ARGENTINA’S DI MARIA WON’T PLAY IN SEMI VS. NETHERLANDS
belo horizonte, brazil Argentina midfielder Angel Di Maria was ruled out of theWorld Cup semifinal against the Netherlands with a thigh injury, while striker Sergio Aguero was declared fit to play after recovering from a similar problem.
Di Maria limped off the field in the first half of Argentina’s quarterfinal win over Belgium after straining a muscle in the back of his right thigh.
Team doctor Daniel Martinez on Sunday said tests showed it was a “first-degree” strain— the mildest kind— but added that DiMaria wouldn’t be fit to play inWednesday’s semifinal.
Martinez said Aguero, who suffered a similar injury 10 days ago, had recovered in an “excellent” way.
Losing Di Maria is a big blow for Argentina as it prepares for its first World Cup semifinal since 1990. Besides LionelMessi, he’s been the team’s most influential player in Brazil.
Di Maria scored the extra-time winner against Switzerland in the second round and set up Gonzalo Higuain’s winning goal in the first half against Belgium on Saturday.
“He’s a key player in this project,” Higuain said of Di Maria.
• Marco Rodriguez ofMexico, the referee who failed to see Luis Suarez bite an opponent, was picked to officiate Brazil’sWorld Cup semifinal against Germany on Tuesday in Belo Horizonte.
Meanwhile, Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari hinted that midfielder Willian is his first option to replace the injured Neymar.
• Netherlands goalkeeper Tim Krul insisted he did nothing wrong in confronting Costa Rica’s penalty takers during aWorld Cup quarterfinal shootout.
Krul’s crucial two saves Sunday in a 4-3 shootout win followed his novel tactic that tested FIFA’s guidelines on fair play. The substitute goalie faced up to opponents at the penalty spot and repeatedly told them he knew where they’d place their shots.
“I don’t think I have done anything wrong,” Krul said at a team news conference. “I haven’t shouted at (them) in an aggressive manner. I haven’t done anything crazy. I just told them I knew where they are going.”
The Dutch team’s shootout victory after a 0-0 draw set up a semifinal against Argentina.
Cabrera wins Greenbrier
sulphur springs, w.va. » Angel Cabrera won the Greenbrier Classic for his first non-major victory on the PGA Tour, closing with his second straight 6-under-par 64 for a twostroke victory over GeorgeMcNeill.
Cabrera, the 44-year-old Argentine whose only other PGA Tour victories came in the 2007 U.S. Open and 2009 Masters, built a three-shot lead before making things interesting with a pair of late bogeys. He finished at 16-under 264.
• Kevin Stadler, the leader after each of the first three rounds, shot a final-round 76 and finished tied for second in the French Open in SaintQuentin-En-Yvelines, as GraemeMcDowell rallied to defend his title by one shot over the Kent Denver alum.
McDowell, from Northern Ireland, closed with a 4-under 67 to finish at 5-under 279.
• South Korea’s I.K. Kim won the Ladies European Masters in Denham, England, closing with a 3-under 68 for a five-stroke victory in the final event before theWomen’s British Open.
• Larry Mize withdrew from the U.S. Senior Open because of a back injury. The tournament starts Thursday at Oak Tree National in Edmond, Okla.
Diaw staying with Spurs
san antonio » Boris Diaw tweeted that he is staying with the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs.
Footnote.
Diana Taurasi scored a season-high 32 points, including season-best seven 3-pointers, and the PhoenixMercury beat the Los Angeles Sparks 94-89 for its straight win.