We dont like penalty shootouts to end matches. P.J. Hall Raiders Jersey . Thats what they tell us. Play on until they score. Argentina and Netherlands may still be playing until Sundays final if that were the case. It was a drab affair, arguably the worst game of the World Cup. With so much on the line, no team came close to proving why they deserved to win it. Fittingly, the record books will show it as a draw: A stalemate in every sense of the word. It was a chess match where both players didnt make moves for long stretches. Just when it looked like either of them could capture their queen, along came two of the best pawns on the board. It was Javier Mascherano vs. Ron Vlaar. Both players were magnificent for their team but their standout performances said a lot about the oppositions weaknesses. Argentina have been waiting for a player to step up to a level that Lionel Messi has been at during this World Cup, but on a night when their current captain didnt get close to that level, their former skipper stepped up with an absolutely immense performance. Mascherano sat deep, allowed the defenders to play deep as well and flat out refused the Dutch any space in front of them. It forced their opponents to play long balls to try and get Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie into the match. In possession, Mascherano was also excellent with distribution helping his side attack down the right and target Bruno Martins Indi. Louis van Gaal reacted quickly at half-time by removing the Feyenoord man. That Argentina forced them into a move so quickly played a big part in how the game was played. When Nigel De Jong, back after a thigh injury, had to come off in the second half, suddenly van Gaal only had one move left. A move he decided to use by removing the ineffective van Persie in extra time. No one could argue that the Dutch team needed Klaas Jan Huntelaar but for a game that looked so destined for penalties, the removal of the Manchester United striker could be questioned. What definitely needs to be questioned is the order of the penalty takers for the Dutch. It was clear that van Gaal wanted to keep as many of his players in the same spot as they were used in the shootout victory over Costa Rica. That day the Dutch went four-for-four in order: van Persie, Robben, Sneijder, Kuyt. Huntelaar was the fifth taker but wasnt used. Against Argentina, van Gaal looked at his team and knew the only one he had to replace was van Persie at number one. Every credit to Ron Vlaar, the Aston Villa player, to step up and replace van Persie in the shootout but making him the first shooter was the wrong decision. In 24 previous World Cups the team that missed first lost 20 times. You cannot ask a player to take the first penalty in a key shootout when he wasnt even in your choice to be in the top five in the last shootout. Vlaar had had a wonderful match. Argentina tried to force things wide but ultimately they were drawn back centrally and Vlaar, in the middle of the back three, won every tackle and aerial duel he went for. After 120 minutes, though, his job was not done. Showing nerves, he stepped up quickly, from the prompt of the whistle, and it wasnt a good penalty. The moment Vlaars effort was saved by Sergio Romero the momentum changed. Lionel Messi was the right choice for Argentina to take the first penalty and, to no ones surprise, he scored. Messi had struggled throughout the game, which was the first World Cup game he has played when he didnt get a touch in the opponents penalty area. It was clear the Dutch had done their homework and their mandate was to shut down Messi. He will receive his fair share of criticism based on this performance but, once again, this match was another shining example of how much he needs his teammates to take him to glory. The Barcelona man has carried Argentina to this stage, it is only fitting that some - in this case Romero, Mascherano and the rest of the shooters - helped carry him to the final. They are, however, a team that arrives in the final with flaws. This is nothing new. Many teams have reached the World Cup Final when not playing very well but few have won it. Argentina showed a lot of grit and fight in this semifinal, just like they did in the 120 minutes against Switzerland and the narrow 1-0 defeat over Belgium. However, despite their fight they do look very ordinary. They arrive in the final after scoring just two goals in three knockout matches. The only team in World Cup history to do that was Argentina in 1990 and that was a terribly average side who frustrated Germany for over 80 minutes in arguably one of the worst games in football history. No one will be hoping for a repeat on Sunday but I am sure it will cross Argentinas mind that they will be naive to think they can play an open, expansive game against Germany. The Dutch end their quest to be world champions with their heads held high. They went further than most imagined and many of their young players, players produced by their own clubs in their own league, will grow and get better for this experience. Many will also find new clubs, too. However, they will also reflect on just how close they were – once again – to getting over a significant hurdle on penalties. Van Gaal departs for Manchester United after a very good World Cup but ultimately his decision on the order of the takers had a massive impact on this result. Emmanuel Lamur Raiders Jersey . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. Shareece Wright Raiders Jersey . The 31-year-old Spain midfielder hasnt played since Madrid lost in the Copa del Rey final to Atletico Madrid in May due to back and foot injuries. http://www.theraidersfansclub.com/Black-Kolton-Miller-Raiders-Jersey.html?cat=959 . Beckham says "nothing has been confirmed yet, but its something I am very excited about." He adds that "Miami is something that really excites me because there is a great energy down there.Ames, IA (SportsNetwork.com) - Naz Long poured in 20 points and Georges Niang added 15, leading 11th-ranked Iowa State to an 86-81 win over No. 9 Kansas on Saturday at Hilton Coliseum. Dustin Hogue chipped in 14 points for Iowa State (13-3, 3-1 Big 12), which bounced back from a 74-73 loss at Baylor on Wednesday. The Cyclones extended their home winning streak to 16 games, including nine straight against conference opponents. Perry Ellis scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Kansas (14-3, 3-1), which entered the contest as the last unbeaten team in conference play. The Jayhawks had a five-game winning streak stopped. They were a lot faster than us, said Kansas coach Bill Self. I think they surprised us early in the game by getting it out quick and beating us a couple of possessions down the floor. We didnt do a good job of that at all. They outplayed us. Iowa State extended a three-point halftime advantage to 12 points just over five minutes into the second half, as Niangs layup made it 51-39. Kansas, though, followed with a 14-4 run and pulled within 55-53 on a Kelly Oubre Jr. dunk with 9 1/2 minutes remaining. A Jameel McKay dunk then ignited a 16-4 Iowa State surge. McKay added four more points during the burst, which also featured triples from Niang and Long. Longs layup capped it and gave the Cyclones a 71-57 cushion with 6 1/2 minutes to play. Kansas again rallied and a bucket by Oubre made it 74-70, but Iowa State countered with a quick layup by Monte Morris, got a stop and added a Hogue dunk for an eight-point game. The Jayhawks didnt quit and pulled within 82-79 in the final minute thanks to some poor free throw shooting by Iowa State. Morris made the ssecond of two free throws for a two-possession game, but Wayne Selden was called for a charge at the other end with 14 seconds remaining. Arden Key Raiders Jersey. Bryce Dejean-Jones continued the Iowa State trend by making 1-of-2 at the line, but Frank Mason III missed a runner in the lane for Kansas and Long sealed it with two at the stripe. We are really struggling from the free throw line right now, said Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg. Well keep working on them. It would have been nice to keep that (lead) at double digits, but Kansas does that to you. Its a team that knows how to win and the games not over until the buzzer sounds. Mason led the Jayhawks with 21 points and Selden added 12 in defeat. Dejean-Jones scored 12 points, while McKay and Morris each finished with 11. Morris also contributed 10 assists and a matched a career high with seven rebounds. Kansas opened an 8-3 lead early, but Iowa State quickly answered with eight of the next 10 for an 11-10 lead and it remained close until the final minutes of the first half. The Cyclones opened a 34-28 lead on a Hogue 3-pointer with 1:49 left, but Kansas responded with five straight before Longs basket sent Iowa State to the break with a 36-33 edge. Game Notes Iowa State has won the last two meetings after dropping five in a row to the Jayhawks. The teams will meet again on Feb. 2 at Allen Fieldhouse ... Iowa State is 40-2 at Hilton Coliseum in the last three seasons. Both losses have come against Kansas ... Morris notched his first career double-double and his fourth career game with double-figure assists ... Iowa State will next host Kansas State on Tuesday ... Kansas will return home Monday to play Oklahoma. Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale NFL Camo Jerseys NFL Jerseys From China China NFL Gear Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Stitched NFL Jerseys ' ' '