By Lance Jenkinson
We’ve reached that stage of the 2014 World Cup where results are far more important than ‘joga bonito’ – the beautiful game.
Argentina and the Netherlands received no prizes for their execution of the beautiful game at the quarter-finals but achieved the desired result – passage to the last four.
In past World Cups, Argentina has been feted for its enterprising style of play without reaping the ultimate reward.
The last time they reached a final was 1990, despite so often going into the tournaments as one of the favourites in the 24 years since.
Under manager Alejandro Sabella they mean business, preferring to treasure a one-goal lead over pushing for the third or fourth that might have been desired at previous World Cups.
Argentina has won all five matches, all by a single goal.
An instinctive goal on the turn from Gonzalo Higuain in the eighth minute clinched a 1-0 win over Belgium in the quarter-final.
Argentina is one of the toughest nuts to crack with clean sheets in three of its five matches in the tournament.
Concede an early goal to the Albiceleste and it could be the Netherlands’ death warrant in the semi-final.
The Dutch so often bring the flair to the world game and this was evident as it powered through their group, which included Australia.
They are the equal-highest-scoring team in the competition with 12 goals.
But even the Oranje – after scoring two or more goals in four of their previous five matches – understand the need to eke out a result this time.
Manager Louis Van Gaal will expect to take the Dutch to a second straight World Cup final.
