Barcelona’s Javier Mascherano believes Argentina earned their place in the World Cup final, where they will on Sunday play Germany.
Argentina needed penalties to get past the Netherlands, converting all four of their spot kicks, whole Ron Vlaar and Wesley Sneijder had efforts saved by Sergio Romero.
Mascherano said after the match that his side deserve to be in the showpiece, but whatever happens he is proud of his teammates.
“If anything, this group deserved this,” AS reports Mascherano as saying.
“We played a brilliant game, we had no fear of anything and we know on Sunday it will be the game of our lives.
“It’s where we deserve to be. We hope to end Sunday with the title but beyond that, I’m proud of this team.
“It’s a dream for all of us, to have this opportunity to give back to Argentina. I’m very happy with my teammates. They’re all phenomenal.”
Mascherano was also asked what he said in the huddle before the shootout got underway.
“We said what is done is done. We had to be calm in the penalties, be whatever,” he revealed.
“Football has given us so much, sometimes it’s taken out of our hands.”
