Whether it was Germany’s semi-final shellacking of hosts Brazil, or England’s limp group stage exit, the 2014 World Cup had plenty of unforettable moments.
But perhaps the most quirky moment of the tournament came when the Netherlands made a last-gasp goalkeeping switch deep into their quarter-final match against an upstart Costa Rica side.
With 120 goalless minutes having passed in Salvador, Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal made the unusual decision to substitute his first-choice goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen with Tim Krul.
Krul on his Costa Rica shootout herorics
Van Gaal’s faith in the former Newcastle stopper’s penalty saving prowess was instantly vindicated when Krul saved two Costa Rica spot kicks, helping his side claim a 4-3 penalty victory and sealing a place in the semi-finals.
It was the first time a manager had ever tried such a stunt during a World Cup and turned Krul into an instant Dutch hero as he sealed a place in the competition’s folklore.
“My international debut away to Brazil in 2011, where I kept a clean sheet, was a dream come true,” Krul recalls to FourFourTwo when asked about the match. “Then obviously the World Cup in Brazil three years later was even better.
“Only me, the goalie coach and the manager knew of the plan before the Costa Rica game. Louis van Gaal pulled me to one side just before we stepped on the bus to the stadium. He asked me to be ready if it went to extra-time and penalties.
“Truly, I didn’t think it would go to penalties, but we kept hitting the crossbar and the post, and it went to extra-time. I had to get warmed up, and I told Van Gaal I was ready with two minutes to go, because I had to obviously get on the pitch before the final whistle went.
“I’d studied their penalty takers, but I didn’t have notes. It was all in my head and then feeling the moment. There was definitely big pressure, but what an honour to see everyone run towards me after the win.
“I dreamt about that as a kid. I was lucky to play for my country 15 times, and to be part of a World Cup and two Euros.”
Unfortunately, Van Gaal and Krul were unable to repeat this trick in the Netherlands semi-final against Argentina, as the coach had used all of his substitutions by the time the match went to penalties.
“Apparently, after my heroics in the quarter-finals, that’s Van Gaal’s biggest regret, that he didn’t put me on instead of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar,” Krul laments.
“But Robin van Persie was injured and there was still most of extra-time, so I understand why he put a fresh player on. To save Lionel Messi’s penalty in the semis would have trumped the quarter-finals. It wasn’t to be, but I’m proud of what I achieved.”