FIFA World Cup 2010 Quarter Finals : Netherlands Vs Brazil Netherlands saving the best for Brazil
Having notched up four wins out of four and a quarter final date with five time world champions Brazil, Netherlands have obtained maximum results from minimum effort at the World cup thus far.
Playing far from their best given their potential and the array of multi talented footballers that the Dutch possess, they have not done anything special at the world cup and will need to raise their game if they are to progress past Brazil to the semi final of the World cup.
Netherlands have won all the matches they have played in 2010 and are yet to concede from open play in South Africa.
The numbers would suggest that they are the team in form but stats can be deceptive and the Dutch are the prime examples. Netherlands have won all their matches without hitting the top gear yet and they have nothing more than they had to do.
Against Slovakia in the previous round, their defence was at its best while their attack was OK too. However, had it not been for the Slovak’s profligacy in front of the goal, it would have been a different story altogether.
The Dutch side employs a 4-2-3-1 formation in their matches; a system they started using as recently as 2008 and given the quality attacker Van Marwijk has at his disposal it cannot be argued. Robben, Sneijder and Kuyt take up their position behind Van Persie in the attacks and line up can terrorize any defence in the world.
Generally it is not the system that makes a winning team, as it’s the players that have to make it work.
While Robben made his comeback from injury to lead Dutch to a victory against Slovakia, Sneijder also gave a world a reminder of his capabilities and scored what proved to be the decisive goal in the match.
The two along with Van der Vaart and Van Persie have to be on top of their game if they are to beat the all conquering Brazil.
Slovakia created plenty of chances in the match but did not have the quality in front of them to convert but with Brazil, there will be no such problem as the South Americans are a different proposition altogether.
If the Dutch keep scoring like they are, they will make life a living h**l for any side in the world but if they allow the kind of openings, they allowed Slovakia they will be punished.
To win against Brazil players like Robben, Van Persie, Van Der Vaart and Sneijder will have to be at their best while the defenders have to deal with the menace of Fabiano Kaka and Robinho. A Dutch win in the match cannot be ruled out by no mean but the above two factors will play a decisive role in deciding the outcome of the match
Media across the world especially in their home country has been very critical of their perceived lack of flare, exuberance and extravagance but they will not be saying anything if the national side returns home with the Golden Trophy.
In order to win a tournament a team has to learn to win ugly and that’s exactly what the Dutch have been doing so far.
Brazil have won the World Cup a staggering five times already, they know what it takes and they have World Cup winning manager in Dunga, who won lifted the trophy as a Captain of Brazil back in 1994 when Romari and Bebeto bamboozled the defences.
Brazil have knocked out the Dutch, the previous two times they met at the world cup. Blanco scoring the winning free kick back in 1994 while South American progressed to the final winning on penalties in 1998 semi final.
In football winning is the name of the game, no matter how you do it. The Dutch learned it the hard way in 1998, when they had a great tournament playing beautiful football but still getting knocked out on penalties.
A team has to be it its best to win a World cup and that time has perhaps come a little to early for Netherlands, as they have to cope with a rampant Brazilian side in the quarter finals.
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