Brazil looking to continue dominance over Dutch
Brazil looking to continue dominance over Dutch

Posted in News on Jul 01, 2010.

It was 16 years ago roughly that the 1994 FIFA World Cup saw one of its most exciting games, which was contested in blistering heat at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas Texas, the game turned out to be a five goal thriller.



The teams who played out the Drama in Dallas that Saturday afternoon were Brazil and The Netherlands, Brazil took a two goal lead in the game but the Dutch came back to level 2-2 and it took a superb free kick by Branco to finally see Brazil to a 3-2 win.



Four years later the rivalry between the teams was renewed in Marseille in the semi-final of the 1998 World Cup in France again it was Brazil who prevailed winning on penalties after the teams were dead locked 1-1 after extra time.



The Netherlands and Brazil who first met in a FIFA World Cup Finals in 1974 when the Dutch lead by Johan Cruyff won the game 2-0 will be hoping to put the misery of losing in 1994 and 1998 behind them and defeat Brazil to reach the last four of the World Cup for the first time since 1998.



When they re-new their rivalry at the Nelson Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth in a World Cup quarter final on Friday afternoon, the first of the four World Cup Quarter-finals games.



Holland are one of two teams to have won all their games at the World Cup, they collected the full compliment of points in the group stages winning their three round robin games, while Brazil also unbeaten in the group stage did draw one match with Portugal while winning their other two.



The Dutch have been uncharacteristically quiet and their campaign apart from one minor incident when striker Robin Van Persie showed his disdain for being substituted during the round of 16 win over Slovakia, has not been blighted by the usual in fighting which has destablilized their previous World Cup campaigns.



Bert Van Marwijk will be pleased to have a fit and healthy team for the encounter with Brazil the injury concerns to Arjen Robben now behind them the Dutch can forge ahead, young players Ibrahim Afellay and Eljaro Elia proving that they are capable of filling in for Wesley Sneijder and Rafael Van Der Vaart if the need arises in midfield.



Brazil have been their usual quick silver selves they dismantled their South American rivals Chile in the most cruelest of manners in the round of 16 to reach the quarter finals, as they won the game 3-0.



Coach Dunga has had a few problems coming into the game injury concerns to Elano who was hurt by Ismael Tiote during the group stage game against the Ivory Coast is unavailable, while Felipe Melo and Julio Baptista are also doubtful participants and defender Ramirez is missing through suspension.



Those problems apart Brazil have enough strength on the bench to help them out, Kaka has proved to be their key link man in midfield the improving form of Robinho must be of concern to the Dutch as well.



With Basketball Superstar Kobe Bryant in attendance at the game in Port Elizabeth and with their fans around the globe cheering them on Brazil are confident of not being washed away by the ‘Oranje’.

Share this article: