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ByMikeCorder The Associated Press SAO PAULO Goalkeeper Ser- gio Romero saved two penal- ties Wednesday to send Argen- tina into the World Cup final with a 4-2 shootout win over the Netherlands after the game finished in a 0-0 stalemate. A day after Germany lit up the World Cup with its clinical 7-1 destruction of host Brazil, the Netherlands and Argen- tina could not manage a goal between them in 120 minutes before the shootout. Romero — thought to be a weak link in this Argentine team and not even a starter for his Monaco club most of last season — blocked penal- ties by Ron Vlaar and Wesley Sneijder. For Argentina, Lionel Messi, Ezequiel Garay, Sergio Aguero and Maxi Rodriguez all converted their spot kicks. "It's luck, that's the truth. You can dive (the right way) and not make it, like hap- pened to their goalkeeper," Romero said. "I had con- fidence, thank God things turned out well." In a matchup of two of foot- ball's powerhouse nations, two-time champion Argen- tina will play three-time win- ner Germany in Sunday's fi- nal at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. That means an extra bitter end to the tournament for Bra- zilians, who will have to watch their fiercest rivals play for the world title in their most hal- lowed stadium against a team that humiliated their nation in the semifinals. 2014 World Cup ARGENTINA VS NETHERLANDS ARGENTINAREACHES THEWORLDCUPFINAL A erwinninginpenaltiesMessi&Co. will be facing Germany on Sunday VICTORR.CAIVANO—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS Netherlands' Ron Vlaar (2) gets in front of an attack by Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between the Netherlands and Argentina on Wednesday. MANU FERNANDEZ — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Argentina's goalkeeper Sergio Romero saves a penalty from Netherlands' Ron Vlaar during a shootout at the end of the World Cup semifinal soccer match between the Netherlands and Argentina on Wednesday. By Tales Azzoni The Associated Press BELOHORIZONTE,BRAZIL Bra- zil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari and his players are trying to put the devastating semifinal loss to Germany behind them as quickly as possible, turn- ing their focus to the farewell match at their home World Cup. Scolari on Wednesday said they have to find a way to move on, and the team al- ready has a new objective: win the third-place game Sat- urday to give fans some rea- son to celebrate. "Life goes on, we need to look forward to our next goal, and our next goal is to win the match for third place," Scolari said. "We have to play it. It has become our main goal." The veteran coach said he knows the 7-1 result against Germany is going to hurt for- ever, but stressed that a "bad loss" can't erase what he con- sidered was an otherwise good campaign by the national team. Scolari said it was his job to ensure the players get past "this horrible feeling" that overwhelmed them after the loss to Germany. "The players' lives won't end because of this loss. It hap- pened and from now on they will continue being the play- ers that they are," Scolari said. "They will continue playing for Brazil and we will continue to be one of the best teams in the world. Probably many of these players will play for Brazil in 2018." SHIFTING FOCUS Brazil trying to bury painful 7-1 loss LEO CORREA — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Brazil's coach Luiz Felipe Scolari listens to a question during a press conference at the Granja Comary training center in Teresopolis, Brazil, Wednesday, July 9, 2014. Brazilians woke up this morning to dreadful headlines describing their soccer team's historic defeat of 7-1to Germany in the World Cup's semifinal. The Associated Press LOS ANGELES A San Francisco Giants fan who suffered brain damage in a beating at Dodger Stadium won his negligence suit against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, but former owner Frank McCourt was absolved by the jury. The jury found damages of about $18 million but said the Dodgers were responsible for only a quarter of the sum. The rest of the responsibility was split be- tween the two men who beat fan Bryan Stow. The jury delivered its verdict in a Los Angeles courtroom after weeks of testimony about the as- sault after the opening day game in 2011 between the rival teams. Stow's lawyers claimed the team and its former owner failed to provide adequate security at the stadium. The defense coun- tered that security was stronger than ever at an opening day con- test and Stow was partially to blame because he was drunk. The lawsuit sought millions of dollars for 45-year-old Bryan Stow, who was left with disabling brain damage following the at- tack in a stadium parking lot af- ter an opening day game between the California rivals. BRYAN STOW Dodgers to pay for beating of Giants fan JOHN STOW — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE Bryan Stow holding his 12-year- old son and 8-year-old daughter. Bryan Stow, a Giants fan who was beaten the Dodger's home opener, suffered brain damage as a result and remains in critical condition. By Jamey Keaten The Associated Press ARENBERG, FRANCE An injured wrist was just too much for Tour de France champion Chris Froome, in one of the most mem- orable and crash-marred stages in recent race history. The Kenyan-born Briton ended his repeat bid Wednesday, drop- ping out of cycling's big event and dropping a bombshell on his com- petitors after crashing twice in a rain-, mud-, sweat- and blood- soaked fifth stage for the pack through nerve-wracking cobble- stones along France's border with Belgium. The 29-year-old Team Sky leader, already nursing pain in his left wrist a day earlier, first scuffed up his right hip, tearing his uniform, then scraped his face. Both falls happened even before he got to the start of 13 to- tal kilometers (8 miles) over joint- jangling cobblestones. He was the best-known of several big-name riders who crashed on Wednesday. They found out months ago, when the course was announced, what they would face on the roads from Ypres, Belgium to Aren- berg Porte du Hainaut. It's the same big bumps known to rac- ers of the celebrated Paris-Rou- baix one-day race. TOUR DE FRANCE Froome: Tour champ drops out in Stage 5 Halfway up the 264stairs leading to the top of the world's tallest waterslide, it was clear this was the most breathtaking ride I'd ever encountered. FEAR OF HEIGHTS? Tallestwaterslide in the world FULLSTORYONPAGEB3 The Red Bluff Bulls under-15 American Legion baseball team plays a nine-inning game at 4p.m. in Chico today. The Bulls will host Sonoma 1p.m. Saturday for a doubleheader at Red Bluff High School. AMERICAN LEGION Bulls under-15 team in Chico Thursday Get your puzzles fix with the NEA Crossword, 7Little Words and Celebrity Cipher, start your day off right with your horoscope, and read the latest advice dolled out by Carolyn Hax. YOUR DAILY BREAK Fun and games inside today SEE PAGE B5 The 37th annual Lions All-Star Football game will be held July 19at Shasta College in Red- ding. The 8-man game is at 5 p.m. and the 11-man game is at 7:30p.m. FOOTBALL Lions All-Star game set for July 19 FINALS PAGE 2 STOW PAGE 2 TOUR PAGE 2 MOVING ON PAGE 2 » redbluffdailynews.com Thursday, July 10, 2014 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B1