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. Mike Moustakas Jersey . 4 jersey of former defenseman Rob Blake this coming season. The ceremony will take place prior to the Kings January 17 game against Anaheim. Omar Infante Royals Jersey . -- Cordell Cato scored his first goal of the season and the San Jose Earthquakes survived a full half playing a man down to beat FC Dallas 2-1 Saturday night. http://www.authentickcroyalsprostore.us ... ls-jersey/. The Tiger-Cats announced on Friday the linebacker has signed a new contract with the team through the 2016 season. Lorenzo Cain Royals Jersey .Y. -- As if the worst start in franchise history isnt bad enough, Buffalo Sabres President Ted Black braced his teams win-starved fans for potentially more tough times. George Brett Royals Jersey . For the Bombers it has been a combination of things coming together at the most inappropriate moments in time. Quarterback, injuries, Canadian talent or depth and leadership are all issues. Trust me when I say being a Bomber is no fun right now in a city that embraces football the way Winnipeg does. While Buck Pierce will be getting another shot, I think Max Hall does deserve another opportunity.TORONTO - The Toronto Blue Jays will send Drew Hutchison to the mound today and could have closer Casey Janssen available out of the bullpen for the third game of a four-game set against the Los Angeles Angels. The Jays activated Janssen from the 15-day disabled list early on Sunday. The 32-year-old has been out since the beginning of the season with a left abdominal lower back strain. The 23-year-old Hutchison is 0-2 over his last six starts since a victory at Tampa Bay on April 1 in his first start of 2014. Hutchison allowed nine hits and five runs over eight innings of a no-decision against Philadelphia on Tuesday. His only appearance against the Angels came May 6, 2012 in Anaheim when he gave up eight hits and four runs in 5 1/3 innings of a 4-3 defeat. Angels starter Jered Weaver is 3-0 with a 1.78 ERA over his last four starts and hasnt lost since April 6 at Houston. The right-hander threw eight strong innings in a 4-1 home win over the Yankees Monday. Weaver escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the top of the eighth. He gave up a run on six hits, walked one and struck out seven. In 10 career starts versus Toronto, Weaver is 8-2 with a 3.68 ERA. In taking the first two of this four-game series, the Angels have won six in a row in Toronto. Their last loss at Rogers Centre came June 30, 2012 and thhey have won nine of the last 10 meetings overall.dddddddddddd Tyler Skaggs spun eight-plus strong frames, C.J. Cron clubbed his first big league homer, and the Angels earned a 5-3 win yesterday afternoon in the second installment of this four-game series. Skaggs (3-1) struck out four while giving up just four hits and three runs -- two earned -- over his stellar outing. "He had some good movement on his fastball," Blue Jays catcher Erik Kratz said of Skaggs. "There werent a lot of hard hits today." Cron stroked a solo shot in the third inning and singled home a run in the second, while Chris Iannetta smacked a two-run homer. "Tyler is really coming into his own. You can really see the maturation process," Iannetta said of his batterymate. "He just keeps getting better and hopefully he just keeps learning how to pitch and learning how to execute." Toronto starter J.A. Happ (1-1) lasted just 2 1/3 innings after giving up four runs on seven hits and a walk. Jose Bautista scored once and also knocked in a run for the Blue Jays, who came into this series with five consecutive wins. Angels manager Mike Scioscia is scheduled to return to the team. He missed the first two contests of the series to attend his daughters college graduation. China Jerseys Cheap Wholesale Authentic Jerseys NFL Jerseys Wholesale Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys From China ' ' '