Argentina beat the Netherlands on penalties to face Germany in final
Fifa rejects Luis Suarez appeal over four-month ban
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Image source, Getty ImagesInjured striker Neymar will attend Saturday's third place play-off between Brazil and Netherlands and watch from the stands.
Neymar's absence dominated Brazil's build-up to their humiliating 7-1 thrashing by Germany in the semi-finals.
The Barcelona striker missed out after fracturing a vertebrae in the quarter-final win over Colombia.
Image source, AFPNetherlands assistant coach Patrick Kluivert tells Fifa.com, external that the current crop of Dutch players can prosper at future tournaments.
"It's a very good generation. A defining one, even," Kluivert says.
"I just hope that the Netherlands can nurture more like them in the future. That's the most important thing: to continue developing talented youngsters so that we can carry on competing at the highest level."
Image source, Getty ImagesNetherlands coach Louis van Gaal admits he would have brought on goalkeeper Tim Krul in place of Jasper Cillessen for the shootout against Argentina if he had not used all his substitutes.
In the quarter-final win over Costa Rica, Van Gaal brought Newcastle keeper Krul in place of Cillessen for the spot-kicks - a tactic which worked as Krul saved two penalties.
"If I had had the opportunity to substitute Jasper I would have done that but I had already used three substitutes so I couldn't," says Van Gaal.
"I thought it was necessary to get Robin van Persie off because he was on his last legs. My feeling was that Huntelaar would make the goal."
Cillessen has never saved a penalty in his professional career. He's faced eight in the Eredivisie, three in the Champions League and six at the World Cup.
Image source, ReutersBecca Folks:, external The recent England vs Peru friendly game at Wembley. Most exciting thing was the paper plane hitting the Peru player!
Ken Gorry:, external Argentina v Yugoslavia in 1990. The Argentines played for pens from first minute. Pass back rule introduced shortly after due to their antics.
Mitchell Stirling:, external Switzerland v Ukraine, World Cup Last-16 in 2006. So bad, even the penalty shootout was low scoring.
Image source, Getty ImagesLeicester City striker David Nugent has signed a new two-year contract with the club.
The 29-year-old was the Foxes' top scorer with 20 goals to help them return to the Premier League.
Image source, AFPManchester United will play a pre-season friendly against against Spanish outfit Valencia at Old Trafford on 12 August.
The match will be new manager Louis van Gaal's first match in the Old Trafford dugout since being appointed as David Moyes' successor.
The Dutchman's first official game in charge will be on the Red Devils' tour of the United States against LA Galaxy at Pasadena's Rose Bowl on 23 July.
Image source, TWITTERFootball-mad Pope Francis "might" watch the World Cup final on Sunday between his native Argentina and Germany, but is unlikely to do so alongside his German predecessor Benedict XVI according to the Vatican.
"He might want to watch the final," says Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi.
But a Vatican source claims, external he "excluded categorically" the prospect of pope emeritus Benedict XVI, an academic theologian with a penchant for classical piano, sitting down in front of his television set to watch the face-off.
"It's really not his thing, he is not a fan. It would be like inflicting an infinite penitence on him at the age of 87," the source adds despite the wishful thinking of the internet meme above. "He has never been able to watch a football match from beginning to end in his life."
Image source, Event ImageAway from the World Cup for a moment, a rare outsider flew home in a photo finish at Brighton races - a seagull, who was caught on camera flying past the horses.
The bird caused a flap in the 7.10 on Tuesday when 'swooping for the line' at the end of a mile-and-a-half race.
It is thought to be the first bird to feature in the photo-finish print for a horse race.
The contest was won by Jewelled, ridden by Richard Hughes for trainer Ralph Smith, from Luke Morris on Sagesse.
Image source, Getty ImagesSunderland head coach Gus Poyet is confident American striker Jozy Altidore will be fit for pre-season despite having his World Cup ruined by a hamstring injury.
The 24-year-old frontman damaged a hamstring in the United States' opening Group G game against Ghana.
Poyet tells Sunderland's website:, external "I am sure, if nothing goes wrong, that when Jozy is back with us for pre-season, he is going to be fit to start training without any problems."
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Netherlands player Gio van Bronckhorst is proud of his country's performance at the World Cup.
He says on Twitter: , external"Proud of our Players! They gave everything but it wasn't meant to be! All the best to Argentina and Germany in the final!"
Image source, Getty ImagesBBC Sport's David Ornstein tracks down the quirky Tunisian photographer in Brazil who has attracted a lot of attention by wearing his sombrero hat at World Cup matches.
Hosni Manoubi, 50, who is covering his third World Cup, revealed he is following a family tradition.
The World Cup in Brazil has seen an explosion in tattoos. But what stories do they tell? Here's a few of the best examples.
Image source, TwitterFootage of Pinilla's commemorative tattoo has appeared on Twitter
Chile's Mauricio Pinilla inked the moment in extra time when his shot crashed against the crossbar during the second-round game against Brazil.
Image source, InstagramArtist Ade Itameda, who draws inspiration from traditional Indonesian ornaments, patterns and carvings, designed the warrior-like tattoos covering the torso, arms and hands of Netherlands midfielder Nigel de Jong.
Image source, Trevor LeightonUnited States keeper Tim Howard, who does not usually remove his shirts after matches, has a Superman logo, dragons and a crucifix among his tattoo collection.
Image source, Getty ImagesJordan Noble:, external Does no one remember 2000 Cup final? Villa v Chelsea, most boring game I've ever seen.
Chris Mac:, external While this is trending England vs India cricket is taking dull to a new level.
Tommy Greenard:, external England v Argentina at Twickers in 2009. Fans entertained themselves by throwing paper aeroplanes onto the pitch.
#dullestgameever, external on Twitter, 81111 on text and the BBC Sport Facebook page., external
Image source, Getty ImagesNetherlands fans were distraught after their penalty shootout defeat to Argentina.
The Dutch have a penalty record, which almost compares to England, having won just twice at seven attempts.
Image source, AFPHong Myung-bo resigns as coach of South Korea after they finished bottom of their 2014 Fifa World Cup group in Brazil.
"I have made many mistakes and errors. I was not mature enough, and I created many misunderstandings," said Hong, 45, who captained South Korea to the semi-finals in 2002, when his country co-hosted the tournament with Japan.
French newspaper L'Equipe is amused that BBC Sport put Germany's score written in brackets, external after their 7-1 victory over Brazil in the World Cup.
It says it was done in case people didn't believe their eyes.
Image source, AFPStriker Klaas Jan Huntelaar says Netherlands must take the plus points out of their World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina.
Huntelaar says on Twitter:, external "What an anticlimax! We must transform these emotions into something positive. Thanks for the support!"
Image source, Getty ImagesGavin Richmond:, external Sitting over the pond watching any NFL game is pure purgatory! Three seconds of action, three minutes of nothing. For four hours!
Jordan Noble:, external Sheffield United v Huddersfield at Wembley 2012. 120 min of nothing, then Simonson launches pen into orbit to end our misery.
Tommy Greenard:, external Among a litany of lame FA Cup finals, Liverpool v Manchester United in 1996 took an overhyped occasion to a new nadir.
#dullestgameever, external on Twitter, 81111 on text and the BBC Sport Facebook page., external
Image source, AFPBBC Sport's Simon Stone reports France defender Patrice Evra has asked to leave Manchester United and join Juventus although he has stopped short of handing in a transfer request.
United recently triggered a clause in 33-year-old Evra's contract that saw him sign a one-year deal.
However, the player has contacted officials at United in a bid to push through the move to Italy and it may happen today.
Image source, ReutersThousands of Argentina fans celebrated on Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana beach after their team's World Cup semi-final victory over the Netherlands.
There were many more on the streets of the Argentina capital Buenos Aires, gathering at the Obelisk, as the nation reached its first final in 24 years.
And they brought along a giant inflatable balloon of Christ The Redeemer as they continue to enjoy Brazil's miserable demise at their own World Cup.