World Cup semi-final - Netherlands v Argentina

Summary

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Argentina reach final after penalties
World Cup final is Germany v Argentina
Game played in Sao Paulo

Live Reporting

Tom Rostance

Netherlands 0-0 Argentinapublished at 21:05 British Summer Time 9 July 2014
Former England international Chris Waddle, BBC Radio 5 live
"Both teams very cautious, which you expect in the first five to 10 minutes. Both teams dropping off very quickly when the other gets possession."
Postpublished at 21:05 British Summer Time 9 July 2014
Image source, AFP
Fifa chief Sepp Blatter is enjoying himself anyway. Argentina settling into the rhythm early on, with Javier Mascherano dropping in as a third centre-half to start them off each time.
Postpublished at 21:04 British Summer Time 9 July 2014
Excellent run from Argentina midfielder Enzo Perez. beating two men on a forceful drive through the middle but he can't quite pick out Lionel Messi on his shoulder. Decent opening in Sao Paulo.
Postpublished at 21:02 British Summer Time 9 July 2014
Nigel de Jong is straight into the action as the Dutch line up with a back three, versatile Dirk Kuyt starting at right wing-back. Where will he end up? Who knows...
KICK-OFFpublished at 21:00 British Summer Time 9 July 2014
Argentina get us under way...
Postpublished at 20:59 British Summer Time 9 July 2014
Image source, Getty Images
Here we go then... Here's a moment's applause in memory of Alfredo Di Stefano.
Text us on 81111published at 20:59 British Summer Time 9 July 2014
Steve Huish, Surbiton: This game will be decided by Lionel Messi and the leg-breaker Nigel De Jong. The question is how long will De Jong last before getting sent off? The ref needs to take a hard line on the fouling if we are to have a classic.
Join the debate at #bbcworldcuppublished at 20:59 British Summer Time 9 July 2014
Former England captain Gary Lineker
BBC Sport
Image source, @garylineker
"Sensational atmosphere. Sensational!"
Postpublished at 20:57 British Summer Time 9 July 2014
Argentina smash the place apart when it comes to the anthems. It sounds like they have at least 65% of the fans in the building...
Postpublished at 20:55 British Summer Time 9 July 2014
Ah Dirk Kuyt. Wing-back/forward/midfielder extraordinaire...
Join the debate at #bbcworldcuppublished at 20:54 British Summer Time 9 July 2014
Joe Wedgwood:, external Limelight is on Lionel Messi and Arjen Robben but game will be won in midfield battle - expect Georginio Wijnaldum to shine.
Vinay Vijayan:, external Won't be surprised if Louis van Gaal gives Dirk Kuyt the responsibility to cover Messi. Kuyt is a workhorse who never gets tired.
Adi Kampli:, external Argentina are single-minded with everything going to Lionel Messi. Netherlands perform better as a team. Robin van Persie to score!
Postpublished at 20:54 British Summer Time 9 July 2014
Here we go. Louis van Gaal shakes hands with Lionel Messi, everyone wants a piece of Messi in fact. There's the volume from the Argentina fans...
Postpublished at 20:50 British Summer Time 9 July 2014
Image source, AFP
TEN minutes to go then. The teams are just about to line up in the tunnel, that music will play for the 62nd time and we will have the anthems.
Will it be Messi in the Maracana? Or Robben in Rio?
Netherlands v Argentina (21:00 BST)published at 20:45 British Summer Time 9 July 2014
Former England international Chris Waddle, BBC Radio 5 live
"I didn't think the Dutch would get out of the group. What Van Gaal has done in two years from the Euros is sensational. They were a disaster. He has used the young players well and he seems to know the buttons to press with the egos. He has got them playing for the shirt again."
Image source, Getty Images
Postpublished at 20:44 British Summer Time 9 July 2014
Has to be in the top five World Cup goals ever, surely?
Join the debate at #bbcworldcuppublished at 20:40 British Summer Time 9 July 2014
Germany and Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski on Twitter:, external "Remember 1998. Dennis Bergkamp's legendary goal. So many years after still a highlight!"
"Absolutely brilliant!"published at 20:40 British Summer Time 9 July 2014
BBC commentating legend Barry Davies in Marseille, 1998
Image source, PA
"Beautifully pulled down by Bergkaaaammmmppppp!!!!
"Ohhhh what a goaallllll!!!! Dennis Bergkamp has won it for Holland! That was absolutely brilliant!
Image source, PA
"From adversity to triumph for the Dutch. They who were silent, are now in song."
View the Bergkamp and Davies masterclass one more time here.
Postpublished at 20:40 British Summer Time 9 July 2014
When these sides met in the 1998 World Cup in France we were treated to one of the great World Cup goals.
I'd love it, love it, if we saw anything half as good tonight.
Over to you Barry...
Postpublished at 20:38 British Summer Time 9 July 2014
BBC Radio 5 live
South American football expert Tim Vickery: "Argentina qualified playing very open football with the 'Fantastic Four' of Angel Di Maria, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero and Lionel Messi.
"Ideally the manager Alejandro Sabella wanted a team with a better balance between attack and defence and injuries have allowed him to do that.
"Enzo Perez has a better capacity to defend than Di Maria and his inclusion moves the side away from the template of the 1978 World Cup-winning side to a template of the 1986 World Cup-winning side, which was very compact and gave a platform to Diego Maradona.
"Can Lionel Messi do it against the Dutch, who seem to have changed their formation to tackle Messi with the selection of Nigel De Jong?"
Postpublished at 20:38 British Summer Time 9 July 2014
So in a nutshell, none of you can decide what Argentina will do this evening!
Angel Di Maria looks a bit fed up as the rest of his mates go through their final pre-match drills. What a time to get injured...