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SAO PAULO, Brazil -- The World Cups second semifinal was supposed to put the silky skills of Lionel Messi and Arjen Robben in the spotlight. Paul George Shoes Replica Paypal . Instead, a goalkeeper and two rock-solid defences stole the show. Argentina goalie Sergio Romero saved two penalties Wednesday to send Argentina into the World Cup final with a 4-2 shootout win over the Netherlands after tough defending and a lack of creative spark from either team consigned the match to a 0-0 stalemate. In a twist of fate, Romero credited Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal with helping launch his career when he arrived as an inexperienced youngster at AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch league. "I will be forever grateful to the coach for helping me out in a country that is so different from ours," Romero said. A day after Germany lit up the World Cup with its clinical 7-1 destruction of host Brazil, the Dutch and Argentines could not manage a goal between them in 120 minutes before the shootout. Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, will have to do play far better in Sundays final at Rio de Janeiros Maracana Stadium if he is to engineer a win over the powerful German team. The Barcelona star was muted throughout the match and extra time, rarely managing to shake off his markers. At the Itaquerao Stadium, he was overshadowed by his goalkeeper and the man he replaced as Argentina captain, Javier Mascherano, who bossed the midfield for his team the way surprise starter Nigel de Jong did for the Dutch. When Robben looked like deciding the match in stoppage time, Mascheranos perfectly timed sliding tackle blocked his shot at the near post. "I would say that he is an outstanding player," Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella said. "He is an emblem within our national squad, on the field as well as off it." Romero -- thought to be a weak link for Argentina and not even a starter for his Monaco club most of last season -- had almost nothing to do during the match, but blocked penalties by Ron Vlaar and Wesley Sneijder in the shootout. For Argentina, Messi, Ezequiel Garay, Sergio Aguero and Maxi Rodriguez all converted their spot kicks. "Its luck, thats the truth. You can dive (the right way) and not make it, like happened to their goalkeeper," Romero said. "I had confidence, thank God things turned out well." A Germany-Argentina final means an extra bitter end to the tournament for Brazilians, who will have to watch their fiercest rivals play for the world title in their most hallowed stadium against a team that humiliated their nation in the semifinals. "We have a final to play, but with one day less rest and against Germany," Sabella said. "Well do everything possible to make it all the way to the top." It was the second straight penalty shootout following a 0-0 draw for the Dutch. Against Costa Rica in the quarterfinals, Van Gaal brought on substitute goalkeeper Tim Krul in the last seconds of extra time to replace Jasper Cillessen and Krul saved two spot kicks. This time, Van Gaal had used up all three substitutions by the end of extra time and Cillessen had to face the shootout. The young Ajax goalkeeper collapsed onto his knees and sank onto his back when Rodriguezs powerful strike ended the shootout. Krul walked across the pitch to console him. Van Gaal also said he had a hand in Romeros heroics from their time together at AZ Alkmaar. "Penalties are always a matter of luck," he said. "And I taught Romero how to stop penalties so that hurts." Many of Argentinas players stripped off their shirts in the rain at the Itaquerao Stadium and danced in front of their fans. Argentina reached its fifth final, and its first in 24 years. It won the title in 1978 -- beating the Dutch -- and in 1986. It lost the championship matches in 1930 and 1990. It played West Germany in both the 86 and 90 finals. The Netherlands, which has never won the World Cup, was seeking to reach its fourth final. After scoring 10 goals in three group matches, the Dutch scoring dried up in the knockout rounds. The team managed two late strikes against Mexico but failed to find the net before eliminating Costa Rica in the quarterfinal shootout. "The issue in a championship like this one is that you score one more goal than your opponent, which we didnt do," Van Gaal said, "We didnt create very much." ------ Lineups: Netherlands: Jasper Cillessen; Dirk Kuyt, Ron Vlaar, Stefan de Vrij, Bruno Martins Indi (Daryl Janmaat, 46), Daley Blind; Nigel de Jong (Jordy Clasie, 62), Georginio Wijnaldum, Wesley Sneijder; Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie (Klaas Jan Huntelaar). Argentina: Sergio Romero; Pablo Zabaleta, Martin Demichelis, Ezequiel Garay, Marcos Rojo; Lucas Biglia, Javier Mascherano, Enzo Perez (Rodrigo Palacio, 81); Ezequiel Lavezzi (Maxi Rodriguez, 101), Gonzalo Higuain (Sergio Aguero, 82), Lionel Messi. Air Max 1 Wholesale . The Mavericks avoided a season sweep by the Nuggets, who ran away with a win in Denver two weeks ago to hand Dallas its longest losing streak at three games. Dallas (42-2 got a boost in the playoff race when Miami rallied from seven down in the last 3 1/2 minutes to beat Memphis 91-86 Friday night. Buy Air Max 270 Black .40 metres at the Drake Relays. Drouin, from Corunna, Ont., bested his own record of 2.38 metres set in Aug. http://www.wholesalenikeshoesclearance.com/cheap-kyrie-irving-shoes.html . Authorities in Medina, Minn., released the details one day after Cunningham was jailed for another alleged incident with the woman he had been living with for the previous eight months. Cunningham had already been charged with felony domestic assault for allegedly choking the woman last week.NEW ORLEANS (3-4) at CAROLINA (3-4-1)Thursday, 8:25 p.m. ET, NFL NetworkOPENING LINE — Saints by 1 1/2RECORD VS. SPREAD — New Orleans 3-4, Carolina 4-4SERIES RECORD — Panthers lead 20-18LAST MEETING — Panthers beat Saints 17-13, Dec. 22, 2013LAST WEEK — Saints beat Packers 44-23; Panthers lost to Seahawks 13-9AP PRO32 RANKING — Saints No. 18, Panthers No. 21.SAINTS OFFENSE — OVERALL (2), RUSH (7), PASS (2).SAINTS Defence — OVERALL (2, RUSH (10), PASS (31).PANTHERS OFFENSE — OVERALL (24), RUSH (27), PASS (17).PANTHERS Defence — OVERALL (21), RUSH (32), PASS (1.STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES — Saints coach Sean Payton is 28-16 in NFC South games since 2006. Hes 7-7 vs. Carolina. ... Saints 26-0 under Payton when not committing a turnover. ... QB Drew Brees has thrown for three or more TDs in three of last five games vs. Carolina. ... RB Mark Ingram ran for 172 yards last week vs. Packers. ... Saints have converted NFL-best 47.4 per cent of third-down opportunities. Kobe Bryant Shoes Outlet. ... TE Jimmy Graham has scored in five straight games vs. Panthers. ... WR Brandin Cooks had a rushing and receiving TD last week. ... DE Cameron Jordan has five sacks in last five games vs. Carolina. ... Saints averaging 5.1 yards per carry, second best in NFL. ... Saints have allowed eight sacks. ... QB Cam Newton is 3-1 vs. Saints in last four starts, and won nine of last 11 starts in home games. ... Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams (ankle sprain) expected to start. Williams ran for career-high 210 yards vs. Saints on Dec. 30, 2012. ... Panthers have allowed 18 sacks. ... WR Kelvin Benjamin on pace for team rookie record of 76 receptions, 1,142 yards and 10 TDs. ... TE Greg Olsen has TD reception in three straight home games. ... S Roman Harper played eight seasons for Saints. ... LB Luke Kuechly had career-high 24 tackles in last meeting.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' ' |
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