Van Gaal: I taught Romero how to stop penalties

Argentina's goalkeeper Sergio Romero celebrates after saving the ball for the second time during a penalty shoot-out at their 2014 World Cup semi-final against the Netherlands at the Corinthians arena in Sao Paulo July 9, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

SAO PAULO - Louis van Gaal took some credit for showing Argentina's Sergio Romero how to stop penalties, advice that cost the Netherlands coach dearly on Wednesday.

Romero stopped two spot kicks as Argentina beat van Gaal's Dutch team 4-2 in a penalty shootout in their World Cup semifinal, advancing to the final against Germany.

Van Gaal, who worked with Romero at Dutch club Alkmaar in 2007-2009, said "I taught Romero to stop penalties, so that hurts."

Romero says "It's luck, that's the truth. You can dive and not make it, like their goalkeeper did. I had confidence, thank God things turned out."

Romero, who isn't even a starter in his club team Monaco, now has three straight clean sheets in the World Cup, and has only conceded three goals in the tournament.