FIFA World Cup Round of 16: Netherlands 2-1 Mexico : Five talking points

In the sweltering heat of Fortaleza, the Dutch came from behind to beat Mexico thanks to two late goals from Sneijder and Huntelaar and broke Mexican hearts in the process.The first half was low on quality and excitement as the players found it difficult to cope with the rising mercury levels. But the second half was much more entertaining and although Mexico scored, it was the Dutch who dominated large chunks of it and in the end deservedly won.Here are the five major talking points from the game.

#1 Persistent Dutch pressure finally paid off

Whether it was the heat, the humidity or the fact that neither side fancied playing in the first half too much, the opening 45 minutes didn’t make for an enthralling encounter. However, just three minutes into the second half, Dos Santos’s goal changed all of that.

His goal meant that the Dutch had to come out of their shell and attack. In the opening 45 minutes, everything that made the Dutch a threat in the tournament so far, wasn’t there. Their passing was slow and laboured, Robben rarely saw any of the ball and it looked as though they were happy ceding possession.

Conceding a goal so early in the second half meant that the entire complexion of the game changed. Soon after Mexico scored, the Dutch started to exert some pressure on the Mexican defence. Corner after corner, attack after attack, the Dutch started to grow in confidence.

Their passing was precise and quick, there was finally some pace injected into their attack and Robben started seeing more of the ball. And it was only thanks to some heroic goalkeeping from Guillermo Ochoa that the Mexicans still had the lead.

But, in the end, even he couldn’t do anything to stop Sneijder’s rocket from the edge of the box. Once they had scored the equaliser, there was only ever going to be one winner. In injury time, Huntelaar converted from the spot and proved that persistence does pay.

#2 Substitutions changed the game

With the game nicely poised at 1-0, Mexico coach Miguel Herrera, who had been one of the tournament’s brightest sparks, made arguably the biggest mistake of the game. Being a goal up against an inexperienced Dutch defence, instead of going for the kill, Herrera decided to sit back and soak up the pressure with almost half an hour to go.

When he took off goal scorer Dos Santos and replaced him with a more defensive player, there was only ever going to be one outcome. From running the show, that decision meant that they handed the initiative to the Dutch, who took full advantage of it.

One man who was responsible for the comeback was striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. While his opposite number took the cautious route, van Gaal decided to go with the more risky approach. Replacing your captain and talismanic striker when your side is in desperate need of goals isn’t something most managers would dare to do.

But, van Gaal had the guts to not just substitute the ineffective van Persie, but also bring on a player who hadn’t played a single minute in the World Cup so far. In the end, he was duly rewarded for his faith as it was Huntelaar who cushioned the header into the path of Sneijder, who scored the equaliser and the man nicknamed “the Hunter” scored in injury time to seal his side’s progression into the quarter-finals.

#3 Heart break for Marquez and Mexico

Mexico came into this clash against the Dutch knowing that their history in the knockout rounds in the World Cup has been appalling of late. In each of their last five World Cups, they have gone out in the round of 16 and this defeat to the Dutch made that six.

Although the expectations of the Mexican side weren’t too high coming into the tournament, the fact that they conceded just once in their opening three group games, meant that they went into Round of 16 with renewed optimism.

Unfortunately for Mexico, their dreams of making it to the quarter finals for the first-time since 1986 was vanquished by a final flourish by the Dutch.

It was even more heart-breaking for their captain Marquez, who was captaining in his fourth World Cup, as it was he who gave away the penalty in injury time, from which the Dutch scored to win it 2-1.

Although they didn’t make it, the Mexicans certainly gave a good account of themselves and the tournament would certainly miss them and their passionate fans.

#4 Netherlands tactical fluidity might just help them win their maiden World Cup

Before the tournament in Brazil, van Gaal spoke of how his side was so tactically flexible that they could switch from a 3-5-2 to a 4-3-3 during the game. Against Mexico, their tactical flexibility was on show and was perhaps one of the main reasons why they won the game.

Whilst it might not exactly be “Total Football”, but the simple fact is that this might be the most tactically flexible squad in the entire tournament.

In their opening three games already, they have shown that they have more than one way in which they can win the game. While they sat deep and hit Spain on the counter in their opener, they had more of the ball against Australia and showed that they can play both proactive and reactive football.

Dirk Kuyt is a testament to that tactical flexibility. Earning his 100th cap for the Dutch, Kuyt started the game as a left winger, then occupied a left wing back position after the injury to Nigel de Jong early on.

In the second half, he was moved onto the right wing when the Dutch went in search of a goal and then when they got it, he moved deeper and played as right wing back.

With players like Kuyt, who are so versatile the Dutch have arguably the best squad, equipped for any situation. Something that might just help them claim their maiden World Cup title.

#5 Have Manchester United signed the wrong Herrera?

The news that Manchester United secured the signature of Athletic Bilbao’s Ander Herrera was one that brought plenty of joy to United fans all over the world.

But on the evidence of the Mexico’s performance in the World Cup, they might have gotten the wrong Herrera. Hector Herrera has been one of the finds of the tournament for Mexico and against the Netherlands he showed just why.

Against the Dutch, the 24-year-old central midfielder, who currently plays for FC Porto, was everywhere. Whether it was in his own half, trying to nip attacks in the bud, coming out with the ball from midfield or exchanging one-two’s with the forwards and having a crack at goal, Herrera was omnipresent.

Herrera’s dynamism and industry was one of the main reasons why Mexico’s 5-3-2 formation has been a huge hit in the World Cup. His energy, technical ability and his commitment were on display from the first minute till the last and might just have made the on looking van Gaal doubt his decision to buy Ander, instead of Hector Herrera.