Argentina are through to the 2014 World Cup final! 🇦🇷
After a tense, tactical, and frankly uneventful 120 minutes against the Netherlands in São Paulo, it all came down to the nerve-wracking lottery of penalty kicks — and Sergio Romero rose to the occasion.
✅ Penalty Shootout Heroics:
Saves: Romero stopped penalties from Ron Vlaar and Wesley Sneijder, putting Argentina on the path to a 4-2 shootout victory.
Clinical Finishing: Messi, Garay, Agüero, and Maxi Rodríguez all converted their shots with composure.
⚽ Match Recap:
Full-time/Extra-time: 0-0 — a game of very few chances.
Messi was kept quiet, often dropping deep with little space to operate.
Robben threatened on occasion, but Mascherano and the Argentine defense held firm.
Van Gaal had no substitution left for Tim Krul (his penalty specialist), a decision that could be debated.
🏆 What’s Next:
Final: Argentina 🇦🇷 vs. Germany 🇩🇪
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro
Narrative: A repeat of the 1986 and 1990 World Cup finals, this classic clash will see Messi attempt to crown his legacy, while Germany, brimming with confidence after thrashing Brazil 7-1, will try to lift their fourth World Cup trophy.
Argentina reach their first final since 1990. And for Romero, long doubted as Argentina’s No. 1, this was his moment of redemption.
