Sao Paulo: Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero told his compatriots to “enjoy the moment” after saving two penalties in the semi-final shoot-out win over the Netherlands on Wednesday to send his country into their first World Cup final since 1990.
“Enjoy the moment, we will enjoy it and tomorrow we will start working for the final,” he said in a televised interview.
“I feel immense happiness, I’m really happy with everything. [Penalties] are a question of luck, that is the reality. I had confidence in myself and, fortunately, everything turned out well.
“Hope has been intact since day one,” he added.
Romero, who was voted man of the match for his shoot-out heroics, had warm words for both coaches.
Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal was the goalkeeper’s boss at Dutch club AZ Alkmaar, where he went in 2007, and Van Gaal joked after the match that he had taught Romero how to save penalties.
“I went to the dressing room to thank him [Van Gaal],” Romero told reporters.
“He is someone who helped me a lot when I arrived in Holland, in a completely different country, with different customs, where they spoke a completely different language.
“At the beginning I didn’t speak a word, and he spoke Spanish and he helped me a lot. So just as I am grateful to [Argentina coach] Alejandro [Sabella], I am also grateful to Van Gaal for everything he did for me.”
Battered and bruised
Meanwhile, Van Gaal took some credit for showing Argentina’s Sergio Romero how to stop penalties, advice that cost the Netherlands coach dearly on Wednesday.
“I taught Romero to stop penalties, so that hurts,” said Van Gaal.
Argentina coach Sabella said Romero keeps a folder of information on other teams and their players and where they normally aim their penalties.
Before the World Cup, Sabella insisted he still considered Romero as his top choice despite his lack of playing time in the French league.
Striker Sergio Aguero, who came off the bench and scored one of his side’s penalties, was equally ecstatic at reaching the final.
“This means so much. A lot of people didn’t think Argentina would get to the final but we knew what players we had, very good players individually.
“The match was about seeing who make a mistake and nobody did,” added the Manchester City striker.
The Dutch were eliminated from a major tournament on penalties for the fifth time as Argentina converted all four of their kicks.
Maxi Rodriguez, who replaced Ezequiel Lavezzi during the shoot-out, was one of the Albiceleste’s successful penalty takers, and he can now look forward to playing in a World Cup final at the age of 33.
“It is impressive. We know the pain we have been through, and we deserved some kind of happiness,” he said.
“Now we have to play the final but that is what we have dreamt of ever since we left Buenos Aires. We must make the most of it and let’s hope that the last 90 minutes are on our side.
“I dedicate this to my family and all of Argentina, to everyone who is crying like us, who have had a dream since they were little and now might be able to see it fulfilled.”
