Krul in dreamland after shoot-out switch

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

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.

"I knew before the game that the possibility was there. If we had one more substitution the manager said that he would consider putting me in goal and it happened," the 1.93m (six feet three inches) Krul said.

"It's a dream come true for me. I watched the penalties. We've been preparing with all the goalkeepers and the goalkeeper coach."