Semifinal 2, Netherlands vs Argentina, Thursday 8am SS5+TVOne

Argentina paying $1.67 at the TAB to progress, and Netherlands at $2.10. No odds on Robben being booked for diving yet (boooo).

Di Maria is out

I think the way they could not put Costa Rica away during the 120 minutes is affecting the TAB odds for the Dutch team.

7 -1 on Netherlands anyone?

Argentina to win .  Germany-Argentina Final. Germany slight favourites but think this tank will run out of petrol....

I think Argentina will win by 7

4-2 Netherlands

RVP injured? 

Is that a bad thing?

He was a steaming turd against Costa Rica, missed a ton of chances and was offside more times than I can remember.

How many times do we think Robben will dive? I think 4. He'll also get genuinely fouled on 3 other occassions.

Everyone going on about Robben diving, but he is not the only one. A few times this morning Brazilian players went to ground with little or no contact appealing for a decision to go their way yet the ref ruled otherwise - this annoyed the German players because in some cases it was quite clearly a dive and a yellow card was not forthcoming. Thomas Mueller, very competitive as he is, will milk contact when the situation will benefit his team most. Defenders just have to be aware that this is how refs make decisions now.

I think it has generally been good for the game, yes it is annoying when a player quite clearly cons a ref but since refs have been stricter it has forced defenders into not making as many rash challenges and allowed more skilful players to thrive. Jogi Loew before the Brazil game:

"I hope the referee tomorrow, Mr Rodriguez from Mexico, will clamp down on things. That physical energy in the match against Colombia went beyond the limits in Europe. When I saw that match...in Europe, 22 players wouldn't have ended that match. There were brutal fouls. People blocking opponents however they could. It was really exaggerated. That's what we saw on the pitch, so I hope these really brutal and crude fouls are stopped, or we won't see players like [Lionel] Messi, [Mesut] Ozil or Neymar, and we'll just see players who go out to destroy."

Would love to see the Dutch win but I think man for man Argentina will be too strong.

all European Final would be boring zzzz..........

because?

Nonsense. 

Two teams of different playing styles and personalities will contest the final, regardless of their colours.

Buena suerte La Albiceleste,  Messi es dios !!!  Ir a ganar a Holanda !!!

In eight previous meetings against Holland, Argentina have won only one - the 1978 World Cup Final.

It's not a great Argentina side, especially with Di Maria out (their second-best player after Messi this tournament) and Aguera not match fit.

But Van Persie as had a stomach upset and Ron Vlaar is also in doubt.

Anyway, should be a closer game than the other semi !!!

To me, it's too close to call - anything could happen....

The World Cup digital simulator has it a close game going to extra time here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cu...

Four minute digital highlights of possible outcome...

This is gonna get messy if the ref doesn't sort it out. Schneider got absolutely hammered in the achillies - nothing.

This game has been bloody awful over 120 minutes. 

You BEASTS ARGENTINA !!!!!!!!bye bye diving Robben !!!!!!!!!!!

Buena suerte La Albicileste!!!! 

Nice couple of saves. I fell asleep during the main 90 mins. 

YES, happy to see the Dutch gone.

I'm not that fussed one way or the other but Argentina have hardly been a thrill packed rollercoaster ride. Kind of serves the Dutch right for hogging possession and not taking more attacking initiative. It's not as though the Argies have gone through this cup by carving up teams on the break.

The European /South America curse is still alive ....

Happy that Argentina won. Didn't find that boring - two very good teams playing a chess match.

Erm, Argentina was playing even narrower with more back for the entire game

Pleased the Dutch lost in the end but what a dire game. Couldn't have faced all the talk about Van Gaal being a "tactical genius" and this being a "tactical masterclass" if they had won. He played 6 at the back and hoped for a dive or piece of magic from Robben. Was never going to be enough. United-Chelsea games are going to be fun if this is the brand of football he brings! And Van Persie fails to turn up in a knockout game once again. Did he touch the ball?

I have Argentina in the work sweepstake so it's me against the CEO for the final. Hard to see Germany losing though.

Going to be a fascinating final . Germany having come so close for so many tournaments and Messi with the only thing in the game still missing from his career

Indeed. I'm looking forward to seeing all of the articles about van Gaal's tactical genius in making Ron Vlaar the first penalty taker.

United fans desperate to defend their new manager i see.

need to celebrate by watching Messi's 50 Greatest Goals on You-Tube

Don't forget the mind games of subbing the keeper first time, but leaving him on second time. Genius stroke really got into the head of the Argies.

Argentina deserved it after that goal that was wrongly called offside, that was a superb final touch to put the ball in the net.

Was the Higuain one? Was in the side netting anyway wasn't it?

Dire game. I listened to Kent Johns talk shit on the radio yesterday about how he did not find the Germany Brazil game enjoyable because there was no contest. Well Kent today was a contest but was boring and average as hell. I don't mind a nil all game if both teams play football and have shots on goal but I don't recall either keeper having to do anything.

I enjoyed yesterdays game because even though there was no pressure or contest, the football was infinitely better than today.