The Netherlands has barely resembled the imposing squad that dismantled Spain in the opener, needing van Gaal’s savvy to avoid elimination in each of its knockout games. Arjen Robben has been magnificent – theatrics aside – but Robin van Persie has been largely absent and the Dutch have struggled to finish.
And no matter what formation van Gaal uses, the Dutch defense will have its hands full with Lionel Messi and Argentina. The Albiceleste finally seemed to have found their groove against Belgium after early struggles of their own, though not having Angel di Maria (thigh) against the Netherlands is a huge loss.
The one thing neither team lacks is motivation. This is Argentina’s first trip to the semifinals since 1990 while the Dutch are still bitter after coming oh-so close four years ago.
PREDICTION
ARGENTINA 1 - NETHERLANDS 0 (EXTRA TIME)
Argentina’s biggest problem early on was letting opponents hang around until too late, and it will pay dearly if it tries that against the Netherlands. The Dutch like to start fast so they can set the tempo for the game, and Argentina will be playing catch-up the whole night if it doesn’t respond immediately. A couple of early chances from Messi will even things out.
How they got here:
Argentina 2 - 0 Slovenia
Argentina 2 - 1 Bos.-Herz.
Argentina 3 - 2 Nigeria
Argentina 1 - 0 Switzerland
Argentina 1 - 0 Belgium
How they got here:
Nethlerands 5 - 1 Spain
Netherlands 3 - 2 Austrailia
Netherlands 2 - 0 Chile
Netherlands 2 - 1 Mexico
Netherlands 0 - 0 Costa Rica
North Korea fired two short-range missiles off the coast of the Korean Peninsula early Wednesday, a South Korean Defense Ministry official said.
North Korea did not declare a no-fly zone prior to the launch, the official said. No damage or injures were reported.
North Korea fires missiles
N. Korea tests 'cutting-edge missiles'
North Korea fires four missiles
The projectiles, assumed to be short-range ballistic missiles, flew more than 310 miles (almost 500 kilometers), the official said.
The official said the missiles were launched from North Korea's western Hwanghae Province and flew northeast toward the water.
Brazilian fans were left distraught by the team's performance
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has urged the country to bounce back after its devastating 7-1 World Cup defeat against Germany.
"Like all Brazilians, I am very, very sad after the defeat. But we will not let ourselves be broken," she tweeted.
The coach of the national team Luiz Felipe Scolari called the defeat "the worst day of his life".
Brazilian media reflected the mood of shock on Wednesday, describing the result as a "historic humiliation".
The result was Brazil's biggest defeat in World Cup finals history.
Baghdad, Iraq -- More than 50 unidentified bodies were found in the predominantly Shiite town of Alexandria on Wednesday, Iraqi security officials said.
Two children were among the dozens of bodies found in different parts of the town.
Details about the circumstances of the deaths were not immediately available, and officials did not say when the people may have been killed.
Iraqi family counts cost of ISIS conflict
Coping with chaos in Baghdad
Does video show ISIS leader in Iraq?
The discoveries follow weeks of carnage across the country as Iraqi forces battle radical Sunni militants from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
ISIS, an al Qaeda splinter group, has seized large areas of northern and western Iraq in an offensive that began last month. The terror group has also made major gains in Syria in its quest to establish an Islamic state spanning both countries.
ISIS claimed responsibility for recent suicide bombings in Baghdad that killed almost two dozen people, according to SITE Intelligence, which monitors terrorist groups.
KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday observed that cable operators did not have the authority to shut channels on their own directives.
The SHC has hearing eight petitions related to the closure of Geo News by cable operators. The case was heard by a two member SHC bench comprising Justice Muneeb Akhtar and Justice Shafiq Siddiqui. Justice Muneeb Akhtar remarked that under Article 19 freedom of press could not be ignored. He added that it was the right of every Pakistani to have access to information and this was an issue of human rights not just the closure of a channel.
Justice Muneeb Akhtar asked the lawyer for cable operators how could PEMRA ordinance or any laws violate the fundamental rights of citizens.
The SHC observed that freedom of expression and press would not be violated under the constitution. Justice Muneeb Akhtar asked what had been done by PEMRA for the restoration of Geo News which was the most popular channel in the country.
The lawyer for PEMRA informed the court that the regulatory authority had taken action and issued show cause notices to cable operators.
Meanwhile the lawyer for Geo, Jam Asif informed the court that the SHC and Supreme Court had issued verdicts against the closure of Geo News.
The court has issued notices to Attorney General Pakistan and other parties for August 6 and directed PEMRA to submit its written comments. The order further states that PEMRA should ensure that cable operators do not restrict freedom of expression.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Office has condemned the recent rise in Israeli aggression in Gaza.
160 airstrikes were conducted by the Israeli army in Gaza overnight as part of bombardment which has claimed 28 Palestinian lives.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said Pakistan supports the efforts of the international community in stopping Israeli attacks in Gaza. Aslam added that children and women were among the Palestinians being killed in these attacks.
Pakistan has always supported the Palestinian cause and establishment of a Palestinian state, Aslam said.
