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Attendance: 51,179
Netherlands national football team
World Cup | Quarter-Finals
Jul 5, 2014 at 9pm UK
 
Costa Rica national football team

0-0

FT
(aet)
Netherlands win 4-3 on penalties

Preview: Netherlands vs. Costa Rica

Sports Mole previews the action due to take place in the World Cup quarter-finals between the Netherlands and Costa Rica on Saturday.

The Netherlands go into their quarter-final clash with Costa Rica at the Arena Fonte Nova on Saturday looking to improve on a tiring display against Mexico in the last-16 stage of the World Cup.

Since thrashing Spain 5-1 in their group opener, the Dutch have failed to dominate in the way many expected, but efficient performances saw them through to a tricky tie against Miguel Herrera's men last Sunday.

Despite trailing in the 35-degree heat, Louis van Gaal's side played the game until the final minutes as they sought to wear their opposition down and it seemed to work as goals from Wesley Sneijder and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar saw them home with a last-gasp victory.

Costa Rica, on the other hand, have turned out to be the World Cup's surprise package. Save for their 0-0 draw with England, Jorge Luis Pinto's men have played some standout attacking football, having beaten Italy and dispatched Greece with a penalties win in the last 16.

Both sides are expected to be missing key players for this encounter, which could make for an even more engrossing spectacle.

For Holland, rumours have begun to circulate that Robin van Persie's inclusion could be a close call, with the Manchester United striker leaving training with a taped-up thigh on Wednesday, while Nigel de Jong is also expected to be absent because of a suspected torn groin muscle.

Costa Rica's chances of progression could be hampered by the absence from of commanding Oscar Duarte, who was dismissed against Greece in the last round. It was expected that Roy Miller would fill in to replace the defender, however he is due to miss out because of an injury to his left foot.

Pinto is now considering whether to bring in either Johnny Acosta or Jose Miguel Cubero to fill the void at the back.

Recent form

Netherlands: WWWWWW

Costa Rica: WWWWDL

Possible starting lineups

Netherlands: Cillessen; Vlaar, Blind, De Vrij, Verhaegh; Martins Indi, Wijnaldum, Depay, Sneijder; Robben; Van Persie

Costa Rica: Navas; Gamboa, Acosta, Diaz Campbell, Umana, Gonzalez, Ruiz, Tejeda Valverde, Campbel, Borges, Bolanos

Sports Mole says: 3-1

See what the Sports Mole Sofa panel has to say about the clash in the video below.


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Netherlands winger Arjen Robben is tackled by Mexico duo Hector Moreno and Rafael Marquez during the World Cup last-16 tie in Fortaleza on June 29, 2014
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Netherlands Netherlands32107
Q Senegal flag Senegal32016
3 Ecuador flag Ecuador31114
4 Qatar Qatar30030

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England32107
Q United States USA31205
3 Iran Iran31023
4 Wales flag Wales30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Argentina Argentina32016
Q Poland Poland31114
3 Mexico Mexico31114
4 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia31023

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France32016
Q Australia Australia32016
3 Tunisia Tunisia31114
4 Denmark Denmark30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Japan Japan32016
Q Spain Spain31114
3 Germany Germany31114
4 Costa Rica flag Costa Rica31023

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Morocco Morocco32107
Q Croatia Croatia31205
3 Belgium Belgium31114
4 Canada Canada30030

Group G

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Q Brazil Brazil32016
Q Switzerland Switzerland32016
3 Cameroon flag Cameroon31114
4 Serbia Serbia30121

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Republic of Korea South Korea31114
3 Uruguay flag Uruguay31114
4 Ghana flag Ghana31023


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