Holland 0 : 0 Costa Rica
The last of the World Cup quarter finals. Holland against Costa Rica and the winner faces Argentina.
Again Costa Rica are considered underdogs against a very strong Dutch squad with Van Persie, Sneijder, Robben in their line up. The opening quarter of the game was dominated by Holland, they had numerous chances and Navas made some good saves to deny the Flying Dutchmen. Costa Rica didn't sit back as they also looked dangerous on the counter attack. Robben also has a point to prove after his comments about his sportsmanship in the previous game and it looked as though he was making a conscious effort to be more 'honest'. How long it would last, we will never know. He went down off the ball and won a free kick. The Costa Ricans said he dived but he had been brought down. The free kick was well saved again by Navas. More orange pressure towards the end of the half but both teams leave the field all square.
Holland continued in the way they finished the first half. They controlled the play but unable to get that all important goal. Costa Rica also looking dangerous on counter attacks. Everything that the Dutch did, the Costa Ricans were able to stop. They were defending like true warriors and the longer the game progressed, the Dutch looked more nervous. The closest any team got to a goal was in the 81st minute when a wonder free kick crashed against the post from Sneijder. He managed to whipped the ball in, over the wall from a difficult angle. Unlucky. Tempo finally increased to another notch as Holland wanted to finish this game in the 90 minutes. Another free kick on Robben resulted in a shot from RVP but that 'keeps Navas again was in the way. He has been incredible. A glorious chance fell to Van Persie but he missed the ball. In the last minute of added time Holland could have won it when the ball was skimmed in and the players in the middle missed, fell to RVP and his shot was defended on the line, deflected up onto the bar and cleared! Frantic. Full time and this Match somehow finishes goalless.
Another 30 minutes to be played. A tidal wave of orange was what the Costa Rica has faced all throughout this match and the onslaught continued against their goal. How Holland are not winning is anyone's guess? Costa Rica though did have a claim for a penalty as Vlaar clumsily stumbled into Urena but nothing from the ref.
The second half of extra time turned into an epic 15 minutes as costar looked like the team that may nick the win. Urena somehow wiggled his way into the Dutch box and a great save from Cillessen kept the game tied. Holland then went straight on the attack (again) and Sneijder struck the ball from 30 yards which smashed against the bar. Then a bizarre decision from Van Gaal as he subbed the Dutch 'keeper Cillessen with Krul in the last minute ready for penalties. I have never seen that before.
Penalties
Netherlands - OOOO
Costa Rica - OXOOX
Have we witnessed a great tactical mind in work? Or an ego getting a bit of luck? What every the outcome Holland progress to face Argentina. A tasty encounter.
