That's right. Brazil have been knocked out of the World Cup in the quarterfinal stage as the Oranje Army go marching on, on, on! Never thought I would be saying that so soon. Most people expected to see Brazil in the final and perhaps picking up their sixth trophy but the Netherlands made sure that it wasn't to be the Brazilian's year as they produced an amazing comeback after initially going 1-0 down.
A game of two halves - it's one of the most-used clichés in football, but this game was the personification of that cliché. In the first half we saw a Brazil side comfortable in possession, able to pass the ball around easily and effectively, rattling the Dutch defence with every ball forward, keen to get going and generally the stronger of the two sides on the pitch. Robinho scored his second goal of the tournament with only 10 minutes gone, and suddenly it looked like it might be a long afternoon for the Dutch, who I think were largely shocked at conceding so early. I don't think that they were expecting the Brazilians to do that so early on, and I reckon they were expecting the game, at least in the early stages, to be a lot more tighter than it was.
The goal, was conjured via pure simplicity but finished with a bit of Samba flair. Felipe Melo was able to loft a long ball as he found himself in space, when Andre Oojer, starting his first game for the Dutch, and Jonny Heitinga failed to close him down. Robinho timed his run perfectly before slotting the ball in with his right foot. It was a sensational goal from straight down the middle, and the first the Dutch have conceded from open play, in this tournament. Previously, the Dutch had only conceded twice but were totally undone here. Oojer had been called up to the side very late on after Mathijsen had limped off in the warm-up and he was given quite the run-around in the first half as Brazil continued to dominate.
The Dutch did try to respond but it was really difficult for them to penetrate the Brazilian defence as it was rock solid in the first half. They were well drilled, well organised and quick to track back and get onto the ball once they had lost possession. You felt the only way the Dutch could come back into it was if there was a set-piece that they could make the best use of or perhaps a mistake. And this is indeed what did happen in the second half. The first half was a largely fractious affair with plenty of silly fouls and niggly tackles that saw the ref produce a few yellow cards. Players from both sides kept fouling their opposition provoking a stop-start atmosphere to the game. This suited the Brazilians more though, because it meant they were able to break up any rhythm the Dutch might have tried to create and it allowed them to go back and organise themselves. For the Dutch, it was impossible for them to conjure up any real fluency or connectivity in their play because the ref kept blowing his whistle.
It was also really difficult for star-man Robben to get himself into the game. We know that when he plays out on the right, he likes to cut inside and run at defenders before creating space and a good position to shoot from range. However, it all became a bit too predictable as not only did the Brazilians cut off most of the supply to the right but everytime Robben got the ball, the Brazilians knew what he was going to do and were able to block him each time he tried to shoot. Robben was just taking three touches too many to control the ball, giving the Brazilians time to gather and there were like 4 or 5 blocking his shots proving a frustrating first 45 minutes for the Bayern Munich player.
I think for the Brazilians, they all thought that it was looking easy from here on in. The Dutch were unable to find some kind of inspiration to evade the Brazilian defence and the Brazilians were pressing forward to get their second, which they almost did, had it not been for the magnificent saves of Stekelenburg. In fairness, the Dutch keeper hasn't had too much to do in their previous games, compared to this game, and he showed that he was alert to the danger and kept the Netherlands still in with a chance. First he saved from Kaka, whose shot was most definitely curling into the top corner of the net. Had Kaka just put a bit more power into it, then maybe it would have been too difficult for Stekelenburg to get any fingertips too, but it was a fine save nonetheless. And, then Stekelenburg also palmed away Maicon's shot which was also on its way in.
I don't know what kind of oranjes the Dutch boys ate at half-time, but they certainly did the trick as the Dutch got themselves back in the game with only 8 minutes gone off the second-half. It was a flukey-ish goal that shocked the Dutch themselves, as much as it did the Brazilians. I was right in thinking it would take a set-piece or mistake or something for the Oranje Army to get themselves back in it, as Robben took a short free-kick passing the ball out to Sneijder, who whipped the ball into a dangerous area and so it nudge of Felipe Melo's head and bounce into the back of the net, with Julio Cezar looking on in utter dismay. The Dutch had found a way back in and for the second time they had scored via an own-goal. Interestingly, that was the first ever own-goal to be scored by a Brazilian in any World Cup competition. What a record to break.
The Dutch knew they were now in with a serious chance and grasped the opportunity with both hands. The goal came at exactly the right moment - a good response, early in the second half that unsettled the Brazilians, whom defence I had just been praising at half-time and breathed new life and energy into the Dutch play. At half-time I was thinking that this Brazil team could seriously go all the way and win - they were looking great upfront as always, but their defence was sharp too - when you have both bits of play sorted, coupled with a great goalkeeper, well, you're 90% of the way there right?
Brazil launched themselves forward once more to restore their lead and Kaka again came close, sending the ball just wide. But, it was the Dutch that found themselves in the lead for the very first time in the game after yet another set-piece created chaos in the Brazilian back-line. This time the ball came in from a corner which Kuyt flicked on to Wesley Sneijder, who made no mistake in claiming the goal this time, as it came off his head and nestled into the net. It was pure joy and elation for the Dutch and their fans, as they realised that they were 20 minutes away from knocking out one of the tournament's favourites and advancing to the semis with another win under their belt.
The Brazilians then went into panic mode and then total meltdown, as those 20 minutes of madness cost them their place in the next round. The Samba boys (and girls) of Brazil are known for their chilled attitude...relaxing on Copacabana beach...not getting bogged down by the stresses of life, but Brazil's attitude was far from chilled, as they completely lost their cool as they tried in vain to get that second goal. They were frustrated and fouls were happening all over the pitch, which clearly was of no help to their cause. What was of even less help was Felipe Melo getting sent off for stamping on Robben after Robben had been awarded a free-kick. It was cynical and it was stupid and he deserved a red. What madness - your team are trying to score another goal, so how does it help them by you getting sent off? This Brazilian team were looking less and less like the one we saw in almost complete control in the first-half as they threw everything forward to score and left themselves totally open at the back.
In fact, the Dutch could have scored three or four and totally killed the game off instead of making us wait for a bit of a nervy end to what was otherwise a thrilling second-half. In the end, the Dutch did enough to hang on and defend for all their might to get the win that sees their unbeaten run stretch to 24 games. A massive victory for the Oranje army after a stunning fightback and they will now feel that this could finally be their year. As for the Brazilians, well their dream ends here, and the next time we see them play in the World Cup will be in their very own country...
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Only a few short hours after their defeat, the Brazilian coach Dunga accepted "full responsibility" for Brazil's exit from the tournament and has said that he will resign as manager, after failing to reach the semis both in 2010 and 2006. Dunga is not the only coach to tender his resignation - several other managers have done the same following their respective exits from the competition. One of the only managers whose sides have exited early and failed to live up to expectations, but still with a job? Well, Fabio Capello of course.
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