Summary

  • Watch again via highlights tab

  • Argentina reach final after penalties

  • World Cup final is Germany v Argentina

  • Game played in Sao Paulo

  1. Join the debate at #bbcworldcuppublished at 20:37 British Summer Time 9 July 2014

    Nikolas Virtanen:, external Last night Brazil played with passion and got humiliated. Tonight will be a much more defensive, cautious showing. 1-0 Netherlands.

    Stepan Benyovszky:, external Argentina to go out with a whimper. Haven't faced a decent team until now and are going to be found out.

    Paul Moore:, external 4-0 Argentina. Lionel Messi to destroy the Dutch.

  2. Postpublished at 20:36 British Summer Time 9 July 2014

    The Football League season starts a month today, with the Premier League kicking off seven days later. It will soon come back around...

  3. Postpublished at 20:35 British Summer Time 9 July 2014

    BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty in Sao Paulo

    Louis van GaalImage source, AFP

    "Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal is standing at the side of the pitch here in Sao Paulo watching his players go through their final warm-up - will his arrival at Manchester United be further delayed by an appearance on the biggest date on football's calendar, the World Cup final?

    "When Van Gaal arrives, he will do so with anticipation heightened by the Dutch performances here in Brazil, and also his own ability to make the big calls, such as when he introduced substitute goalkeeper Tim Krul for the penalty shoot-out against Costa Rica in the quarter-final."

  4. Netherlands v Argentina (21:00 BST)published at 20:30 British Summer Time 9 July 2014

    BBC Sport's South American expert Tim Vickery, BBC Radio 5 live

    "This is a World Cup on Argentina's home continent and with the last of the generation who won the World Youth Cups. They also have Messi in his prime so if they don't do it this time, the degree of difficulty next time will be much harder, so there is a degree of pressure."

  5. LINE-UPSpublished at 20:30 British Summer Time 9 July 2014

    Netherlands: Cillessen, De Vrij, Vlaar, Martins Indi, Kuyt, De Jong, Sneijder, Wijnaldum, Blind, Robben, van Persie. Subs: Vorm, Janmaat, de Guzman, Verhaegh, Veltman, Kongolo, Clasie, Lens, Huntelaar, Depay, Krul.

    Netherlands line-up

    Argentina: Romero, Zabaleta, Demichelis, Garay, Rojo, Biglia, Mascherano, Lavezzi, Messi, Perez, Higuain. Subs: Orion, Campagnaro, Gago, Maxi Rodriguez, Augusto Fernandez, Federico Fernandez, Palacio, Alvarez, Aguero, Basanta, Andujar.

    Argentina line-up

    Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey)

  6. Netherlands v Argentina (21:00 BST)published at 20:25 British Summer Time 9 July 2014

    Former England international Chris Waddle, BBC Radio 5 live

    "I think the Dutch will try and get around them. You don't have to tackle, you can front Messi up and make him go back or square to pass to someone who has less ability. When people say you have to show him on the right or left, you can't do it, he has the tricks and if he does them well enough he will get in."

  7. Postpublished at 20:24 British Summer Time 9 July 2014

    Argentina fansImage source, AFP

    Now here come the Argentines, with Lionel Messi leading them out on to the field. He's not the most vocal of captains but when he leads by example he tends to do OK.

    Big noise for their arrival. Mostly jeering at this early stage...

  8. Postpublished at 20:21 British Summer Time 9 July 2014

    Robin van Persie

    The Dutch are coming out to warm up, in some natty white and blue training tops.

    Do we need squad numbers on training tops? Apparently so...

  9. Netherlands v Argentina (21:00 BST)published at 20:20 British Summer Time 9 July 2014

    John Murray
    tonight's commentator on BBC Radio 5 live

    "The thing I'd like to see tonight and I'm not sure we will, is Robben expressing himself and Messi expressing himself. If that happens, we should have quite a spectacle here."

  10. Join the debate at #bbcworldcuppublished at 20:20 British Summer Time 9 July 2014

    Aryaman S:, external Nigel De Jong miraculously recovers for Netherlands. Starting him is either a masterstroke or just plain stupid.

    John McEnerney:, external Netherlands to run at a dodgy and untested Argentina back four. Angel di Maria is a huge loss but they have enough to see them through! Netherlands will score.

    Bobby:, external Make no mistake. Lionel Messi is better than Diego Maradona. It's remarkable that that is even possible. Best ever.

  11. Postpublished at 20:17 British Summer Time 9 July 2014

    No Tim, come on! We will have loads of goals again, you just watch...

  12. Netherlands v Argentina (21:00 BST)published at 20:16 British Summer Time 9 July 2014

    BBC Sport's South American expert Tim Vickery

    "We will need a strong performance from the Turkish referee. We could really do with an early goal to open it up because I fear it could be cautious."

  13. Postpublished at 20:16 British Summer Time 9 July 2014

    Former England international Chris Waddle
    BBC Radio 5 live

    "I look at Argentina and I see similarities to Brazil. Brazil rely heavily on Neymar, Argentina on Lionel Messi, and they are without Angel Di Maria.

    "Argentina are well organised, the whole team is set up to stop the opposition and get the ball to Messi and hope he will make something happen, but I think Netherlands will be the first team to ask serious questions of this Argentina side."

  14. Close him down!published at 20:10 British Summer Time 9 July 2014

    Lionel MessiImage source, Getty Images

    Memo to the Dutch defence: Do not let this man shoot...

  15. Netherlands v Argentina (21:00 BST)published at 20:09 British Summer Time 9 July 2014

    Former England international Chris Waddle, BBC Radio 5 live

    "To play in a World Cup semi-final, you've just got to take it as another game. It's hard for people to understand that but this is something you do every day of your life, play football and train. You train as normal, get your tactics and what you need to do and then don't leave anything on the park.

    "Yes there will be a little bit of nerves but not as much as you think."

  16. Postpublished at 20:08 British Summer Time 9 July 2014

    Argentina v HollandImage source, AP

    Sao Paulo is like Sheffield then - we're not missing out after all!

    Just under an hour to go and the more colourful fans are being picked out on camera. How Oranje is too Oranje?

    You can watch build-up from the stadium by clicking on the 'Live Coverage' tab at the top of the screen.

  17. Postpublished at 20:05 British Summer Time 9 July 2014

    Netherlands goalkeepers Jasper Cillessen and Tim KrulImage source, Getty Images

    Netherlands goalkeeper Tim Krul, speaking to BBC Sport: "It doesn't get much bigger than a World Cup semi-final against Argentina. They have fantastic players and so do we. It will be a hard game but we can be very confident having showed what we have already showed.

    "Louis van Gaal is the brain behind everything. Before every game we know exactly what to expect, exactly what they will do and what we have to do to win the game. That is the most important - the winning mentality. There is only one thing and that is to win.

    "To have players who have played in a World Cup final before and who know exactly what we have to be ready for is incredible for the young boys coming through - that is the strength of our team."

  18. Postpublished at 20:03 British Summer Time 9 July 2014

    BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty in Sao Paulo

    "This World Cup semi-final will be played on what seems to be a typical Sao Paulo day - cloudy and with a chill in the air.

    "Spoke to former England and Sheffield Wednesday winger Chris Waddle, out here as a BBC Radio 5live analyst, and he said the climate is ideal for European teams such as the Netherlands: 'Sao Paulo is no different from Sheffield - I came to Brazil for the World Cup and had to buy myself a jumper'."

  19. Join the debate at #bbcworldcuppublished at 20:02 British Summer Time 9 July 2014

    Lionel Messi's Argentina shirtImage source, @Argentina

    The Argentina Football Team, external post a shot of the Arena de Sao Paulo dressing room on Twitter.

  20. From Bramall Lane to Brazilpublished at 20:02 British Summer Time 9 July 2014

    Argentina manager Alejandro SabellaImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Sabella won eight caps for Argentina during his playing days

    While he is not under the same burden of expectation as Brazil counterpart Luiz Felipe Scolari, Argentina boss Alejandro Sabella is still a man under pressure to succeed.

    But outside of his homeland, he is still relatively unknown. Except for in Yorkshire. That's because 'Alex' Sabella, as he was known in England, spent three seasons playing for Sheffield United then Leeds United.

    Alejandro SabellaImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Sabella spent a season at Elland Road with Leeds after signing from Sheffield United

    At Bramall Lane, he became a cult hero - and even had a rock band named in his honour! Read more about his time in Yorkshire here.