TheCable

Sergio Romero saved twice as Argentina defeated the Netherlands 4-2 on penalties for a place in the World Cup final against Germany.

The Monaco goalkeeper parried spot kicks from Ron Vlaar and Wesley Snijder to see the Albiceleste through after 120 minutes of negative football from both sides ended 0-0.

Argentina now meet Germany, who hammered hosts Brazil 7-1 in the first semifinal played on Friday.

It will be a record third World Cup final between the two, with Argentina winning the title 3-2 in 1986 and the Germans 1-0 four years later. Germany also eliminated Argentina in the quarterfinals of the last two World Cups. Argentina are in the final a fifth time overall.

Having introduced goalkeeper Tim Krul off the bench to replace number one Jasper Cillessen in the quarter-final shootout win  against Costa Rica – with the Newcastle shot-stopper subsequently saved two spot-kicks to send his side through – Louis van Gaal had no such options this time around as Wednesday’s semi-final finished 0-0 after extra time.

The Dutch had used all three substitutes by that point, leaving Cillessen to face Argentina’s efforts when it mattered most.

And the youngster – who had never before kept out a penalty in his career– failed to reproduce his teammate’s heroics as opposite number Sergio Romero saved from Ron Vlaar and Wesley Sneijder to book Argentina’s place in the showpiece against Germany on Sunday.

Ultimately, Maxi Rodriguez sealed a 4-2 shootout success, crashing his penalty in off the crossbar via the palms of Cillessen to spark jubilant scenes among the South Americans in the stands in Sao Paulo.