finals
Argentina has a new hero in goalkeeper Sergio Romero who saved two penalties in a shootout with the Netherlands, putting his country into Sunday's final against Germany.
Argentina has a new hero in goalkeeper Sergio Romero who saved two penalties in a shootout with the Netherlands, putting his country into Sunday's final against Germany.
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Argentina's goalkeeper Sergio Romero reacts after saving a penalty during the penalty shoot-out following extra time during the semi-final football match between Netherlands and Argentina of the FIFA World Cup at The Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo on July 9, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN
Romero shootout saves send Argentina to final
SAO PAULO, Brazil AFP – Argentine goalkeeper Sergio Romero saved two penalties in a shootout with the Netherlands on Wednesday to take his country through to the World Cup final for the first time since 1990. (video highlights http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/videos/highlights/match=300186490/index.html)
Lionel Messi's Argentina beat the Dutch 4-2 in a penalty shootout after their cagey semi-final in Sao Paulo finished goalless. They play Germany in Sunday's final in Rio de Janeiro.
Netherlands' goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen (L) fails to save a shot from Argentina's forward and captain Lionel Messi during the penalty shoot out following extra-time. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI
The drab match was the polar opposite of Germany's 7-1 annihilation of Brazil in the first semi-final 24 hours earlier. But Romero, who barely played for his Monaco club side last season settled matters by repelling spot-kicks from Ron Vlaar and Wesley Sneijder.
A despondent Netherlands' goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen sits on the pitch after losing their FIFA World Cup semi-final match. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI
It was the second time that Holland, who lost the 2010 final to Spain, were beaten on penalties in a World Cup semi-final. They fell to Brazil in 1998.
"We have given everything and I'm incredibly proud of this team," Dutch star striker Arjen Robben said after.
"It came down to penalties and they simply did better," he told Dutch broadcaster NOS. "To lose like this simply sucks, it hurts."
The result was particularly cruel for Vlaar, who marshalled his defence imperiously throughout the game.
Messi had no answer to the Aston Villa centre-back's decisive interceptions, but the Barcelona superstar can nonetheless still hope to confirm his greatness in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday when he appears in his first World Cup final.
Although reserve goalkeeper Tim Krul had saved two penalties in Holland's shootout success against Costa Rica in the quarter-finals, coach Louis van Gaal kept faith in Jasper Cillessen this time.
Netherlands' forward Dirk Kuyt (L) makes his penalty shot count. AFP PHOTO / DAMIEN MEYER
Romero's saves from Vlaar and Sneijder put Argentina in a commanding position and with Messi, Ezequiel Garay and Sergio Aguero all scoring, it was left to Maxi Rodriguez to dispatch the spot-kick that sent Argentina into the final.
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