The Netherlands came out for the second half of their World Cup quarter-final against Brazil as if it was their last 45 minutes of the tournament and that approach proved decisive, playmaker Wesley Sneijder said.
The Dutch were trailing 1-0 at the break, but by playing their best soccer of the campaign so far they managed to turn the tide and come back strongly to win 2-1.
“At halftime, we said to each other we had to improve things, we had to put more pressure on the Brazilian defense,” Sneijder, who scored the winner, told a press conference. “For 45 minutes, we went full throttle and we were rewarded for it. When you score two goals and you win, it’s wonderful.”
It was Netherlands’ first victory over the South American side since they beat Brazil 2-0 in a World Cup second-round group match at the 1974 finals in West Germany.
The Dutch registered their 13th straight World Cup win to maintain a perfect record in the qualifiers and finals, but the triumph over Brazil was their first major scalp in that run.
Sneijder said: “The feeling is fantastic. If you can eliminate Brazil, one of the biggest, best teams of this championship ... If you do that, the feeling is relief.”
“It was my first headed goal and I don’t think it will happen again ... it slipped off my bald head and went into the goal,” he said.
After beating favorites Brazil, the Dutch are now second in the betting behind Spain. The Dutch camp has been in good spirits in South Africa and Sneijder said they would enjoy their win, but must stay focused on the main target — winning their first world title.
“We have to take a moment to savor it and from tomorrow, we have to concentrate on the semi-final,” he said.
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