Sonstige Informationen » walked across the pitch to console him.

SAO PAULO, Brazil -- The World Cups second semifinal was supposed to put the silky skills of Lionel Messi and Arjen Robben in the spotlight. Instead, a goalkeeper and two rock-solid defences stole the show. Argentina goalie Sergio Romero saved two penalties Wednesday to send Argentina into the World Cup final with a 4-2 shootout win over the Netherlands after tough defending and a lack of creative spark from either team consigned the match to a 0-0 stalemate. In a twist of fate, Romero credited Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal with helping launch his career when he arrived as an inexperienced youngster at AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch league. "I will be forever grateful to the coach for helping me out in a country that is so different from ours," Romero said. A day after Germany lit up the World Cup with its clinical 7-1 destruction of host Brazil, the Dutch and Argentines could not manage a goal between them in 120 minutes before the shootout. Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, will have to do play far better in Sundays final at Rio de Janeiros Maracana Stadium if he is to engineer a win over the powerful German team. The Barcelona star was muted throughout the match and extra time, rarely managing to shake off his markers. At the Itaquerao Stadium, he was overshadowed by his goalkeeper and the man he replaced as Argentina captain, Javier Mascherano, who bossed the midfield for his team the way surprise starter Nigel de Jong did for the Dutch. When Robben looked like deciding the match in stoppage time, Mascheranos perfectly timed sliding tackle blocked his shot at the near post. "I would say that he is an outstanding player," Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella said. "He is an emblem within our national squad, on the field as well as off it." Romero -- thought to be a weak link for Argentina and not even a starter for his Monaco club most of last season -- had almost nothing to do during the match, but blocked penalties by Ron Vlaar and Wesley Sneijder in the shootout. For Argentina, Messi, Ezequiel Garay, Sergio Aguero and Maxi Rodriguez all converted their spot kicks. "Its luck, thats the truth. You can dive (the right way) and not make it, like happened to their goalkeeper," Romero said. "I had confidence, thank God things turned out well." A Germany-Argentina final means an extra bitter end to the tournament for Brazilians, who will have to watch their fiercest rivals play for the world title in their most hallowed stadium against a team that humiliated their nation in the semifinals. "We have a final to play, but with one day less rest and against Germany," Sabella said. "Well do everything possible to make it all the way to the top." It was the second straight penalty shootout following a 0-0 draw for the Dutch. Against Costa Rica in the quarterfinals, Van Gaal brought on substitute goalkeeper Tim Krul in the last seconds of extra time to replace Jasper Cillessen and Krul saved two spot kicks. This time, Van Gaal had used up all three substitutions by the end of extra time and Cillessen had to face the shootout. The young Ajax goalkeeper collapsed onto his knees and sank onto his back when Rodriguezs powerful strike ended the shootout. Krul walked across the pitch to console him. Van Gaal also said he had a hand in Romeros heroics from their time together at AZ Alkmaar. "Penalties are always a matter of luck," he said. "And I taught Romero how to stop penalties so that hurts." Many of Argentinas players stripped off their shirts in the rain at the Itaquerao Stadium and danced in front of their fans. Argentina reached its fifth final, and its first in 24 years. It won the title in 1978 -- beating the Dutch -- and in 1986. It lost the championship matches in 1930 and 1990. It played West Germany in both the 86 and 90 finals. The Netherlands, which has never won the World Cup, was seeking to reach its fourth final. After scoring 10 goals in three group matches, the Dutch scoring dried up in the knockout rounds. The team managed two late strikes against Mexico but failed to find the net before eliminating Costa Rica in the quarterfinal shootout. "The issue in a championship like this one is that you score one more goal than your opponent, which we didnt do," Van Gaal said, "We didnt create very much." ------ Lineups: Netherlands: Jasper Cillessen; Dirk Kuyt, Ron Vlaar, Stefan de Vrij, Bruno Martins Indi (Daryl Janmaat, 46), Daley Blind; Nigel de Jong (Jordy Clasie, 62), Georginio Wijnaldum, Wesley Sneijder; Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie (Klaas Jan Huntelaar). Argentina: Sergio Romero; Pablo Zabaleta, Martin Demichelis, Ezequiel Garay, Marcos Rojo; Lucas Biglia, Javier Mascherano, Enzo Perez (Rodrigo Palacio, 81); Ezequiel Lavezzi (Maxi Rodriguez, 101), Gonzalo Higuain (Sergio Aguero, 82), Lionel Messi. Balenciaga Shoes Cheap Uk .com) - The Chicago Cubs reportedly signed recently-acquired outfielder Dexter Fowler to a one-year contract on Friday, avoiding arbitration. Balenciaga Shoes Online Uk . -- Maxence Parrot of Bromont, Que. http://www.wholesalebalenciagauk.com/ . Cammalleri suffered a concussion in the Flames 2-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. The 31-year-old forward did not travel with the team to Carolina. Balenciaga Wholesale Supplier Uk . Future Hall of Famer Ricky Ray is in his prime and back for a third season in double blue. The 34-year old was magnificent in 2013, throwing for just under 2,900 yards despite missing eight games, tossing an impressive 21 touchdowns against just two interceptions, completing 66 per cent of his passes in the process. Balenciaga Shoes Uk Sale . TSN Hockey Insiders Pierre LeBrun and Bob McKenzie both reported Thursday that there have been ongoing trade discussions between the Oilers and Los Angeles Kings over forward Sam Gagner.Waco, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Jamari Traylor scored 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting as No. 12 Kansas opened Big 12 play with a 56-55 victory over 21st- ranked Baylor on Wednesday. Brannen Greene scored 12 points off the bench and Frank Mason III netted 11 with five assists for the Jayhawks (12-2, 1-0 Big 12), who have won 24 straight conference openers dating back to the 1991-92 season. You always want to make shots, but statistically they are great at defending the 3-ball, Kansas head coach Bill Self said. We thought that we were going to be able to get the ball into the middle of the paint and get flat and attack them that way. Kenny Chery had a game-high 25 points and Rico Gathers supplied nine points and 13 rebounds for the Bears (11-3, 0-2), who were coming off a 73-63 loss to Oklahoma on Saturday. I loved the teams effort and fight, Baylor head coach Scott Drew said. It was a great Big 12 game. We have to get better. Thats the good thing about the Big 12, its on to the next one. Wayne Selden Jr. scored seven points in a row for the Jayhawks as they took a 54-51 lead on his layup with 1:19 to play. Cherys jumper moments later pulled Baylor within a point. Chery emerged out of a frantic scrum in the key on a Mason miss, but Royce ONeale had his layup attempt blocked by Perry Ellis at the other end and Gathers missed on the tip-in. Baylor, however, got the ball back with 10 seconds to play after it last hit off a Kansas player out of bounds.dddddddddddd Cherys inbounds pass was tipped by Kelly Oubre Jr. and it was ruled that Baylor last touched the ball before it sailed into the crowd. Greene and Chery each followed with a pair of free throws for their respective teams. Baylor worked the ball up the court after Mason missed a free throw with three seconds left, but Lester Medford lost track of the time and didnt even put up a shot before the horn sounded. The Bears jumped out to a 7-2 lead early on and Taurean Prince drilled a 3- pointer for a 15-9 advantage just over eight minutes into the game. Greenes triple got Kansas within a point with 8:32 to play, but Chery responded with a trey of his own and Princes layup made it a 20-14 game two minutes later. Gathers made a pair from the foul line and the Bears led 22-18 at the half. Game Notes Kansas leads the all-time series 22-4 ... Baylors 12-game home winning streak came to an end. It was the Bears first loss at home since falling 69-52 to Kansas on Feb. 4, 2014 ... The Jayhawks are now 8-0 at home this season ... Kansas shot 47.1 percent from the field compared to Baylors 34 percent ... The Jayhawks will host Texas Tech on Saturday ... Baylor will travel to TCU on Saturday. ' ' '