15/07/2014
Possibly, the most shocking substitution at this World Cup. Tim Krul was brought on in the final minute of extra time, just so that he could give the Netherlands the advantage in the enalty shootout. Krul had saved only 2 of the last 20 penalties he had faced in the last 5 years. So, it didn’t seem like the move would make much of a difference.
But, one look at Jasper Cillessen’s record, and one would know why Louis van Gaal was forced to take the adverse step of subbing him off. Cillessen has not saved a single penalty in senior football, and that record stayed intact after the semifinal shootout against Argentina.
Krul saved two penalties in the shootout, as the Dutch prevailed 4-3 on penalties. :)