WOW.... That match was totally nerve-wracking!
But, looking at the positives, 6 points is SO GOOD!

Pleeeeeease let the next match v Nigeria be a little less fraught!

This is not a very good sign.
Argentina has problem in play making for 2 matches already.

Game build up was slow. Hardly seen any good counter attacks or any break through passes. Di Maria, Aguero are really poor in creating opportunities.

Everything rests on Messi alone. This won't do in deeper rounds.

Hope they have learnt and improve on this

A difficult match for sure. But they won, that's all that matters in the end. Messi is magic.
I dont mind Argentina having a slow start as long as they pick up the points. Iran was only interested in defending. It's not eady playing teams like that. Hopefulle they'll be better whrn playing more attack-oriented teams.

Sabella has to play 4-2-3-1. I heard he's going to play 4-4-2, that's not bad, but it will be a disaster if he continues to play 4-3-3 like that, the same mistake Maradona did in the last world cup.

Nope Sabella or no other coach will make any Maradona-scale mistakes - don't worry be happy

Half time v Switzerland. 0-0.

Disappointing first half.
C'mon guys... step it up a bit 2nd half, pleeease!

EDIT: Heyyy Rene, just seen your post... Hiii!

Well 1-0 - nice with an walk ower

Arrrrggghhh!! I'm a nervous wreck after that!

I couldn't have stood it if it had gone to penalties.

Awful game really, but 1-0 is a relief!

Let's see who it's going to be against on Saturday.

It took 30 years before I fotgot about the first game of the WC 1982, but tx. God I still remember the semifinal of the WC 1986

Vamos

I dont have the nerves for Argentina this WC. It would be great if they stopped leaving it to the end. A very deserved win in the end.

Some matches and some world cups stay with you, let,s hope this will stay with us for the right reasons.

Well, I'm tired of Argentina playing brilliantly and getting knocked out in the quarter finals. Let's hope this time we'll make something no matter how we play. Anyway I'm glad Sabella turned into 4-2-3-1.
In Messi we trust
Vamos Argentina

I want to share this with you guys. This is a guy who went to Argentina vs Bosnia match in the Maracana. The atmosphere is so overwhelming. He's speaking in Arabic but I think you'll understand what's going on
http://youtu.be/TQRKmj2Kfl4
Enjoy

I think Belgium will again use the same strategy as all other teams. We can expect Belgium using deep & tight defense and rely on counter attack and set pieces. Hazard & Lukaku are dangerous & no mistake should be made.

Argentina will face another tough match for sure. Hope we can finish them in 90 minutes.

Yes!!!
An early goal at last :)

Half time, looking good so far! Finger's crossed...

Phewwwwwww!! I'm a nervous WRECK!!!
FT 1-0

Now to see who we play on Weds... I hope it's Costa Rica.

Fingers crossed for Costa Rica. Absolutely.

Hello

Katy, Linda,Rene, Karun and Omar..

My friends it is great to see you all on here :)


I hope everyone is well.

We are doing ok in the Copa Mundial.. Looks like its our year :)

Daryl

Forza Albiceleste 2014 !!!!!!

Now we have taken Copacabana - Maracana to come.

Vamos Germany - Tonight and we will to the other spot tomorrow

I assume this is taken from Avenida Atlantica


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-0nuErpueo

Brasilero brasilero,
que amargado se te ve,
Maradona es mas grande,
es mas grande que Pele

So nice to see you Daryl. I'm well. Hope you are too.

I cannot believe Germany-Brazil tonight. Talk about a walk over.

Linda

I agree odd game, even felt a bit sorry for the fans..

I Hope we do well tomm.

Greetings Rene

Forza Albiceleste !!!!!

Damn, why should Brazil score a late goal - a perfect night ruined at the very end

Hi Daryl, good to see you again!

Less than an hour to go and I'm REALLY nervous! Especially after watching Brazil getting trashed by Germany last night.

I've never forgiven Holland for WC 98, so it's PAY BACK time as far as I'm concerned!

Found this...

Argentina face a familiar foe in Netherlands for World Cup final spot
Roy Nemer Wednesday 9 Jul 2014 10:45 am


Argentina are back in the semi-finals of a World Cup, this time against a familiar opponent.

July 3, 1990 was the last time Argentina took part in a semi-final of a World Cup, where they defeated hosts Italy. Twenty-four years later, the country finds itself back in this stage of the competition, lead by another magical 10, when they play the Netherlands.

This will be the fifth meeting between these two countries at a World Cup and save for the last one; every match has produced magic. They first played each other in 1974 where the Netherlands thrashed the Albiceleste 4-0.

Their second match came four years later at the final of the 1978 World Cup in Argentina, where the home team triumphed to their first world title. The third time came in 1998 when Denis Bergkamp scored one of the best goals you will see at any World Cup to send the Netherlands through to the next round.

The last meeting came in 2006, where they were drawn in the same group and having already both made the next round, played to a 0-0 draw.

This time, however, a place in the World Cup final is at stake and Argentina’s undefeated when it comes to semi-finals of a World Cup.

Alejandro Sabella is rumored to have his team set up in a 4-4-3 formation with Enzo Perez (who was voted the player of the year in Portugal) starting in place of Angel di Maria, who is out injured. Lucas Biglia is set to keep his spot in midfield alongside Javier Mascherano.

In the back line, Marcos Rojo, who was suspended for Argentina’s last match will start. Martin Demichelis, who was defensively solid against Belgium, is rumored to start again with Ezequiel Garay and Manchester City’s Pablo Zabaleta.

Up front, Argentina will line up the same way they did in their previous two matches, that is to say with Lionel Messi along with Gonzalo Higuain and Ezequiel Lavezzi.

Argentina got through the mental block of making it past the quarter-finals and unlike for a few players of the Netherlands who made it to the final of 2010, this is uncharted territory for Sabella’s team.

For the South American’s, this has been Lionel Messi’s World Cup. He’s been in the heart of it all and behind every attack for his team. As the tournament has progressed, Messi has gotten more and more help from his team-mates, which can only be seen as something positive.

A win for Argentina will see them through to their first final since 1990. But before thinking of a final, they will need a team effort just like the one against Belgium. A victory against the team who eliminated them in 1998 and they will find themselves playing for the World Cup on Sunday.


Here we goooooo..... FINGERS CROSSED!!!!!!

At last!

WooooooooHoooooo!!!!

I,m pinching my arm. Still a bit shaken. After 16 years of Argentina fandom we,re there. Final.

I,ll be a wreck on Sunday, but if we can lift that throphy....my God.

So happy to celebrate this with you all.

Yeeeeeeaaaaaah .... At last

This is just great. We are in the final.

Hope the haunts that I have been getting world cup after world cup since 1994
will be over this time

-1994: Maradona failed drug test & the team collapsed
-1998: for some reason Redondo and Cannigia were left out and Argentina failed in the crucial moment.
-2002: We were the best in the world but then we saw the worst nightmare ever
-2006: Argentina performed much better than Germany in quarter final but could not get through penalty shootout.
-2010: Zanetti, Cambiasso and Riquelme were left out and Messi didn't have enough support to shine.

Argentina had capabilities to reach at least Semi Final in each of those tournaments & also capabilities to win in 2002.

But this time Argentina deserves the Cup & hope we will.

Well, I've just about calmed down now, still feeling SO elated though!

Let's just enjoy this while we can, because Sunday's match will be very difficult I'm sure! I think we will start this match as the 'underdogs'!

A salute to our heroes....

A few more pics courtesy of the Daily Mail...