Sports

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff symbolically handed over the World Cup to Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, whose country will host the 2018 tournament.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has rated Brazil's organisation of the World Cup as 9.25 out of 10.

Despite the 1-0 loss to Germany in the down-to-the-wire, young Argentines climbed onto traffic lights and bus stops, dancing and singing to the beat of drums.

The 30-year-old started alone up-front in all six of Brazil's matches in the tournament but scored just once against Cameroon in the group stage.

Mascherano's last-ditch tackle to prevent Robben from putting the Netherlands into the final at Argentina's expense has already become an internet sensation.

Lionel Messi is not only Argentina's key attacking threat but he is also instrumental in helping the defence.

When Messi's Argentina take on Germany in the final, it looks at first glance like a meeting between brilliant individual scoring talent and the tight discipline of a collective unit.

Messi could not contain his happiness following his side's 4-2 win in a penalty shootout over the Netherlands.

The Netherlands will need to do more than simply muzzle Argentina's Messi if they are to prevail in Wednesday's semi-final, according to van Gaal.

"If Brazil's not in the World Cup anymore, at least there's one team still in it that play like Brazil."

Scolari said watching his side being crushed 7-1 by Germany was the worst day of his life as they suffered the most humiliating result in their illustrious soccer history.

Robin van Persie is a doubt for Wednesday's World Cup semi-final against Argentina after coming down with stomach problems, coach Louis van Gaal said.

"We will face a team that is experienced and very hungry to win after losing the last World Cup final. We will not expect an easy match," Mascherano said.

Neymar helped Brazil get this far at the World Cup. Now it's up to the rest of the team to win for injured star, coach Scolari said.

Pele hopes that Brazil will win the World Cup without star striker Neymar, who has been ruled out of the tournament with a fractured vertebrae.

Higuain fired home Di Maria's deflected pass just inside the area in the eighth minute to take Argentina to their first semifinal in 24 years.