FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014 47 FAN FERVOR Dutch shootout demons return to haunt them Argentina beat Dutch; set up Germany final SAO PAULO: Argentina’s players run to celebrate after teammate Maxi Rodriguez scored the last penalty as Netherlands’ players react at the end of the World Cup semifinal soccer match between the Netherlands and Argentina at the Itaquerao Stadium on Wednesday, July 9, 2014. — AP SAO PAULO: Traditional Dutch frailty in shootout against Costa Rica but Van Gaal two of the four Dutch spot-kicks and he penalty shootouts again proved their had used all three substitutions against is a player Van Gaal knows well. “The Achilles heel when they lost 4-2 on spot- Argentina so Cillessen had to stay on the penalty series is always a matter of luck,” kicks to Argentina after a goalless World field. “If I had had the opportunity to the Dutch coach said. “And, of course, I Cup semi-final on Wednesday. Coach substitute Jasper I would have done that taught Romero how to stop penalties so Louis van Gaal was forced to use defend- but I had already used three substitutes that hurts.” Van Gaal brought Romero to er Ron Vlaar as his first penalty taker and so I couldn’t do that,” the Dutch coach AZ Alkmaar in 2007 when he was coach he was also left to regret being unable to told reporters. “I thought it was neces- and although he later said his comments send on his expert spot-kick saver Tim sary to get Van Persie out because he were made in jest his hurt was evident. Krul for the shootout. “I asked two play- was on his last legs,” he added. “My feel- “It is the most terrible scenario to lose on ers to take the first kick before deciding ing was that (Klaas-Jan) Huntelaar would penalties at the very least we were the on Vlaar because I thought Vlaar was the make the goal.” equal party in the match if not the better best player on the field and I thought he Argentina keeper Sergio Romero team so that of course is a big disap- had a great deal of confidence,” Van Gaal emerged as his team’s hero by saving pointment,” he said. — Reuters told reporters. “But it goes to show, when push comes to shove it is not easy to score a Two popes ‘face off penalty kick. Everybody knows that.” Van Gaal did not name the other player he had asked to take the first kick, a task in World Cup final’ handed in the quarter-final win over Costa Rica to striker Robin van Persie VATICAN CITY: Football-mad Pope Francis “might” watch the World Cup who was substituted in extra time final on Sunday between his native Argentina and Germany but is unlikely against Argentina. Arjen Robben and to do so alongside his German predecessor Benedict XVI contrary to media Dirk Kuyt scored their penalties but mid- speculation, the Vatican said. “He might want to watch the final,” Vatican fielder Wesley Sneijder also missed while spokesman Federico Lombardi said of Francis, formerly the archbishop of the Argentines converted four out of Buenos Aires Jorge Bergoglio-a fan and card-carrying member of the San four to reach Sunday’s final against Lorenzo de Almagro club since childhood. Germany. But a Vatican source said he “excluded categorically” the prospect of The Dutch have now lost two out of pope emeritus Benedict XVI, an academic theologian with a penchant for three penalty shootouts at World Cups classical piano, sitting down in front of his television set to watch the face- as well as three out of four in European off. “It’s really not his thing, he is not a fan. It would be like inflicting an infi- Championships. “When you take one nite penitence on him at the age of 87,” the source said, adding: “He has you have to score and that didn’t hap- never been able to watch a football match from beginning to end in his pen, so it wasn’t good enough,” Vlaar life”. Benedict did like to keep informed on football results while he was said. “I would never walk away from my pope and could at least comment on the big matches but he did not follow responsibility. I wasn’t nervous, I was his home team, Bayern Munich. That has not prevented a few jokes from focused. But it must go in and it didn’t. doing the rounds in the Vatican ahead of the big game at Rio de Janeiro’s “It’s tough, but that’s what sport is Maracana. Father Thomas Rosica, a member of the Vatican communications, about,” he added. “It really hurts, a quipped in a tweet: “Unconfirmed reports in Italian media: large quantities dream which gets put out.” Van Gaal also of mate and Fanta delivered to Vatican for private event Sunday”-a refer- rued the fact he could not use substitute ence to the famous Argentine tipple and the German fizzy drink. Krul in the shootout as he did so success- ‘There would be a war!’ fully against Costa Rica. First-choice The contrast could not be greater between Benedict and Francis, who is Jasper Cillessen had failed to stop any of regularly updated on the activities of San Lorenzo and a team delegation the 13 penalties he has faced in his pro- came to the Vatican in December to give him their trophy after they won fessional career and that number the national championship. They also gave him the club’s red-and-blue increased to 17 on Wednesday. team colours with the words “Francisco Campeon” (Francis Champion) writ- ten on the back and the goalkeeper’s gloves-used in a save that helped Fine saves them win the tournament. —AFP Krul made two fine saves in the.