SAO PAULO // As the Netherlands take on Argentina tonight in the World Cup semi-finals, Robin van Persie is still awaiting 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 stage of joyous football, but since then, 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 the Netherlands 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.

Van Persie, 30, 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 in which he has scored all his major tournament goals in the group stages.

At 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 the Netherlands reached the final.

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

Perhaps with those disappointments in mind, he said before the team left for Brazil: “This World Cup is not about Robin van Persie, it is about our team doing well. I love a big tournament, but I don’t need to have the limelight.”

Dutch coach Louis van Gaal has continued to exercise caution in Brazil, substituting Van Persie in his three first appearances. The captain has accepted his lot.

“We’re a squad of 23 players,” Van Persie said. “The atmosphere is excellent. I don’t have anything at all to complain about.”

Van Persie trained away from the rest of the squad yeseterday with a stomach problem, coach Louis van Gaal said, and is a slight doubt for the game.

“Van Persie has an intestinal problem and I didn’t want to take a risk,” said Van Gaal. Asked if Van Persie would be fit enough to line up against Argentina, Van Gaal replied: “I don’t know. In principle, my captains always play, but only if they’re 100 per cent.”