Midsibmike:, external And the match finally comes to life as we move to penalties.

Doug:, external Here we go then semi-final lotto...

Javier Mascherano is deep in conversation with goalkeeper Sergio Romero.

"Save some!"

The Dutch scored all four from the spot against Costa Rica last Saturday night. Argentina won their last semi-final on penalties, in Italy 24 years ago.

I'm not sure either side deserve to be in the final...

Former England international Chris Waddle, BBC Radio 5 live

"Looking at how the game went, we should have started with penalty kicks."

Social media comments from around the world are being translated and curated by the BBC's multilingual World Cup Twitter conversation, @viabbc, external.

Armando Maya Castro (Mexico):, external Netherlands v Argentina: A homage to boredom.

PENALTIES it is. One of these sides will be in the final via the medium of penalty kicks.

Dirk! Kuyt has a half chance in the final minute but his shot is blocked. It looks like spot-kicks.

The least these two can do now is give us a shootout.

Another half chance as Lionel Messi beats his man out on the right and stands it up. It's a difficult chance but a chance for Maxi Rodriguez, but he fluffs his lines and mis-hits it into the turf.

Remember his brilliant goal against Mexico in 2006? So does he.

Before we get to penalties, why not brush up on your shootout trivia.

Did you know that on average 71% of kicks are scored? Who has saved the most? How many have been taken with the left foot?

Read up on our guide here.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer in Sao Paulo

"And still no sign of a breakthrough. There could not be a more stark contrast with last night's World Cup semi-final between Brazil and Germany than this dour, attritional, dull affair. Not much time left for the main creators Lionel Messi and Arjen Robben to spare the Argentine and Dutch fans the tension of penalties for a place in the World Cup final."

Former England international Chris Waddle, BBC Radio 5 live

"Why didn't he just lob the keeper with his head? He headed it straight at him. all he had to do was put a little bit of height on it."

Chance!

In a game of such precious few, this is a real opening. Substitute Rodrigo Palacio is in, he hesitates and can't get any power in his header...

Image source, EPA

Christopher Harvey:, external Louis van Gaal a tactical genius? Has the Premier League changed the rules to allow extra-time? I can't see Manchester United getting three points otherwise.

If both teams could go through with a 0-0 draw you may be tempted to accuse the sides of playing for a draw. But they can't. So I won't.

This is exhaustingly poor.

Into the last 10 minutes or so. Stefan de Vrij shoots from 35 yards, with his wrong foot.

You're going nowhere Netherlands! You're on the ring road. Third time round. You've just been into B&Q for a bag of tungsten-tipped screws. Never gonna use 'em. Never gonna use 'em.

Mark Lawrenson
Match of the Day analyst

"Sergio Aguero has been very poor since he came on - he has been completely out of sorts."

Richard, Putney: Good to see Ron Vlaar get some plaudits. The guy isn't a world beater by any means but on his day is a good player. Problem is in our Aston Villa side he looks worse because the rest of our team is terrible. The current squad would even make Lionel Messi look poor in it. But not as much as in this game.

Former England international Chris Waddle, BBC Radio 5 live

"He is a tough boy Zabaleta so it will take a lot to get him off this pitch."