Van Persie bids to end knockout-phase hoodoo

Prior to the Netherland's World Cup semi-final against Argentina tomorrow, Robin van Persie is still waiting for his first goal in a knockout match at a major international tournament.

The Manchester United striker's flying header against Spain helped set the tone for a group-phase of joyous football, but since then -- and in keeping with the tournament as a whole -- the goals have gradually dried up.

Having claimed two goals in the 5-1 rout of Spain, he netted in the 3-2 win over Australia, but has since gone 225 minutes without scoring.

Suspended against Chile, he was substituted in the 76th minute against Mexico and had to watch from the bench as his replacement, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, scored the injury-time penalty that sent Holland through.

Against Costa Rica in the quarter-finals, he was unable to convert a string of chances, notably seeing an injury-time shot blocked on the line by Yeltsin Tejeda, before scoring in the penalty shootout.

The 30-year-old spoke openly of his desire to become the tournament's top scorer after his first two appearances, but with two games remaining, he trails Colombia's James Rodriguez by three goals in the race for the Golden Boot.

As things stand, the former Arsenal forward appears destined to pursue a pattern that has seen him score all his major tournament goals in the group phase.

At each of his previous World Cups, in 2006 and 2010, he scored only once in the first round, failing to add to his tally in South Africa four years ago despite starting every game as Holland reached the final.

At the 2008 European Championship he scored two group-stage goals, only for Holland to lose to Russia in the quarter-finals, while at Euro 2012 he found the net only once as his side fell at the first hurdle.