Netherlands players turned down first penalty
Louis van Gaal has revealed why centre back Ron Vlaar took the Netherlands’ first penalty in their shoot-out defeat to Argentina last night:
“I asked two players to take the first ball before ending up with Vlaar.”
“I thought he was the best player on the pitch so should have confidence.”
Van Gaal, meanwhile, was disappointed to come unstuck against his former player Sergio Romero:
“I taught Romero how to stop penalties, so that hurts. We were the club to bring him to Europe.”
“He was a big talent, and someone who has the qualities to do that.”