Once again, Holland were reminded why it is only really the English who tend to be more petrified of penalties. It had been a recurring theme until their quarter-final against Costa Rica and this time Louis van Gaal had already used his three substitutes and could not bring on Tim Krul for his regular goalkeeper, Jasper Cillessen. Argentina had the greater accuracy from 12 yards and Lionel Messi will get his first World Cup final. It had been a wretched semi-final until those moments when the players lined up in the centre circle for that last test of nerve and Holland should not just reflect on the inability of Ron Vlaar and Wesley Sneijder to beat the Argentina goalkeeper, Sergio Romero, but also the fact their entire team did not manage a single shot on target during the 120 minutes that preceded the shootout. Argentina were not a great deal more effective on a night that should reiterate Germany’s position as the favourites at the Maracanã on Sunday, but the prize for Alejandro Sabella’s team will compensate for the fact it had been such a dreary spectacle. Romero blocked the first attempt from Vlaar and produced an even better save,…