Argentina reach final on penalties

Argentina are just 90 minutes from lifting the World Cup in the Maracana after they edged past the Netherlands on penalties in Wednesday's semifinal at the Arena Corinthians.

After an uneventful and goalless 120 minutes, the match went to a penalty shootout in Sao Paulo.

Argentina did not miss once, and Sergio Romero saved shots from Ron Vlaar and Wesley Sneijder, meaning Alejandro Sabella's team clinched the showdown 4-2.

Argentina will now face Germany in Sunday's World Cup final at the Maracana -- the spiritual home of their fierce rival Brazil, who were brutally knocked out by Germany on Tuesday night.

The last time the Argentines made it through to the final, in 1990, they lost to the Germans. They also met in the 1986 final, which Argentina won. 

Germany, which battered Brazil 7-1 in Belo Horizonte, will take encouragement from watching this performance from Sabella's side.

Lionel Messi scored one of the penalty kicks, but he was otherwise quiet, and Argentina failed to impress all night.

Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal did well to snuff out Messi during normal time, but his team were also devoid of ideas in attack.

Van Gaal will now take charge of the Netherlands in Saturday's third-place playoff against the hosts before flying to England to take over at Manchester United.

The Dutchman may regret deciding against bringing on Tim Krul, who saved two penalties against Costa Rica in the previous round, as Jasper Cillessen was easily beaten from 12 yards.

After a mad opening half hour in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday, both teams started cautiously on a cold night.

Messi drilled a low free kick right at Cillessen, and Ezequiel Garay headed just over for Argentina, but nothing else of note happened in the first period.

After the break, Argentina briefly upped the tempo. Vlaar blocked Messi as he advanced toward goal, and substitute Daryl Janmaat denied Gonzalo Higuain.

Nigel de Jong, a surprise starter, was struggling to keep up with the game, and he came off for Jordy Clasie with 28 minutes left.

Lucas Biglia and Janmaat both needed treatment after sliding into each other in a nasty challenge that made Argentina coach Sabella wince on the touch line.

There was no inkling of a goal until the final minute of full time, when Enzo Perez dashed down the right and delivered a pinpoint low cross to Higuain, who turned the ball inches wide.

The Argentina fans who saw the net ripple thought they had finally seen a goal, but the referee awarded a goal kick.

That proved to be Higuain's last contribution as he was replaced by Sergio Aguero. Sabella also threw on Rodrigo Palacio to boost his attack.

A few errant tackles started flying in as the game became sloppy. Martin Demichelis, already on a booking, took Arjen Robben out, but the referee kept his cards in his pocket.

All of a sudden, the Netherlands were presented with a chance to win the game.

Sneijder glanced a diagonal pass into Robben's path, but Javier Mascherano came to the rescue for Argentina, and the game went to extra time.

In the 98th minute, the Netherlands mustered their first shot on target, an effort from Robben that flew into Romero's hands.

In his final substitution, Van Gaal brought Klaas-Jan Huntelaar on for Robin van Persie, meaning Krul would not be allowed on for the inevitable penalty shootout.

Cillessen jangled the nerves of the Netherlands fans when he performed an audacious turn to wriggle from the advancing Aguero at the start of the second half of extra time.

Sabella was incensed with Palacio when he tried -- and failed -- to head over Cillessen from 10 yards in the dying minutes of extra time.

Dirk Kuyt fluffed a good chance at the other end, and the match went to penalties.

Romero saved straight away from Vlaar. Messi, Garay and Aguero found the net, while Romero saved to his right from Sneijder.

Kuyt slotted the Netherlands' fourth penalty away, but Maxi Rodriguez then beat Cillessen to send Argentina through to the final.