Corinthians Arena

Netherlands 0
Argentina 0

(Argentina win 4-2 on penalties)

Argentina beat the Netherlands 4-2 on penalties to reach the World Cup final after a dire two hours of defence-dominated football failed to provide a semi-final goal for the first time in the tournament’s history last night.

Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero saved Ron Vlaar’s first penalty then made a superb diving save to deny Wesley Sneijder, allowing Maxi Rodriguez to crash home the decisive kick as his side converted all four of their penalties.

The game was a forgettable one as the Dutch struggled to build any meaningful attacks and completed 90 minutes without a shot on target as Arjen Robben’s last-minute effort was brilliantly blocked by Javier Mascherano.

Argentina were not much more adventurous and had only a handful of half-chances to their name as, in total contrast to Tuesday’s match when Germany waltzed through a wide open Brazil to win 7-1, both defences were absolutely on top.

Romero told Argentines to “enjoy the moment”.

Wesley Sneijder’s penalty is stopped by Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero.

“Enjoy the moment, we will enjoy it and tomorrow we will start working for the final,” he said.

“I feel immense happiness, I’m really happy with everything. (Penalties) are a question of luck, that is the reality. I had confidence in myself and, fortunately, everything turned out well.

“Hope has been intact since day one,” he added.

Substitute Sergio Aguero said: “It means so many things, a lot of people didn’t think that Argentina would be in the final, but we know what a good team we have.”

In Sunday’s final at the Maracana in Rio, Argentina will play Germany in a repeat of the 1986 and 1990 finals – the first time the same two teams will have faced each other three times in the decider.

Lionel Messi (left) reacts next to his team-mates before the penalties.

Netherlands: 1-Jasper Cillessen; 3-Stefan de Vrij, 2-Ron Vlaar, 4-Bruno Martins Indi (46 7-Daryl Janmaat), 15-Dirk Kuyt, 5-Daley Blind; 6-Nigel de Jong (62 16-Jordy Clasie), 11-Arjen Robben, 20-Georginio Wijnaldum, 10-Wesley Sneijder; 9-Robin van Persie (96 19-Klaas-Jan Huntelaar).

Argentina: 1-Sergio Romero; 4-Pablo Zabaleta, 15-Martin Demichelis, 2-Ezequiel Garay, 16-Marcos Rojo; 14-Javier Mascherano, 6-Lucas Biglia, 8-Enzo Perez (81 18-Rodrigo Palacio), 10-Lionel Messi; 22-Ezequiel Lavezzi (100 11-Maxi Rodriguez), 9-Gonzalo Higuain (82 20-Sergio Aguero).

Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey).

Penalty sequence
Vlaar misses 0-0; Messi scores 0-1; Robben scores 1-1; Garay scores 1-2; Sneijder misses 1-2; Aguero scores 1-3; Kuyt scores 2-3; Rodriguez scores 2-4.