Argentina nip Dutch to set up a final against Germany

Goalkeeper Sergio Romero saved two shoot-out penalties as Argentina beat the Netherlands to reach the 2014 FIFA World Cup final for the first time in 24 years on Wednesday in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Romero, who has hardly played for French club Monaco this season, blocked shots from Ron Vlaar and Wesley Sneijder as Argentina won the shoot-out 4-2 after the two sides finished extra time 0-0. ‘Penalties are all about luck, that is the reality. I had confidence and thanks to God it turned out well,’ Romero said. The win took Argentina into Sunday’s final at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro where they will face Germany, who they lost to in the 1990 final in Rome. It is also a repeat of the 1986 final in Mexico City, where a Diego Maradona-inspired Argentina beat West Germany 3-2. The match went to penalties after an attritional battle at the Corinthians Arena which saw neither side manage to break through disciplined defending. A tense, cagey, contest saw barely a single goal-scoring opportunity in normal time, save for a Messi free-kick which was gathered by Jasper Cillessen. Dutch captain Robin van Persie, whose place had been in doubt after a stomach problem, was substituted late in the game after an anonymous evening. The best Dutch opening fell to Arjen Robben in the closing stages, but his shot from a tight angle after a one-two with Sneijder was superbly blocked by Javier Mascherano. The prospect of an Argentina victory on Sunday rubs salt into the wounds of host nation Brazil, who were still struggling to come to terms with their record 7-1 defeat to Germany on Wednesday. Brazil face the Netherlands in the 3rd place play-off in Brasilia on Saturday, according to AFP.