Argentina vs Netherlands soccer preview

The World cup stadium in Sao Paulo will be alive again on Wednesday when the second semi final of this year's FIFA World cup takes centre stage.

Argentina will play against Netherlands in an explosive encounter. The South Americans have won the tournament on two occasions, while the Dutch side have lost their  two finals in 1978 and 2010.

They actually lost the 1978 final against a Diego Maradona inspired team. This time around, Lionel Messi will be the focal point of the 'Albaceleste'. Messi has scored four goals in Brazil and he will be expected to play a key role in taming the 'Oranje' of Netherlands on Wednesday.

Coach of the Argentine team,Sabella could feature Sergio Aguero in this fixture. The Manchester City striker has missed the last two matches due to a groin injury he sustained against Nigeria. He will be subjected to a late fitness test.  No one can guarantee that the ex-Atletico de Madrid player will be influential against Louis Van Gaal's men.
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Angel Di Maria is out of the World cup and he won't be expected to play a part in Wednesday's fixture. The Real Madrid striker got injured in the game against Belgium.

The Europeans
Netherlands overcame a dogged Costa Rican team in the quarter final on  Saturday via penalties. The trio of Arjen Robben, Wesley  Sneidjer and Robin Van Persie will lead the Dutch assault in Sao Paulo. RVP and Robben have scored 3 goals each.

This is the third World cup semi final in the last five appearances for Netherlands. Louis Van Gaal will obviously replace Clissen with Tim Krul if this match should go beyond 90 minutes and extra time.

ChatSoccer predicts a 3-2 win for Netherlands.

Kick off time: 20.00 UTC

Belgium bundled out of Brazil 2014

The Belgian national team have crashed out of the on going FIFA World cup in Brazil. The so-called golden generation of Belgium were woeful in their quarter final match against Argentina in Brasilia.

Napoli forward,  Gonzalo Higuain scored the only goal of the match after eight minutes.  The ex-Madridsta finished brilliantly after getting to the end of lovely ball from the midfield.

Angel Di Maria was very influential in the opening minutes of the game until he injured his thigh. A ferocious shot hit his thigh and after receiving a short treatment, he couldn't continue with the intensity that was noticed before then.
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Lionel Messi was denied by Courtious on few occasions as the Argentines failed to add ti their goal tally.

Eden Hazard and Fellaini couldn't trouble the South Americans,  while the introduction of Romelu Lukaku was not effective.

Argentina will face the winner of Netherlands in Sao Paulo on Wednesday. This will be the first time in 24 years that the 'Albaceleste' will go beyond the quarter final of the World cup.

Latest football transfer tips

Eric Abidal has been unveiled as a player of AS Monaco. The former Barcelona player is the second Spanish-based man to join the high spending French team after Radamel Falcao.

Abidal went through a kidney transplant and he missed a year of football while Pep Guardiola was in charge of the Spanish club.

Nigeria's Taiye Taiwo has joined Bursaspor of Turkey. The former AC Milan defender joined the Super liga club for a fee of around £3m.

Henrikh Mhiktaryan has agreed personal terms with Borussia Dortmund. The Armenian was formerly linked with a move to Liverpool.

Gonzalo Higuain is yet to hold talks with Arsenal. The Argentine is still a bonafide Real Madrid player despite transfer rumours linking the player with the London club.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is contemplating a move to Real Madrid. The PSG striker could join his former coach at the Madrid club.

Carlo Ancelotti joined the Spanish outfit after leading PSG to their first French league title in 19 years.

Preview: Real Madrid V Sporting Gijon

Real Madrid will intend to continue their goal scoring spree when they host Sporting Gijon at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday night. Madrid are expected to rest some of their star players ahead of their Champions League match at the Allianz Arena next week. The match will be played just a few days before the el classico against Barcelona next Saturday. Christiano Ronaldo is one yellow card away from being suspended for the Barcelona clash. Callejon might be on the starting line up.
Sporting Gijon have only won three of their last 15 Spanish Primera Liga games. A win for Madrid is almost a surety with or without Ronaldo on the starting line up.

Jose Mourinho

Our prediction: Real Madrid 4-1 Sporting Gijon

Real Madrid crush Osasuna!

Christian Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain scored two goals each as Madrid claimed a 5-1 away win over Osasuna in yesterday's Spanish Primera Liga match that was played at Estadio Reyno de Navarra. Karim Benzema opened scoring after just 7 minutes of action. Ronaldo's cross was volleyed into the corner of the Osasuna net from a difficult position. In the 37th minute, Ronaldo fired a shot from 40 yards and the goal keeper couldn't stop the Portuguese from grabbing his 36th league goal of the season. Spanish International, Xabi Alonso fashoined out a great pass that was converted by Gonzalo Higuain as Madrid took a 3-0 lead on the 40th minute mark.

After the restart, Roversio unleashed a cross that was headed in by Nino and the home side started dreaming of a come back. Ronaldo scored his brace with a well taken free kick in the 70th minute. Seven minutes later Gonzalo Higuain scored his 101st goal in the history of the league. Ronaldo's cross was nodded in by the Argentine striker who has now scored 20 goals in this season's Primera Liga. Real Madrid will host APOEL Nicosia in the Champions League on Wednesday before Valencia's visit to the Bernabeu next weekend while Osasuna will meet Rayo Vallecano.

CSKA bows to Mourinho's men in Madrid.

CSKA Moscow of Russia are out of this season's UEFA Champions League. The Russian side travelled to Spain after a 1-1 draw was played at the Luzhniki stadium in the first leg. CSKA were very organized at the back in the opening 25 minutes of the game, while Nigerian International, Ahmed Musa's long range effort was the notable goal attempt the visitors had in the first half. Sami Khedira delivered an inch perfect pass to Kaka who set up Gonzalo Higuain for the first goal after 26 minutes. Chepchugov fumbled when Ronaldo fired a long range shot in the 55th minute. The ball bounced in front of him before sailing into the net to make it 2-0 to Real Madrid. Karim Benzema was introduced into the game after 70 minutes and the Frenchman made an instant impact by putting the game beyond CSKA Moscow by poking home a rebound that came off goal keeper, Chepchugov. Seven minutes on, Zoran Tosic cut in from the left flank before unleashing a shot that beat Iker Casillas from 21 yards. The Spanish keeper denied Tomas Necid from creating a panic in the Madrid team.

C.Ronaldo

Karim Benzema passed the ball to Christiano Ronaldo to score his 6th Champions League goal of the season in the final minute of the game. Jose Mourinho's frustration turned into joy at the end of the match.  At one point, the Portuguese manager was annoyed with his team's defence. Barcelona and Real Madrid are the two teams from the La liga that have made it to the last eight. The six other teams are from different countries.

Real crush Espanyol to maintain 10 points gap.

Real Madrid defeated Catalan club, Espanyol by 5 goals to nil at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday night. A brace from Argentine forward, Gonzalo Higuain and a goal apiece from Kaka,Khedira and Ronaldo were enough for the Jose Mourinho team to claim all the three points at stake. Gonzalo provided the assist for Christiano Ronaldo's goal in the 23rd minute. Sami Khedira doubled his team's lead in the 38th minute.

Brazilian playmaker,Kaka beat the offside trap of the visitors in the 47th minute before picking out Higuain who smashed home from close range. Ricardo Kaka made it 4-0 when he received a pass from the Argentine forward before beating two Espanyol defenders to grab his first goal in many weeks.
It was five nil to the Merenges as Kaka supplied an accurate pass to Higuain who fired home his 16th goal of the Spanish Primera Liga. Madrid are still 10 points of clear of second-placed Barcelona that rallied to a 3-1 over Sporting Gijon despite playing with 10 me for close to 45 minutes.