Argentina vs. Netherlands: Live Updates on World Cup Semifinal Showdown

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Argentina's forward and captain Lionel Messi warms up prior to the semi-final football match between Netherlands and Argentina of the FIFA World Cup at The Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo on July 9, 2014.

Image: ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images

By Sam Laird2014-07-09 19:50:45 UTC

You're probably still in shock after Brazil's utter humiliation by Germany on Tuesday, but the World Cup's second semifinal kicks off Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET, and it looks to be a doozy: Argentina vs. Netherlands in São Paulo for a berth in Sunday's final.

Can Lionel Messi sustain his brilliance to bring La Albiceleste one win from glory? Or will the Oranje pull through to meet Germany in the final and make it an all-European affair on Brazilian soil?

Follow along here for live updates on the match.

Alfredo Di Stefano to be honored before match

Alfredo Di Stefano

Soccer star Alfredo Di Stefano salutes to Real Madrid supporters after a presentation of new Real Madrid players in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Thursday Aug. 23, 2007.

Image: Bernat Armangue/Associated Press

Di Stefano, an Argentine who became one of the game's true legends with Spanish club Real Madrid, died this on Monday at age 88. He will be honored by FIFA with a moment of silence before Wednesday's match. Argentina players will also wear black armbands in his memory.

Argentina be ready

Argentina is famously one of the world's most soccer-mad nations, and this photo of Buenos Aires supermarket gives some idea of how pumped up fans are to be one win away from the final — of a World Cup held in their chief rival nation, no less.

First, a brief history lesson

These teams go back. Way back. In the 1974 World Cup, the Netherlands beat Argentina 4-0 on their way to the final. In 1978, Argentina paid the Dutch back, beating them 3-1 in the to win the World Cup at home. Then in 1998 — the teams' most recent face-off — the Netherlands won 2-1 in the quarterfinals after Dennis Bergkamp scored the golazo above in the 89th minute.