Krul in dreamland after switch for shootout

Goalkeeper Tim Krul called it a "dream come true" on Saturday after he was boldly brought on as a penalty-kicks specialist and saved two against Costa Rica to put the Netherlands into the World Cup semifinals.

The towering Newcastle United custodian replaced Jasper Cillessen in the last minute of extra-time in an outlandish gambit by Manchester United-bound coach Louis van Gaal.

And the 1.93m Krul duly saved from Bryan Ruiz and Michael Umana, both low and to the right-hand corner, to win it 4-3 and set up a meeting with Argentina.