But all talk was of Newcastle's Tim Krul ... who this time failed to get onto the pitch.
When he introduced as a late substitute for Holland's game with Costa Rica, the TV pundits (including Alan Shearer) were NOT happy.
Mark Lawrenson: "It makes the regular goalkeeper look like a lemon, I have never seen anything like it in my life!"
Alan Shearer: "I am backing Costa Rica to go through on pens, Tim Krul has a poor record saving penalties."
But it was ALL CHANGE this time around, as the TV "experts" claimed Holland would have reached the final had Krul been introduced!
After a dull, uneventful and goalless 120 minutes, the match went to a penalty shootout in Sao Paulo.
Argentina did not miss once and Sergio Romero saved from Ron Vlaar and Wesley Sneijder, meaning Alejandro Sabella's team clinched the showdown 4-2.
Argentina will now face Germany in Sunday's World Cup final at the Maracana.
Substitute goalkeeper Tim Krul's penalty shootout heroics for the Netherlands against Costa Rica in the quarterfinal did not convinced coach Louis van Gaal to promote him to the starting line-up for Wednesday's World Cup semifinal against Argentina.