SAO PAULO, Brazil (AFP) — Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal yesterday implored parents from his homeland to allow their children to stay up late to watch his side’s World Cup semi-final against Argentina.

Today’s match in Sao Paolo will not start until 2200 in the Netherlands (2000 GMT), but van Gaal believes it would be unfair to stop Dutch children from tuning in.

“I would always allow my children to watch the match, because this is absolutely unique,” he told a press conference.

“Just look at the impact of the World Cup at a global level. In general, most children are on holiday anyway, so I don’t think we should deprive them of that.

“They won’t sleep anyway because they’ll be so stressed and tense to know if the Netherlands have won or not.”

Holland’s quarter-final against Costa Rica went to penalties after a 0-0 draw and van Gaal hinted that today’s match at the Corinthians Arena could be decided in the same fashion.

“I’d strongly advise parents to let their kids watch,” he said.

“And the chances are it’ll be later, because I think Argentina are just a notch higher than Costa Rica.”