Holland line-up: Stekelenburg, Van Der Wiel, Heitinga, Van Bronkhorst (c), Van Bommel, Kuyt, De Jong, Van Persie (Huntelaar, 85'), Sneijder, Robben, Ooijer
Brazil line-up: Julio Cesar, Maicon, Lucio (c), Juan, F.Melo, Bastos (G.Melo, 62'), Gilberto, Luis Fabiano (Nilmar, 77'), Kaka, Robinho, Alves
Holland come from behind to overcome the five time World champions and book their place in the semi-finals. It was a very feisty match with tensions running high from the start which the Japanese referee and his officials dealt with comfortably. Within the opening two minutes Brazil were in the mood and passed the ball about majestically, Robinho clearly brought his man down but he wasn't happy and a brawl nearly ensued but the referee calmed matters quickly and play resumed. Brazil gave the first warning sign within the first ten minutes when Robinho found the net, however it was ruled due to Luis Fabiano being offside before playing the ball to Robinho across the six yard box. But on the tenth minute Robinho was to have his goal after a beautiful defence splitting ball from Felipe Melo, who had a very interesting game, from the half-way line to find Robinho who had stepped in between the defence before finishing past the on-rushing Stekelenburg. Holland were nearly level straight after when Kuyt broke free down the wing and cut inside before forcing Julio Cesar to palm the ball away for a corner. Despite that attack it was Brazil who were looking most likely to score the next goal and they should have been 2-0 up after Alves picked up on a half-cleared corner and crossed into Juan who tapped it over the bar when he should be at least hitting the target. Robinho was arguably the best player in the first half and when he started a move which ended up in Luis Fabiano finding Kaka on the edge of the box, Kaka showed a little of his former self (before his move Real Madrid) by curling a shot into the top corner but Stekelenburg produced a fine save with his outstretched hand to deny the Brazilian.
Holland came out in the second half with their tails up and slowly started to change the game into their favour. Brazil arguably should have been down to ten men when Michel Bastos brought down Robben and if he hadn't have been booked in the first half would have most definitely have been booked for that challenge so should have walking down the tunnel. But justice was to be done as Sneijder took a quick free-kick down the wing to Robben who played the ball back to Sneijder, he swung in a cross where Julio Cesar came out to punch but ran into Felipe Melo who could only skim a header into the far corner and Holland were level with 53 minutes played. Due to Bastos' luck and not being sent off Dunga thought it necessary to replace him with Gilberto Melo as Robben was becoming a handful down the wing. Kaka came close again for Brazil with a clever volley via the inside of his foot but it just sailed wide. Just under twenty minutes to go and Holland went ahead thanks to some more slack Brazil defending; Robben swung a corner into the near post where Kuyt had out-witted his marker to flick behind him where Sneijder was unmarked to head the ball home into the empty net. Brazil's challenge began to fade when karma came around and due to petulance and stupidity, Brazil were down to ten men. Robben was brought down by Felipe Melo who lost his cool and deliberately stamped on the back of Robben's leg and was deservedly sent off. If anyone was going to score again if looked to be Holland as Brazil could create only half-chances, notably one from a trilogy of corners where Van Bommel misjudged the flight of the ball of the third corner and Stekelenburg could palm the ball out in front of him where, luckily, Dirk Kuyt was on hand to clear. Holland though were constantly catching Brazil on the counter and either Robben, Huntelaar, Sneijder or Kuyt could have grabbed a third but it didn't matter. Holland now are clear favourites to reach the final with a semi against either Uruguay or Ghana but they will be without Van Der Wiel and De Jong through suspension after picking up second yellow cards of the tournament.
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