World Cup quarter final preview: Netherlands v Brazil
Orange and yellow. Two colours that clash in Durban on Friday afternoon, and it promises fashion one of the most intriguing contests of the World Cup so far.
Neither the Netherlands nor Brazil have produced their best football on a consistent basis in the tournament; the total football and the joga bonito have often been conspicuous by their absences, but that doesn’t change the fact that these are two highly skilled sides, and it won’t just be the vibrant shirt colours that catch your eye on the screen.
If one player typifies the Netherlands’ run to the quarter final, it would be Dirk Kuyt.
Workmanlike and unspectacular, the Dutch have made their way to this stage with victories over Denmark, Japan, Cameroon and Slovakia, all of which came by the margin of just one goal, apart from the victory over the Danes, which ended 2-0 courtesy of Kuyt’s late strike.
The Liverpool man often offers a balance and stability on the right-hand side of the Dutch attack, but he was moved to the left against the Slovaks to accommodate the return of Arjen Robben – certainly not an unspectacular addition.
The return to fitness of the Bayern Munich man is crucial for the Dutch, as it is his link up with the effervescent Wesley Sneijder that provides the spark in this team that, with the likes of Kuyt, Mark van Bommel, Nigel De Jong and a struggling Robin van Persie, can often be a little bit short on the skill front.
Robben and Sneijder hold the key to unlocking Brazil, that’s provided that the latter is in the right frame of mind after he became the subject of the inevitable Dutch falling out that always accompanies major tournaments.
The petulant Van Persie, who was poor against Slovakia, complained that it should have been Sneijder who was substituted in the last 16 clash and not him, leading to a heated debate with coach Bert van Marwijk on the touchline.
The Arsenal striker would later look even more foolish as Sneijder slotted home what proved to be the winner, and van Marwijk – playing the exasperated teacher – says the squad have moved on. “I spoke to Robin and he is supposed to have said something about Wesley. I've spoken to Wesley and after that I called the team together, told them what I think and then drew a line under it.”
Enough said then, and that line needs to be drawn soon. The Brazilians are coming.
If Kuyt typifies the Netherlands’ tournament, then Luis Fabiano should probably be the symbol of Brazil’s.
Not too flashy, but effective. Fabiano has scored three of Brazil’s eight goals at the tournament as they’ve navigated their way past North Korea, the Ivory Coast, Portugal and Chile, not always spectacularly, but certainly convincingly.
In truth, if this team were representing anyone other than Brazil then they’d probably be showered with high praise from all quarters, but Dunga is receiving criticism back home for making his team a bit, well, a bit like he was.
Era Dunga is often cited as one of the more disappointing times in the nation’s football history.
Typically for Brazil, they won the World Cup during it (in 1994), but they didn’t win it in the style they had become accustomed to.
The same criticisms of that team that Dunga captained are being leveled at this team that he coaches, but no side that contains Kaká, Robinho and Fabiano can be described as dull, and the coach will look upon this World Cup as his chance to ram those critics’ words down their throats. Only Franz Beckenbauer has lifted the trophy as both captain and coach.
If Dunga is to follow suit, then the Netherlands will have to beaten here.
For the Oranje, a lot depends on Robben and Sneijder, and it could be Brazil’s more free-scoring forward Fabiano that decides the outcome.
It’s the toughest test that Dunga and Brazil have faced in the tournament. If they pass it then maybe even the coach will get some praise.
Prediction: Netherlands 1 Brazil 2
Tags: