Venue: Port Elizabeth

Date: Friday, 2 July 2010

Kick-off: 3pm

Coverage: Television coverage ITV, BBC Radio 5 live, live text commentary on this website
MATCH PREVIEW

The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium hosts the teams ranked first and fourth in the world, in a fascinating quarter-final encounter. Will it be jogo bonito versus total football, or winning ugly at the expense of the beautiful game?

Brazil and the Netherlands have come to South Africa to win, not to entertain. Pragmatic, workmanlike and efficient may be dirty words in both countries, but coaches Dunga and Bert van Marwijk aren't listening. "We came here to win," said Van Marwijk. "If we can win with beautiful football then fine, but I said when I took this job that we would also have to learn how to win ugly games."

You can see Van Marwijk's point. In years gone by, the Dutch would delight and dismay in equal measure, but they head into Friday's match on a all-time national record, 23-game unbeaten run and have won all eight of their games in 2010. The likes of Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart are yet to dazzle in South Africa, but the Dutch defence, cited as the team's weak spot before the tournament, has yet to concede a goal from open play (the two goals scored against them were penalties).

Dunga captained Brazil to World Cup glory in 1994 - beating the Netherlands along the way - with a team that was criticised for its negative approach, and is immune to sniping about his current side, perhaps with good reason. Only Germany and Argentina have scored more goals and, according to Fifa, Brazil have created more goal opportunities than any other side.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head

- This will be the 10th meeting between these sides. Brazil have won three to the Netherlands' two, with four draws.

- They have met at the World Cup on three previous occasions: the Netherlands reached the 1974 final thanks to a 2-0 win in the second group stage; Brazil won 3-2 in the 1994 quarter-finals; and the 1998 semi-final ended in a 1-1 draw, with Brazil progressing on penalties.
Netherlands

- The Netherlands have won four consecutive World Cup matches, equalling their best-ever run. The last time they managed this was in 1974, when they reached the final.

- Van Marwijk's side are on a 23-match unbeaten run, a record for the Dutch. Their last defeat was in September 2008 (a 2-1 loss to Australia in Eindhoven).

- They have only conceded four goals in their last eight World Cup matches, keeping four clean sheets in the process.
Brazil

- Brazil are competing in the last eight for the 16th time in 19 World Cups.

- The Brazilians have only lost one of their last 30 games. That came in their penultimate qualifier, a game played at altitude in Bolivia after qualification had already been achieved.

- They have participated in all 18 previous World Cups, and have won the most world titles (five).

match

i give it 2 the brazilians,

Going by the current statistics; BRAZIL will carry the day but I want Holland to WIN this.

It wont be an eazy game for both sides, I bliv d brazilians will progress anyhow anyhow.

Brasil all the way ; A clear win within 90 minutes of play.

Same for Argentina, Spain and Uruguay, yes Uruguay.

Luck is on the side of these teams other than beign strong teams.

The match is tomorrow.

My support for the best team.

the orange boys (Netherlands) will win  

I give it to Arjen robben and company tomorrow

another easy match for Brazil,an easier one in the semi-finals (Ghana or Uruguay), the first time they will be tested is in the finals and they will get theirs

I think the Dutch might just win this one. Arjen Robben will be able to wahala bastos well well while the brazilian attack will not have it easy against the dutch defence. the dutch are a very disciplined side who know how to grind out results. the orange boys all the way.

as for me, concerning the netherland vs brazil match, i want to beleive it will be a very tough match. i predict the scores to be 2-1 in favour of brazil

So much has been said of Brazil's new solidity; that will be put to the test big-time!

Crucially. . . . The first team that scores wins & i bet it'd be the dutch!

I want the Oranje to win this and they can. But Brazil are going to stretch them.

Brazil all the way !!!

holland will shock dem

Holland will be humiliated by brazil. watch this space

The Brazilian team is too organised and tactically gifted for the dutch. Unlike previous Brazilian football teams at the world cup, their defence is rock solid. The only weakness is at the left full back with Michel Bastos. He does not play left back normally for his french club, and does not always time his forwards runs, so that's something robben can exploit.

But the Brazilian midfield and attack is simply brilliant. I am impressed with Gilberto Silva. He has done well with various combinations ie Philippe me lo or ramires. Pity ramires is missing the dutch game.

And what can you say with the deadly triangle or robinho, kaka and fabiano. Perhaps another weakness is the absence of elano. I am yet to be convinced by the contribution of alves. He looks like fish out of water in midfield. Far prefer the young chap nilmer. Kleberson looked sharp when he came on against Portugal.

And for the dutch. . . . . take out robben, sneilder, van bommel and what do you have? A collapsing team.

@Snowdrops. U said take out Sneijder etc Why would u take them out? Are they not Dutch? So if u take out Kaka,Fabiano and Lucio the Brazilian team wont be a collapsing team too?
Anyway me I'll give it to d Dutch. Their mdf (Robben,Sneijder,Van der Vaart,De Jong,Van Bommel)is vastly superior to the Brazilians(Kaka,Gilberto,Ramirez,Alves,De Melo). So there u have it.

Can't wait!

this game go tight.

Whoever wins this match will win the world cup. . .
kapish

Brazil is taking this.
I don't see this Holland beating Brazil. They are a bit bland. The Dutch, also like the Spanish, enjoy their possession footie so much that they end up with bad gaffes at the back.

I was a Nigerian decamped to Brazil(for football only), so am now a Brazilian,lol
ten thousand Van Persey and Robben cannot stop us

VAMOS BRASIL

my prefered team is holland but, I'm so impressed with the way the brazilians have played so far. so for this match between holland vs brazil, i can't vote for any of 'em but, let the better team carry the day! but for the match between ghana vs uruguay, i can't even wait to see ghana l. . . . . anywayz, make i go the other thread go talk about 'am.

d orange pls end brazil's run beg