Netherlands-Brazil promises pure excitement

Netherlands' Dirk Kuyt (L), Arjen Robben (C) and Mark van Bommel celebrate a goal during a soccer training session at the Gelvendale stadium in Port Elizabeth July 1, 2010. [Agencies]

PORT ELIZABETH - Not much hype is required when the five-time champion faces the country that created "total football" in the World Cup quarterfinals.

Still, Brazil coach Dunga made a point of emphasizing just how spectacular Friday's match against the Netherlands might be.

Dunga, who was captain on the Brazil side that beat the Netherlands in 1994 and 1998, said Thursday that he would pay to watch the game if he didn't have a free pass for the sideline.

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"Both sides play an attacking game, both feature very technical players, both know how to dribble and take risks, and both want to score," the former midfielder said. "So you can always expect a great football game.

"We all know that in the knockout stage all the games are open. You can't play defensively because all the players on the pitch are experts."

The winner will face either Uruguay or Ghana in the semifinals.

A two-time runner-up but never World Cup champion, the Netherlands enters on a team-record 23-match unbeaten streak. The Dutch feature some of Europe's top stars in Inter Milan playmaker Wesley Sneijder, Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben and Arsenal striker Robin van Persie.

The Netherlands swept through the group stage with three victories and Robben and Sneijder found the target in a 2-1 win over Slovakia in the round of 16.

Brazil was also solid in the group stage, beating the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Ivory Coast before a scoreless draw with Portugal, then restored its "beautiful game" in a 3-0 win over Chile in the second round.

While he still hasn't scored, Brazil playmaker Kaka is returning to form and his pinpoint passes have helped Luis Fabiano rekindle his scoring touch. Also, speedy forward Robinho has given the Selecao an added weapon again, notching the third goal against Chile.

Brazil's soccer players attend a training session in Port Elizabeth July 1, 2010. [Agencies]

Even with so many crafty players on the pitch at once, Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk doesn't agree with Dunga's prediction, practically pronouncing the death of "total football" - the famous Dutch "clockwork orange" attacking style of quick passing and running off the ball.

The Dutch game reached its apex in the 1970s when the Netherlands reached consecutive World Cup finals - losing to Germany and Argentina in 1974 and 1978, respectively.

"It was 'total football', and I also remember Brazil's samba football, but sport changes and football changes also," Van Marwijk said. "It has to do with the fact everybody is getting fitter, better organized so if you play as you did in former times I think it would be very difficult to win the World Cup."

Dunga must make do without suspended midfielder Ramires, while injuries to Elano, Felipe Melo and Julio Baptista leave the coach with few options in midfield. Elano is definitely out because of a bruised bone in his right ankle, while Felipe Melo and Julio Baptista are doubtful.

Netherlands midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has returned to full training following a left calf injury and Van Marwijk declared him fully fit. But it remains unclear if Van Marwijk will put Van der Vaart back in the starting lineup after Robben returned against Slovakia and scored in his first start of the tournament.

Stadium venue manager Archie Charalambous said that all 42,286 seats had been sold, the first sellout in seven matches at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. There were 100 of the highest-priced tickets left, but those 2,100 Rand ($275) seats were all sold Thursday.

There are concerns about the worn-down pitch, and a sharp wind blowing in off the nearby Indian Ocean was also a worry.

"The wind factor is going to be problematic and troublesome for both teams, especially since the Jabulani ball has a very complicated trajectory," Dunga said. "It will be tricky, but the players we're going to see tomorrow know how to handle the ball."

Dunga's declarations about a spectacular game may have more to do with the coach's hope for a wide-open match than an expected up-and-down game.

"A lot of it has to do with the way Holland reacts, but quite clearly when both players go on the attack the quality of the game is higher," Dunga said. "It's a numerical issue. If 20 players stay in one half it's going to be more difficult to score, whereas if they spread around the pitch it's going to be more open. We always want a more open game because that's more beautiful."

While they haven't faced each other since 1999, these two teams know each other extremely well.

Brazilian trio Julio Cesar, Maicon and Lucio spent last season together with Sneijder in Italy helping Inter Milan win a historic treble - the Champions League, Serie A and the Italian Cup; Thiago Silva and Klaas Jan Huntelaar were teammates at AC Milan and Kaka and Van der Vaart shared midfield duties at Real Madrid.

Brazil was beaten 1-0 by France at this stage four years ago in a match decided by a defensive error.

This game could also be decided in defense, and Brazil center backs Lucio and Juan are two of the best in the business, both possessing top tackling skills along with dangerous abilities in the air. And it was less than a year ago that Italy's Gianluigi Buffon declared that Julio Cesar had surpassed him as the world's top goalkeeper.

"Brazil doesn't depend on just three players but a whole collective," Dunga said. "The entire team is important and if they all play up to expectations we're going to get the results we're looking for."