06/07/2014 Match of the Day

highlights of last nights two remaining World Cup clashes. Kevin

Kilbane is here and we will get his later. First it is to Brasilia where

Belgium took on Argentina, word Leo Messi's magic be enough to see off

Belgian's golden generation? -- Belgium's.

Both teams needed extra time to get past the second round but with two

very different performances. Belgium excelled only to be denied time and

again by Tim Howard in the USA goal, while Argentina laboured

against Switzerland before Angel di Maria's late extra time winner.

Alejandro Sabella makes two changes at the back. Demichelis makes his

first appearance at the World Cup in place of Fernandez in central

defence. Marcos Rojo is suspended at left back. Leo Messi wins his 91st

cap, equalling the number of appearances made by Diego Maradona.

Marc Wilmots sticks are largely to the side which beat the USA. --

sticks largely. Steven Defour is available after suspension and

Thomas Vermaelen has recovered from injury but both of them have do

settle for a place on the bench. -- have Tess settle.

There is space here for Kevin De Bruyne. A real intensity about this

one. Feeling very much like Argentina know they need to up their

game in all likelihood to get past this hurdle. Messi, what a pass. And

it comes from Lavezzi. Away by Kompany. Leather as he was in acres

of space on the far Lavezzi. -- Messi. That was fine play. Di Maria.

Zabaleta. Racing forward. Hague Wayne! 1-0 burp inside the first

eight minutes -- Hague His first goal of the World Cup and

what a game in which to score. Argentina have had most of the early

play. The break was incisive, the finish was clinical. Belgium are

behind early. Courtois was not able to get anywhere near that one. It is

the perfect start for Argentina. The Michaelis. Messi. -- be

There is a bit of room here now for De Bruyne. He will go for goal. He

will not come close to finding it this time. Kevin De Bruyne

will not come close to finding it this time. Kevin De opened the

scoring against the United States in the second round. Mascherano.

Zabaleta is heading towards the far post. That was a good flick by di

Maria. He was not far away from finding Gonzalo Higua?n. Witsel. De

Bruyne. That was a good save by Romero, it did not quite fall for

the striker. Gonzalo Higua?n with a pass to Messi. And the flag goes up

against Lionel Messi after the challenge of Kompany. Argentina are

looking dangerous at times in the first half. He was unlucky there,

Messi. The first save was made by Sergio Romero at the other end. Jan

Vertonghen is well forward on the nearside. Messi. Trying to thread

that won through to Angel di Maria, what a pass. Di Maria. A vital block

was made by Kompany. Di Maria is playing really well. Di Maria has

stayed on the ground, it looks as though his thigh strain make and

curtail his involvement in the game. -- might curtail. How will this

affect the balance of the play and the balance of the Argentina side?

Zabaleta looking for Gonzalo Higua?n. It is collected by Enzo

Perez. Into Messi, beautiful control. Almost took him all the way

into the penalty area. Belgium do not like it. The referee has given

Argentina a free kick just outside the box. For a few moments it was as

though the ball was stuck to his foot, Messi. Dumpling be surrounded

by Belgium players. -- comp weekly. Interesting times for the Belgian

defence. Messi with the kick. -- completely. It stays at 1-0. Always

lifting, ultimately over the top of the bar. Messi took too long. It is

not often you can say that. He plays it towards Eden Hazard. It goes out

off Enzo Perez. Jan Vertonghen's delivery. The header went just wide.

off Enzo Perez. Jan Vertonghen's contact. He was unable to direct it

goalwards. As the ball goes skidding wide of the post. Here comes

Argentina. Gonzalo Higua?n. He fancies himself here. The deflection

takes it wide of the post. That could so easily have deflected into

the back of the net with Thibaut Courtois wrong-footed by the

sizeable deflection. Jan Vertonghen brings it to a halt. The flag is up

on the far side. The referee is going to show a yellow card for the

first time today. It is to Eden Hazard. Messi's delivery. Courtois

was stretching, there. Belgium are on the back foot. That is

comfortable for Courtois. And now they can break with Axel Witsel.

There are plenty of red shirts going forward. Kevin De Bruyne. CHEERING

That was too long. Before the ball came down to Hazard, and away he

comes. Direct route to goal. It is off the top of the bar. So nearly a

second goal of the afternoon. A powerful, surging run from the

Argentinian striker. That was a vicious finish. And Belgium are

mightily relieved to see the ball skidding off the top of the

crossbar. Half an hour to go exactly. Witsel. The first touch

forgeries Martins. exactly. Witsel. The first touch

Martins. Over the top of the bar. Certainly that was a bit more like

it from Belgium. Certainly that was a bit more like

delivery from the left. Fellini with the height advantage over Basanta.

He could not quite keep his head down. There has to be more urgency

about Belgian's play. They have not really tested Romero a great deal in

this match. -- Belgium's. Kevin De really tested Romero a great deal in

Bruyne. That is comfortably cleared. On the floor momentarily,

but Belgium are keen to get on with the game cover this needs to be a

good delivery. It post, whipped in low, and off the

central defender, but the goalkeeper was right there behind the ball.

Lukaku getting in, there. They need a goal here to keep their World Cup

hopes alive. Here comes Belgium again with Axel Witsel. It is

blocked by Mascherano, and away by Basanta. Here is Palacios.

Mascherano almost loses out to Kevin De Bruyne. Belgium have got to go

for it. De Bruyne. Belgium have got to go

cross. Here it comes. Flapped at by Romero. He stretches and he does

well. Away from Zabaleta, blocked by Enzo Perez. Belgium are not going to

go down without a fight and they will get a free kick for that as

well, the challenge on younger Tongan. A yellow card for Lucas

Biglia. Here is why. Blocking the path of Jan Vertonghen. -- challenge

on Jan Vertonghen. Lukaku heads to the far post but it is whipped to

the near post. Much to the frustration of Lukaku. That was a

bit of a let off for the Argentina frustration of Lukaku. That was a

defence. A constant din is being made by the supporters from

Argentina, echoing around this wonderful arena. Somebody in that

Belgium team needs a bit of craft, guile, inspiration to potentially

change the course of the quarterfinal. Will their single goal

proved to be enough? -- proved. --. Belgium's corner. They are trying to

finish the match on the front foot and force extra time. Just two

minutes to go plus added time, Mertens with the corner, it is

whipped back in by Chadli. They have only lost twice since the start of

2013, 14 wins and three draws in only lost twice since the start of

that time, but these are the matches that really matter. The knockout

games on the big stage. There is not much time left now for Belgium. Here

comes Lucas Biglia. Gago's pass and away goes Messi. He could put the

finishing touches on now. That is a good save by Thibaut Courtois.

Belgian hopes are wafer thin but they are still alive. A minute and a

half remaining in added time. Argentina are thumping the ball out

of play. Chadli. De Bruyne. Here is Witsel. Mertens Was the in towards

Lukaku. He stays up but he cannot quite find van Buyten. Witsel with

the shot. That might just be Belgium's lot. That is the closest

they have come from long time in this game. Witsel had to give it a

crack. But the ball just tumbled away from the goal. And at the other

end of the field moments before that, Lionel Messi have the chance

to finish it for Argentina. Denied by the excellent young Belgian

goalkeeper. Biglia is down. Argentina are heading to San Paolo!

It was another narrow victory. One goal through to be enough. And

Higuain was the man who got it early in the match, and Belgium's World

Cup adventure is over! Argentina, losers in the last eight in the

previous two world cups come they didn't slip at the quarter-final

hurdle this time. They are still in the hunt for the trophy. The final

score, Argentina one, Belgium zero. It all ends in disappointment for

Marc Wilmots with Argentina through to another World Cup semifinal. Or

you convinced by the Argentinians? I haven't been convinced by them

throughout. I think the key player is casualties mac, we know that, but

we are looking for some other players to assist casualties Mac --

casual two -- with Lionel Messi. We have had two moments, today was

another moment when he picked up the ball, there was uncertainty in the

Belgian defence and it caused problems. In the last round against

Switzerland, there was a brilliant moment from Messi, he beat a couple

of players, and they are too reliant on him. He has disappointed,

overall. There was so much hope for Belgium. Marc Wilmots tried

overall. There was so much hope for confidence into Hazard, what has

happened with him? There was a lot of pressure on him. His form did

curtail towards the end of the season, he had one eye on this World

Cup, and when you are putting that much pressure on yourself to

perform, he has come out here with the expectations of the nation on

his shoulders. Messi has had it as well. He hasn't been able to

perform, Hazard. He's not been able to do the things he has done so well

at Chelsea which has been the big disappointment at this World Cup.

So, Argentina through, Brazil also through, the only thing people are

talking about here is the injury to Neymar, what did you think about the

challenge? I think it was a bad challenge. The player new exactly

what he was doing to the challenge. We see it from the goalkeepers, they

come out to collect the highball, it is more protection for themselves

for an injured -- from an injury, but this is different. He's got into

the challenge, you recognised it was Neymar, it was a high challenge, and

he went with the forearm as well, so it was a bad challenge, and he will

be the most hated man in Brazil. Thank you. So, three of the four

semifinal sorted. Next up, the Netherlands were looking to get past

the minnows of Costa Rica. I want to tell you of a legend, a

legend that grows every four years. It is a story of the flying

Dutchman. It is also the story of a curse, of restlessness and failure,

the story is my story. For I am one of the flying Dutchman. We have been

doomed to spend eternity on a series of four year quests, a fruitless

search for the golden treasure. We always get close, so very, very

close. But, I'd tell you, we remain United in belief that we can lift

this curse, we will find what we are looking for, and we will return home

as heroes. But I see a new phone is standing in our way, a land

undiscovered, full of volcano and Forest, a land of danger filled with

the proud people. And it is in! Ruiz! Vague, to want the gold,

they, too, want to return home as victors. They want to keep us

cursed. What a fantastic bowl! Will the curse be broken? Or will we be

fated to continue this infernal quest? I am one of the flying

Dutchman, and this is my time. Good evening from Salvador, city of

goals, and there have been 24 in the five games played here so far. The

tone was set by the Netherlands on the second day of the World Cup.

This is where it started for them with a 5-1 thrashing of defending

champions, Spain, including that header from van Persie. Change was

inevitable for the Dutch. There are two changes. Martins Indi starts,

and it really is a side that screams attack to the Costa Rica team. It is

one that is missing the defender they call the Rock. He was suspended

after his sending off. Ruiz, well-known to the Dutch from

his time with PSV Eindhoven. Robben wanted it from de Vrij. Here

is Ruiz on the ball, I wonder what sort of look he would have opt from

the most hardened Costa Rican supporter, if you said that they

would be playing in the quarterfinals. Brilliantly, Gamboa,

but Vlaar moves it away. The best move of the games so from Costa

Rica. Here is Campbell, who might be playing with Arsenal at last.

Good save, Navas, but here is Sneijder... That was a little more

routine for the Costa Rican goalkeeper. Brilliant move, best

save, best moment of the match. It comes to van Persie, and the keeper

is off his line so fast. We have seen van Persie finishers chances so

many times. And then Sneijder doesn't get hold of it. Ruiz,

followed by de Vrij. Depay, a chance to shoot, at Navas is in the way.

Good save again. Two good chances. It is a poor finish, really. Four

babies born in Costa Rica were given Joel after Campbell. Where do you

get these facts from? Brilliant! Borges, bumped to the floor. It's a

good thing for the Dutch to have some pressure against them. It will

give them a chance to use Costa Rica's best chance of the

game. I think there was a foul from Diaz Campbell. Good spot from the

referee. Sneijder, what a save, what a try! Brilliant Sneijder, agile

Navas. De Vrij, trying to spring the trap for van Persie. Sneijder. Good

defending from Borges. Robben did not see him coming. Navas had to get

it right, got it just right, like everything else he has done in this

tournament. What three impressive is speed off the line. I think it was

the van Persie chance earlier. So quick off his line. Robben, caught

in between Umana, who has a yellow card, and Diaz Campbell. That is I

shall not pass. Robben to take the free kick. If it has been too

pedestrian for your tastes back home, think what Costa Rican goal

can do for it. Borges has been ordered away. He goes for goal... I

had a little feeling they would try the double bluff. He won't try it

again. The free kick comes in. It is over the top. That is what I'm

again. The free kick comes in. It is over the top. That is what talking

about, that is exactly the kind of thing Holland have to careful about.

Very good defending from Vlaar. Gonzales did not give him the space

to get a free header. Played up towards Bryan Ruiz. The ball will

not break. Martins Indi. Robin van Persie. That is a lovely Lie after

Lens. Robben. -- lay off. Robben goes down, free kick. Yellow card.

Right on the limits of the penalty area. It was almost on the line.

Yes, he sticks his arm out. Good feet from Robben. A bit of a tired

lunge from Gonzalez. Wesley Sneijder with the Netherlands free kick.

Navas has built a wall of four. The Netherlands are ready. Snyder goes

for gold. Off the post. It goes over the wall. Give Navas credit, he is

near enough there, if it was on target he may have got a hand on it.

Good stuff from de Vrij. We are set for a grandstand finish. Arjen

Robben takes three defenders with him. He is stopped by Diaz. Look how

quickly he is on the ball again. His shirt was being pulled. Arjen

Robben. With the latest chance to deliver something pretty special.

Robben. With the latest chance to Van Persie wanted it played in

quickly, he frees himself of the markers. It is off the head of

Gonzalez. Navas did not really get to it cleanly. Van Persie. That was

a lovely turn. Navas blocks. Kuyt is prevented and Costa Rica have

cleared. On the wrong foot for van Persie, the keeper gets down well to

his right hand side and he clears the danger. Robben. Snyder. Kuyt

wants it on the other side. Snyder in. Van Persie has missed. Surely he

just had to make contact. They don't know what has happened. I cannot

believe he has missed it. I thought it might have been a penalty but he

just misses completely, what a ball from Snyder. For a man of his

quality, that is a huge mess. -- Miss. Robben has momentum, Dias is

in the book. He is surely going here. He has checked the number. Is

he letting him off? I think he is. Well, that is incredible. By the

letter of the law, that is a yellow card but he gets done by the good

play, it is not malicious. Robin van Persie is set and ready. Fired in

but straight at the gloves of Navas. Wesley Sneijder. Blind. That is a

lovely ball in. It is missed by everybody. Off the bar. That is an

incredible scramble. De Bruyne runs it out. It is van Persie again. How

on earth did that not going? That is a great cross which everybody

misses. Tejeda on the post. De Vrij timed it to win the ball from

Bolanos. Kuyt is outside and he is needed. He cannot get any further,

though. That is a corner. More of the same from the Dutch, good

pressure. Kuyt on the move. A header from Ron Vlaar. Navas gets across,

you would not expect anything else. He is calmly awaiting this save. It

is a great header. Down? What does the

is a great header. Down? What does referee do? Nothing. He points for a

goal kick. Costa Rica are protesting, more strongly from the

touchline ban on the field. I tell you what, that is a penalty. Eclipse

is left leg. He goes down looking you what, that is a penalty. Eclipse

for it but I have seen them given -- he clips. Is it a substitution?

Krul? Louis van Gaal would do that. Bolanos, brilliant! And de Vrij

stops him from doing the ultimate damage to the defence. Not quite in,

desperate Dutch defending now. Bolanos, taking everyone on, it is a

Costa Rica corner, and, if anything, they are coming on more strongly.

Amazing! Cillessen saves! Cannot go on any

more! Oh, my days! Really good save, that, isn't it?

Umana climbs over the top of van Persie. Danny Murphy tapping his

watch, two minutes and counting. Huntelaar, with the lay-off two to

Lens. Sneijder, trying to call it in! Robben! He has gone into van

Persie. Umana, he has lost his balance. He would have had a

straight and square ball. What an effort from Sneijder! It was going

to have to take something effort from Sneijder! It was going

eat that goalkeeper, and that was a special strike. Krul is coming on

for Cillessen! This is a real story! He looks sick, Cillessen, he's made

him look like a bit of Aland. This is potentially his only World Cup

action. -- he has made him look like a bit of a lemon. That will do it,

0-0, final score in Salvador. Argentina's semifinal opponents will

be decided by a penalty shoot out. It is the Netherlands versus Costa

Rica. It is now Krul versus Navas. Borges as was the case in the last

16 against Greece, will be first up for Costa Rica. And he has put it

low. Superbly executed. Robin van Persie. And he does put it right

into the corner. Another terrific penalty. Ruiz is up next. Saved by

Krul! Dutch cheers right around the arena. He changed, didn't he? He

went the other way against Greece. Robben to make it advantage

Netherlands. Ignored the antics of Navas. Kept his eye on the ball.

Gonzalez beat Krul. He has just done his bit. Wesley Sneijder does not

miss many. And he does not miss this one either. Still, the men in orange

have the advantage, 3-2 after three kicks each. Bolanos looks nervous.

But he has scored. The kick was not nervous, not one bit. Nerveless.

Dirk out, he has never had a bigger kick for his country than this and

he scores. -- Kuyt. This is one of the leaders in the Costa Rican

side, showing nerves of steel to score the decisive kick against

Greece in the last round. He has two score to keep Costa Rica in the

World Cup at least for one more kick of the ball. Huge pressure. It is

saved by Krul! It is the Netherlands who go through to the semifinals.

The Costa Rica fairy tale ends here. We will talk about their efforts for

a long, long time, they will be heroes back home. But for this

moment now, it is about plain old Dutch courage. As displayed by Louis

van Gaal, he changed his keeper for the spot kicks. It was a gamble. The

money was on Tim Krul and he has paid out. Incredible drama at the

Arena Fonte Nova, have you recovered? Not really, an incredible

occasion. Costa Rica were valiant but they did not get there in the

end. What about the penalty shoot out? A massive call by Louis van

Gaal. It is a massive call. A wonderful moment for Tim Krul to

come off the bench, that was a big decision. Management at times is

about key decisions at the right moment and Louis van Gaal stepped up

to the plate. What about the penalty shoot out, getting your top players

to step up and they proved it? So often the star man wants to take the

fifth penalty but with Holland there was none of that nonsense, three key

players taking their first three penalties, all three of them scored

and it proved that it is a team game, not about the individuals at

this stage, it is about pulling together. Tim Krul coming on, it

must have been heartbreaking bacillus and at that key stage. --

for Cillessen. I saw him kicking over a water bottle in frustration.

Some of the fans may disagree but the Dutch deserved to go through?

Costa Rica had a good chance early on. You have to give Cillessen

credit. The Dutch were dominant throughout, Wesley Sneijder hit the

woodwork twice, van Persie had a couple of chances, Robben had

chances, they should have won it in normal time, should have won it in

extra time, full credit to the Costa Rican defence, but that was a big

moment later. It did not happen for them. Manchester United fans must be

delighted with their new manager, imagine the season we have coming

up. I cannot wait for the first meeting between Louis van Gaal and

Jose Mourinho? Yes, there are so many top coaches in the Premier

League, you could have a World Cup winning coach stepping into the role

that Old Trafford, what a story that would be. There seems to be in a

believable team spirit in the nettle and side? Yes, that is what van Gaal

has created, over the years there have been controversies and spats at

the Netherlands but there is none of that nonsense under van Gaal, he is

a disciplinarian. There is a bit of fun and leniency as well. We have

two cracking semifinals to look forward to, and don't forget it is

the Wimbledon men's final. And Federer against Djokovic is live

on BBC1 at two o'clock. Back in Brazil we have two fantastic

semifinals to look forward to. On Tuesday in Belo Horizonte it is

Brazil against Germany. And on Wednesday we will have highlights of

the Netherlands against Argentina. So, Kevin Kilbane, who is your money

on now? The favourites now would be Germany simply because Brazil have

Neymar and Thiago Silva out, two keep players so far. Germany will

beat them, so it puts them as the slight favourites, overall Germany

looks solid and clinical, I would not have gone with Germany before

the game against France because I thought France might beat them but

now they are favourites because they are too hard to breakdown. They have

to start converting their chances, are you convinced by the false nine

of Thomas Muller? There is vulnerability in every one of the

sides, and that is the beauty of this World Cup, nobody has been

convincing. The way Germany played against France, they were difficult

to breakdown and closer' was not getting service but he did not

create opportunities. Then Thomas Muller goes up playing the false

nine, he does not get chances himself but he works hard for the

side. It is an intriguing last four but the key is Neymar and Thiago

Silva being out, that will be too much of a hindrance for Brazil.

Thank you for joining us. Four teams are left standing, two wins away

from the biggest prize in world football. Goodbye for now. Plenty of

people have France as the dark forces but they have to beat the

might of Germany. -- dark horses. It is 1-0 and Germany lead! Germany

roll on again. Who can keep their cool in Fortaleza? Thiago Silva has

put Brazil in front! It is dipping and it is in, that is brilliant.

That is a picture no Brazilian wants to see. Brazil are into the

semifinals of their own World Cup. This is the first meeting between

these two nations for 28 years. Higuain, 1-0 Argentina! Higuain! It

is off the top of the bar. And Argentina are heading to S?o Paulo.

There always seems to be at least one team capturing the imagination.

Sneijder goes for gold, off the post. That is a lovely ball and it

is missed by everybody. Cillessen saves it. Trying to curl it in. Tim

Krul... And it is saved by Krul! Holland are going through to the

semifinals.