Entertaining/Boring world cup semi-final
JOBURG - 120 minutes of soccer before penalties in second semi-final of world cup. What do residents think?
Residents discuss whether the second semi-final of the 2014 Fifa World Cup Brazil was entertaining or boring.
Argentina beat Netherlands 4–2 on penalties after a 0–0 draw on day 23 of the world cup, 09 and 10 July, to set up a final against Germany on 13 July.
Brazil will play Netherlands in a play-off match for third place on 12 July.
Few chances were created in the 120 minutes of game time, as both sides’ defences generally dealt with the opposition team’s attacks.
Some notable chances are mentioned:
In the second half of normal time Argentina forward Gonzalo Higuain deflected a cross towards goal which just missed the right hand post.
To many fans looking on from a certain angle the ball appeared to have gone in, but it had not, and Higuain was incorrectly ruled offside anyway.
Also in the second half of normal time, Netherlands forward Arjen Robben found himself one-on-one with Argentina keeper Sergio Romero (who was later awarded man of the match), but Argentina defender Javier Mascherano somehow slid in between Robben and goal, performing an excellent sliding tackle.
In extra time Argentina forward Rodrigo Palacio headed from point blank range straight into the hands of Netherlands keeper Jasper Cillessen.
Netherlands defender Ron Vlaar was the first to step up for the penalties, but his was saved by Romero.
One by one Argentina players scored, and when Netherlands midfielder Wesley Sneijder’s penalty was also saved it gave Argentina a strong advantage.
Argentina continued to make no mistakes, and when which Cillessen could only deflect a powerful Maxi Rodriguez shot into the roof of the net for Argentia’s fourth converted penalty, Argentina were through.
Before the world cup started Spokesperson for Randburg Football Club Marlon Abrahams said that Argentina was the second most likely team to win the tournament after Brazil.
He cited Argentina’s geographical closeness to Brazil, them being Brazil’s traditional rivals and the Lionel Messi factor as reasons for this.
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Read day 22′s action here.
