Robben still haunted by 2010 World Cup ghosts

[SAO PAULO] The Netherlands' heartbreaking penalty shootout loss to Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals looks to have definitively ended Arjen Robben's hopes of exorcising his ghosts from the 2010 final.

Wednesday morning's game at the Corinthians Arena had been billed as a duel between Robben and Lionel Messi, but it was the defenders on both sides who took centre stage. While Messi was masterfully coralled by Dutch centre-back Ron Vlaar, Robben rarely threatened to add to his tally of three tournament goals.

Set free by Wesley Sneijder on the stroke of full time, he was denied by a magnificent sliding block from Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano. And when he finally managed to cut inside his man on the right flank and shoot at goal in trademark fashion in the first half of extra time, his effort flew straight at Argentine goalkeeper Sergio Romero.