World Cup: Argentina and Netherlands to fight for final

For the first time since 1990 Argentina are in the World Cup semifinals after dispatching of Belgium 1-0 at the Estadio Nacional in Brasilia.

Gonzalo Higuaín's eighth minute goal proved to be the game's lone goal as the Albiceleste are in the World Cup's final four where they will await the winner of the Holland-Costa Rica quarterfinal.

Argentina head coach Alejandro Sabella's 4-2-3-1 formation consisted of Sergio Romero in goal, Pablo Zabaleta, Martin Demichelis, Ezequiel Garay and José María Basanta in defense, Lucas Biglia and Javier Mascherano as holding midfielders, and Ezequiel Lavezzi, Lionel Messi and Ángel di María as the attacking midfielders behind lone striker Higuaín.

Belgium boss Marc Wilmots sent out a starting XI consisting of Thibaut Courtois in goal, Toby Alderweireld, Daniel Van Buyten, Vincent Kompany and Jan Vertonghen in defense. Marouane Fellaini and Axel Witsel slotted in as defensive midfielders while Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and Kevin Mirallas lined up as attacking midfielders behind lone striker Divock Origi.

It took Argentina nearly two hours to score against Switzerland but on Saturday the Albiceleste needed a little less than eight minutes to find the back of the net. A Di Maria pass for Higuaín was slightly deflected but 'El Pipita' still managed to turn and hammer a one-time volley that flew past Courtois and into the corner of the net to give Argentina a 1-0 lead.

However some bad luck would strike the South Americans when an injury forced Di María to leave the match in the 33rd minute and the Real Madrid man was replaced by Enzo Pérez. Seven minutes later Messi had chance to double the lead with a free kick from about a foot outside the box, but his curling effort sailed just over Courtois' crossbar.

Higuaín's fine play continued into the second half and a solo effort from the former Real Madrid man nearly yielded Argentina's second when he charged through the Belgian defense, slipped a ball in between Kompany's leg before firing a shot that grazed the crossbar. Belgium appeared limited in attack, despite the second half inclusion of Romelu Lukaku, and Argentina were clinical in killing off time while keeping Wilmots' men at bay.

With 90 seconds left, Messi was one-on-one with Courtois and could have saved Argentina fans from any last minute anxiety, but like he did so often for Atlético Madrid this past season, Courtois snuffed out Messi's effort giving his team one last chance. The Belgians' last opportunity at the death saw Lukaku and Witsel each fail to connect, and Messi and Argentina's World Cup campaign survives to play another day.

Netherlands 0-0 Costa Rica*

Holland are one step away from returning to the World Cup final after surviving Costa Rica in penalties on Sunday night at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador.

The two teams ended goalless after 120 minutes thanks to a dazzling performance from Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas, but the Dutch then got a big-time performance from back-up goalkeeper Tim Krul in penalties to advance to the semifinals with a 4-3 advantage in the spot kicks.

Holland will now meet Argentina in Wednesday's semifinal in what will be a rematch of the 1978 World Cup final.

For Holland, head coach Louis van Gaal rolled out a 3-4-1-2 formation that saw Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben up top at striker. Sneijder assumed his duties as the No.10 in the attacking midfield while Dirk Kuyt, Daley Blind, Georginio Wijnaldum and Memphis Depay formed the central midfield. In defense it was a three-man alignment of Bruno Martins Indi, Ron Vlaar and Stefan de Vrij in front of goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen.

Playing in a 5-4-1, the Ticos went with Navas in goal, Cristian Gamboa, Johnny Acosta, Giancarlo González, Michael Umaña and Júnior Díaz in defense. A four-man midfield consisting of Celso Borges, Yeltsin Tejeda with Bryan Ruíz and Cristian Bolaños on the outside as wingers and the lethal Joel Campbell up top as the lone striker.

The Dutch had their first real opportunity of the match in the 22nd minute when Van Persie had an open shot from the left, but Navas was there to block the shot and then make the save on the follow-up shot from Sneijder. Eight minutes later a Costa Rica turnover led to another Holland chance but this time it was Depay who would be denied by Navas. The Levante stopper then made perhaps his finest save in the 38th minute when he was able to palm away a Sneijder free kick from 25 yards out that looked to be curling into the top right corner of the net.

Holland's presence in the Costa Rica half only increased in the second half, as the Dutch continued their control of the match, however they were constantly turned away by a stout Costa Rican defense. On the hour mark the Ticos started to find some chances in the Dutch half, including a González header that went high off a Bolaños free kick in the 64th minute.

For all their best efforts, the Dutch were simply unable to unlock Costa Rica and it was a free kick in the 82nd minute that nearly resulted in the opener for the men in orange, however Sneijder's curling effort smacked the post and bounced out. Then two minutes later Van Persie had a goal on his boot only for Navas to block the shot from the Manchester United striker. Van Persie was left to rue another miss when he was unable to connect on a Robben pass at the far post in the 89th minute as he appeared to preoccupied with the potential contact from behind rather than the ball itself. Van Persie would get one last chance in regular time but somehow his shot was miraculously cleared off the line by Tejeda to force extra time.

Incredibly, in the extra stanza, it was Costa Rica who arguably had one of the best chances to win it when substitute Marcos Ureña shot was saved by Cillessen in the 116th minute. Two minutes later the woodwork would once again come to Costa Rica's rescue as a Sneijder shot rang off the crossbar. And then in one of rarest sights ever seen in football, Dutch boss Louis van Gaal elected to use his last substitution to bring on Tim Krul for Cillessen, with the thinking that Krul was the better fit to handle the spot kicks.

Van Gaal's gamble paid off handsomely as Krul denied both Ruíz and Umaña while Holland made all four of their attempts to send the Oranje to a semifinal showdown against Lionel Messi and Argentina.

/Marca/