2nd july 2010: Brazil - Netherlands

Brazil and Holland and not been surprised by the fact of remaining unbeaten. By winning their respective groups of the first phase of South Africa 2010, the two countries have lived up to favorite status they acquired after their excellent campaign in the qualifiers. This Friday, however, one of them will return home before the semifinals.

Considered favorites before the start of the FIFA World Cup for their excellent qualifying campaigns, Brazil and Holland got a pass to the knockout stage with a day still to play, were first in their groups with relative calm and garnered two wins meritorious knockout round: while the Netherlands had difficulties to overcome the surprising 2-1 win over Slovakia, the Seleção ran over endorsing a 3-0 Chile.

Brazil and the Netherlands are not the most persistent opponents, but have a tradition of being critical sometimes. In his three previous clashes in world events, one of the two teams were eliminated: in 1974, Clockwork Orange Johan Cruyff won 2-0 and forced the reigning world champions to pack. In the editions of 1994 and 1998, who were the South Americans prevailed in the quarterfinals and semifinals respectively.

Historically famous for its attacking football, sometimes even flirt with irresponsibility, from Brazil and the Netherlands provide another face today, the same: that of a solid team with skill and speed up, but will await the actions of rival use these weapons in the kickback. The clash is not only decided by the quality of men like Kaka, Arjen Robben, Dirk Kuyt and Robin van Persie, but also promises to enter the field tactics Dunga and Bert van Marwijk.

The key match
Arjen Robben, Kaka

Dutchmen and Brazilians had come to South Africa concerned about the fitness of its two main figures: Robben was injured in a friendly against Hungary preparation, and Kaka has suffered all season pubalgia leading Real Madrid, precisely Robben club left to join Bayern Munich. After the tournament started, however, both have been launched, and how: the Brazilian and adds three assists in three games, and Robben played in his first start in the second round, against Slovakia, and did not disappoint , to score the goal that opened the locker.