With
a World Cup quarterfinal in the closing moments of extra time on
Saturday, Louis van Gaal, the coach of the Netherlands, made a move that
was as bold as it was rare.
Read more: World Cup 2014: Netherlands Defeats Costa Rica on Penalty Kicks - NYTimes.com
As
penalty kicks loomed in a 0-0 game, he replaced his starting
goalkeeper, Jasper Cillessen, with Tim Krul, who had not played in the
tournament but was confident to the point of haughtiness in a 4-3
victory in the shootout.
After
growing frustrated against Costa Rica, which seemed mostly content to
sit back, surrender possession and play for penalty kicks, the Dutch
became assured and clinical. The Netherlands made all of its penalty
kicks, and the 6-foot-4 Krul made two dramatic saves after appearing to
try to intimidate the Costa Ricans.
Some
commentators found his animated behavior unsporting, but Krul’s
teammates mobbed him and his country celebrated an improbable hero as
the Oranje advanced to a semifinal against Argentina on Wednesday in São
Paulo.
“That
is not normal,” Krul, 26, said of spending about 120 minutes on the
bench and then entering with the pressure of advancing his team.
Read more: World Cup 2014: Netherlands Defeats Costa Rica on Penalty Kicks - NYTimes.com
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