Gonzalo Higuain sends Argentina to a semi-final with the Netherlands

Gonzalo Higuain got one chance and he didn't spurn it.

In what most would say what a disappointing encounter on Saturday afternoon, Belgium didn't turn up and Argentina did just enough to secure a place in the semi finals.

Gonzalo Higuain's early strike secured Argentina a 1-0 win against Belgium in Brasilia and sealed a place in the World Cup semi-finals.

The Napoli forward produced a fine finish with a snap-shot inside the opening 10 minutes to put Alejandro Sabella's men in front and they managed to hold on for the remainder of the game to seal a first semi-final place since the 1990 World Cup in Italy.

Belgium were lacklustre throughout and struggled to create many chances in their quest to end their 28-year wait for a last-four spot.

Argentina opened the scoring in the eighth minute when Lionel Messi's trickery resulted in a pass out to Angel Di Maria on the right. His deflected pass found its way to Higuain on the edge of the area and he hooked a wonderful first-time right-foot strike into the far corner of Thibaut Courtois' net.

Belgium's first real attempt on goal came in the 26th minute when Kevin De Bruyne hit a powerful strike from outside the box which Sergio Romero could only parry back into his area. However it rolled away from Divock Origi and Pablo Zabaleta cleared his lines.

Messi's wonderful pass picked out Di Maria on the edge of the box and he cut inside onto his left foot only to see Vincent Kompany get in a vital block.

Just after the half-hour Argentina were hit by the loss of Di Maria who limped off with what looked like a hamstring injury sustained from that previous blocked effort moments earlier.

On 40 minutes Messi fired a left-foot free-kick just over the bar after he was bundled over on the edge of the Belgium box.

The Red Devils had another decent chance two minutes later when Jan Vertonghen's left-wing ball picked out the run of Kevin Mirallas in the middle but he stooped to head just wide.

Just after the 50-minute mark Higuain fired in a strike which deflected just wide off Daniel van Buyten with Courtois wrong-footed.

A minute later Ezequiel Lavezzi got in down the left of the area and fired a low cross-shot which the Belgium shot-stopper parried away to the far side.

Higuain should have made it 2-0 on 55 minutes when he put the ball through Kompany's legs before surging into the area and smashing his shot off the top of the crossbar with Courtois beaten.

Belgium went close on 61 minutes when Vertonghen put in another dangerous cross from the left which Marouane Fellaini could not divert on target with a powerful header in the centre.

Four minutes later Ezequiel Garay was relieved to see Romero save at his front post when he toe-poked a low right-wing cross from De Bruyne towards his own goal.

Argentina defended resolutely in the closing stages and they could have sealed the win in the five minutes of stoppage time when Messi broke clear, but he was denied by a fine save from Courtois.

It gave Belgium hope of taking the tie into extra-time with one final attack, but when Garay did well to cut out a dangerous ball in from the left by Romelu Lukaku, Dries Mertens fired the rebound over from outside the box.

Argentina will now face Holland on Wednesday.