Argentina Beat Netherlands to Reach World Cup Final Michael Lynch - The Sydney Morning Herald
go to original July 10, 2014

Goalkeeper Sergio Romero the hero for Argentina after they progress to the World Cup final by beating the Netherlands in a penalty shootout. (FIFA)

SAO PAULO - If the Brazil v Germany semi-final was a magical, illogical and inexplicable display of how football can deliver the completely unexpected, then Argentina's clash with The Netherlands reverted back to football's norm.

It was tight, it was tactical. No quarter was asked, nor none given. Few chances were made, none accepted, and defenders were the game's stand out performers.

In those circumstances it was hardly surprising that it went to penalties. Argentina kept their nerve, The Netherlands didn't and now the men in light blue and white progress to Sunday's (Monday AEST) final in Rio against the Germans, a repeat of the 1990 decider when the then West Germany were successful. So Lionel Messi gets the chance to emulate two of the other greats of the world game, his countryman Diego Maradona and Brazil's Pele, and lead them to a world title.

Read the rest at The Sydney Morning Herald

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