Nigel De Jong is a surprise starter in tonight’s World Cup semi-final between the Netherlands and Leo Messi’s Argentina.
It kicks off in Sao Paulo at 21.00 UK time (20.00 GMT) with Germany awaiting the winners in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday.
The losing side will take on hosts Brazil in Saturday’s battle for third place.
Nigel De Jong is a surprise starter in tonight’s World Cup semi-final between the Netherlands and Leo Messi’s Argentina.
It kicks off in Sao Paulo at 21.00 UK time (20.00 GMT) with Germany awaiting the winners in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday.
The losing side will take on hosts Brazil in Saturday’s battle for third place.
There will be a minute’s silence before kick-off and Argentina wear black armbands after the death of legend Alfredo Di Stefano.
It has been said Argentina are too reliant on star player Messi, who scored four goals in the tournament so far, and won none of their games by more than a single-goal margin.
L’Albiceleste are forced to do without Angel Di Maria due to a thigh strain, so Enzo Perez steps in to his place, but Marcos Rojo returns from suspension.
Sergio Aguero is fit enough for the bench after his long injury lay-off, as Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain retains his spot in attack with Ezequiel Lavezzi.
Lazio” data-scaytid=”11″>Lazio midfielder Lucas Biglia is preferred to Fernando Gago.
Holland have been unpredictable in Brazil, thrashing Spain 5-1 in the group phase only to require penalties in order to see off Costa Rica in the quarter-final.
That game saw goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen surprisingly substituted by Tim Krul in the last minute of extra time.
It proved a masterstroke, as Krul saved two spot-kicks to send the Oranje through, but Louis Van Gaal maintains Cillessen is still his Number 1 pick and starts tonight.
De Jong had been practically ruled out of the tournament by a groin strain, but incredibly the Milan midfielder is in the starting XI after a remarkably quick recovery.
Van Gaal said in his Press conference it would take “a miracle” for De Jong to start, but told reporters ahead of tonight’s game “the miracle has occurred.”
There were doubts over Robin Van Persie after he trained separately from the squad yesterday due to a stomach complaint, but he is in the starting XI with Robben and Wesley Sneijder.
The Dutch have an excellent record against Argentina, undefeated in their last five encounters.
Netherlands: Cillessen; De Vrij, Vlaar, Martins Indi; Kuyt, De Jong, Wijnaldum, Blind; Sneijder; Van Persie, Robben
Argentina: Romero; Zabaleta, Garay, Demichelis, Rojo; Perez, Mascherano, Biglia; Messi; Lavezzi, Higuain
Ref: Cakir (TUR)