Monday, July 7, 2014

2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil SF -2 Netherlands Vs Argentina Wednesday July 09,2014

Netherlands Vs Argentina at Arena de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo

Managers

Louis Van Gaal(Netherlands)

Alejandro Sabella(Argentina)

Squads

Argentina

01 Romero
04 Zabaleta
16 Rojo
14 Mascherano
15 Demichelis Booked
02 Garay
08 Pérez (Palacio - 81' )
06 Biglia
09 Higuaín (Agüero - 82' )
10 Messi
22 Lavezzi (Rodríguez - 101' )

Netherlands

01 Cillessen
15 Kuyt
05 Blind
04 Martins Indi Booked (Janmaat - 45' )
02 Vlaar
03 de Vrij
20 Wijnaldum
06 de Jong (Clasie - 62' )
10 Sneijder
09 van Persie (Huntelaar - 96' Booked )
11 Robben

The Argentinean media calculated that it has been 8,771 days since they last played in a World Cup semi-final. This match falls on 9 July, which just so happens to be Independence Day in Argentina, and excitement back home will be at fever pitch knowing that they could be facing arch enemies Brazil in Sunday's final.

Argentina's previous World Cup encounters with the Netherlands have provided some epic moments in the tournament's history that will hopefully be repeated in Sao Paulo.
Their first meeting in 1974 saw the Dutch win 4-0 with an astonishing display of 'total football', before Argentina got revenge in thrilling style in the final on home soil four years later. Dennis Bergkamp provided another magic moment with his memorable control and finish for the Oranje in 1998, before their last meeting lacked a similar spark - a dull 0-0 draw in 2006
MOST RECENT MEETING
Netherlands 0-0 Argentina (21 June 2006)

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

Argentina's victory over the Netherlands in the 1978 final is the only time they have beaten the Dutch in eight meetings in all competitions (D3, L4).
They haven't met for eight years since a 0-0 draw at the 2006 World Cup.
Lionel Messi (29), Arjen Robben and Angel Di María (both 25) are the players with most completed dribbles in this tournament.

Argentina

This is Argentina's first World Cup semi-final since 1990, when they went on to lose to Germany in the final.
They have never lost a World Cup semi-final, winning the previous four.
Each of Argentina's five wins at this tournament have come by a single goal margin.
They are yet to be behind once in their five matches so far.
Not including penalty shootouts, they have lost just one of their last 16 World Cup matches (W12, D3).
Lionel Messi has created 19 goalscoring chances in this World Cup, the most of any player.
Argentina have scored with 11% of their shots from outside the box, the best success rate of any side at this World Cup.
Remarkably, this is the first time Argentina and Brazil have made the semi-final stage at the same tournament.
Gonzalo Higuain ended a goal drought of 528 minutes without a goal for Argentina when he scored the winner against Belgium. He now has as many World Cup goals as Lionel Messi, despite having played four games less.

Netherlands

This is the Netherlands' third semi-final appearance in their last four World Cup finals.
Netherlands have lost just two of their 12 World Cup games against South American teams, not including penalty shootouts (1978 final v Argentina and 1994 quarter-final v Brazil).
Against Costa Rica, the Dutch made 692 passes, the most they've recorded in a single World Cup match (1966-2014).
Ten of the Netherlands' 12 goals in this tournament have come after half-time and their last four goals have come after the 75th minute.
In their quarter-final, the Netherlands recorded the 11th instance of a team hitting the woodwork three times in a World Cup match (1966-2014).
The Dutch are the only team to concede more than one penalty at this World Cup.
Wesley Sneijder has played more World Cup games than any other Dutchman (16).
Their shoot-out victory over Costa Rica was their sixth in major tournament history and they have now won two and lost four. It was the first time they have converted all their penalties in a shootout in a major tournament.
They have had seven different goalscorers at this World Cup, more than any team.

Argentina beats Netherlands 4-2 on penalties after 0-0 draw in 120 minutes of play

Argentina line up for their national anthem before the match gets underway

Netherlands side pose for the customary pre-match photograph

The two teams observe a minute of silence in memory of Alfredo Di Stefano, who died this week

Lionel Messi shakes hands with Robin van Persie prior to the start of the match

The Arena de Sao Paulo was packed for the occasion

This was the first World Cup semi-final to end in a goalless draw

Argentina pressed and denied Holland the opportunity to counter-attack; Holland crowded out the man who makes Argentina tick,Lionel Messi.

The problem was that Holland were so intent on stopping Argentina that they forgot to play themselves. It was 99 minutes before they mustered a shot at goal — through Robben but it was far from his best work — and an outstanding Javier Mascherano tackle on the same player thwarted their best, their only, real chance of the second half

Match facts
The Netherlands have lost both of their semi-final shootouts (the first coming v Brazil in 1998).	Argentina have progressed from all four of their World Cup semi-finals.
Arjen Robben attempted just one pass in the first half against Argentina.	Lionel Messi did not touch the ball in the Dutch penalty area during the 120 minutes.
Seven of the 14 knockout games at this tournament have gone to extra time, the most since 1990 (eight).	This was the first World Cup semi-final to end goalless (including extra time).

An emphatic penalty shootout win — four from four, against Holland’s two — sealed it, the veteran Maxi Rodriguez thumping home the last of the night, Lionel Messi, Ezequiel Garay and Sergio Aguero having laid the groundwork.
Ron Vlaar — otherwise man of the match — and Wesley Sneijder missed for Holland. Arjen Robben and Dirk Kuyt scored

THE PENALTY SHOOT-OUT

Ron Vlaar (Holland) SAVED 0-0
Keeper dives to his left to save a poor penalty low down.
Lionel Messi (Argentina) Scores 0-1
Coolly sends the keeper the wrong way to score
Arjen Robben (Holland) Scores 1-1
Calm strike low into the right-hand corner
Ezequiel Garay (Argentina) Scores 1-2
Hammers it high down the middle
Wesley Sneijder (Holland) SAVED 1-2
Brilliant save diving high to his right to push it away
Sergio Aguero (Argentina) Scores 1-3
Sweeps it low into the bottom left corner
Dirk Kuyt (Holland) Scores 2-3
Rolls it gently into the bottom right corner
Maxi Rodriguez (Argentina) Scores 2-4
Blasts it to the keeper's right, pushed onto the bar and in

Argentina's Goalkeeper Sergio Romero, who saved twice, the second from Sneijder simply exceptional, was noticeably taller when the pair embraced and wished each other good luck before the event.
Netherlands Goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen has never saved a penalty in his professional career.

Maxi Rodriguez convert Argentina's 4th penalty and send them through to a final with Germany