NETHERLANDS vs. MEXICO
Round of 16 - Game 3
Round of 16 - Game 3
Date: June 29, 2014
Time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
Venue: Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza
Overall Head-to-Head Record (W-L-T): 3-2-1 Netherlands
Last Match: 2010 Friendly. Netherlands def. Mexico 2-1.
Line: Netherlands EVEN
Starting Lineups posted separately once they're announced.
Team Profiles
World Ranking: Netherlands (15th), Mexico (20th)
Managers: Louis van Gaal (NED), Miguel Herrera (MEX)
Captains: Robin van Persie (NED), Rafael Marquez (MEX)
World Cup Appearances: 10 (NED), 15 (MEX)
Best Finish: Netherlands (3x Runners-Up, Last in 2010), Mexico (2x Quarterfinals, Last in 1986)
Qualifying Records: Netherlands (9-0-1, GF: 34, GA: 5), Mexico (10-3-5, GF: 31, GA: 14)
Previous Game Results
Netherlands
Mexico
June 13th - Mexico def. Cameroon 1-0
June 17th - Mexico tied Brazil 0-0
June 23rd - Mexico def. Croatia 3-1
Rosters
Injuries/Discipline
Mexico: Paul Aguilar (Yellow Card), Rafael Marquez (Yellow Card), Hector Moreno (Yellow Card), Jose Juan Vazquez (Suspended - Card Accumulation)
Overview
A pair of surprising teams so far at the 2014 World Cup take to the field in Fortaleza with a spot in the quarterfinals and perhaps further on the line.
One of the last teams to qualify for this tournament, Mexico have made waves with their group stage performance. Their defence has been nothing short of exceptional and has been bolstered by excellent goalkeeping from Guillermo Ochoa behind them. They will need those performances to continue today though. No team in the World Cup scored more goals in the group stage (10) than Netherlands did.
With a completely revamped back line, and having failed to get a point in Euro 2012, Netherlands was seen as a bit of a mystery in this tournament. Some didn't see them even escaping their group with Spain and Chile in the midst. But the Netherlands defence has been a bright spot and their attacking combo of Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie has been the most dangerous strike duo in the tournament. They will have their hands full against the Mexican defence that conceded 1 goal in the group stage, but no team is better equipped to break down Mexico then this one.
Both teams play a variation of the 3-5-2/5-3-2 formation that everyone loves this tournament. Both teams also tend to play their wing backs as attacking wingers when they're going forward.
Mexico have one selection concern going in to this match. Holding midfielder Jose Juan Vazquez is suspended for this game due to an accumulation of yellow cards in the group stage. The 26 year old has been a revelation this tournament in that role and whoever Mexico replaces him with will be a downgrade defensively as they will likely have to check Wesley Sneijder.
Netherlands come in to this game with their typical starting XI available. Robin van Persie has returned from his suspension and Bruno Martins Indi is likely to play after suffering a concussion in Netherlands' second group match.
Personnel
In the Dutch Third:The 3 central Dutch defenders of Vlaar, de Vrij and Martins Indi were expected to be a weak point this tournament but have been stellar at the back. They get a lot of support from their wing backs and Nigel de Jong but that trio has been a rock at the back. Mexico finally got their scoring going late in the Croatia game but that was largely due to Croatia abandoning defensive zone coverage. Reality is, Mexico have not been able to get consistent runs on the ball towards goal and have lacked finishing touch from top scorer in qualifying Oribe Peralta. They'll get balls in to this part of the field, but finishing them off is a much different story. Advantage: Netherlands.
In the Midfield: A bit of a wash in the central midfield, neither team overly aggressive defensively and both with playmakers. Mexico maybe a bit more dynamic offensively with Herrera and Guardado, Netherlands the better defensive team with Nigel de Jong. Think the key battle here is with the wing backs. Layun vs. Janmaat and Blind vs. Aguilar will determine where this part of the pitch is won. I like the Dutch backs offensive ability but they are also more susceptible to defensive lapses and allowing players behind them. Advantage: Even
In the Mexican Third: Don't know if Mexico is as capable here as they appear in this game. 3 great central defenders but not the speed to necessarily keep pace with Robben and van Persie. I think the Brazil game is key here. Mexico surrendered plenty of chances on goal to Neymar in particular but bad finishing and great goalkeeping held them in. That was once in a lifetime performance by Ochoa and don't know if that can be repeated against all the attacking options the Dutch have. Advantage: Netherlands.
Goalkeeping: Ochoa has been the goalkeeper of the tournament so far. Nothing wrong with Cillessen either although the way he handles the ball must be terrifying to Dutch fans. Advantage: Mexico.
One of the last teams to qualify for this tournament, Mexico have made waves with their group stage performance. Their defence has been nothing short of exceptional and has been bolstered by excellent goalkeeping from Guillermo Ochoa behind them. They will need those performances to continue today though. No team in the World Cup scored more goals in the group stage (10) than Netherlands did.
With a completely revamped back line, and having failed to get a point in Euro 2012, Netherlands was seen as a bit of a mystery in this tournament. Some didn't see them even escaping their group with Spain and Chile in the midst. But the Netherlands defence has been a bright spot and their attacking combo of Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie has been the most dangerous strike duo in the tournament. They will have their hands full against the Mexican defence that conceded 1 goal in the group stage, but no team is better equipped to break down Mexico then this one.
Both teams play a variation of the 3-5-2/5-3-2 formation that everyone loves this tournament. Both teams also tend to play their wing backs as attacking wingers when they're going forward.
Mexico have one selection concern going in to this match. Holding midfielder Jose Juan Vazquez is suspended for this game due to an accumulation of yellow cards in the group stage. The 26 year old has been a revelation this tournament in that role and whoever Mexico replaces him with will be a downgrade defensively as they will likely have to check Wesley Sneijder.
Netherlands come in to this game with their typical starting XI available. Robin van Persie has returned from his suspension and Bruno Martins Indi is likely to play after suffering a concussion in Netherlands' second group match.
Personnel
In the Dutch Third:The 3 central Dutch defenders of Vlaar, de Vrij and Martins Indi were expected to be a weak point this tournament but have been stellar at the back. They get a lot of support from their wing backs and Nigel de Jong but that trio has been a rock at the back. Mexico finally got their scoring going late in the Croatia game but that was largely due to Croatia abandoning defensive zone coverage. Reality is, Mexico have not been able to get consistent runs on the ball towards goal and have lacked finishing touch from top scorer in qualifying Oribe Peralta. They'll get balls in to this part of the field, but finishing them off is a much different story. Advantage: Netherlands.
In the Midfield: A bit of a wash in the central midfield, neither team overly aggressive defensively and both with playmakers. Mexico maybe a bit more dynamic offensively with Herrera and Guardado, Netherlands the better defensive team with Nigel de Jong. Think the key battle here is with the wing backs. Layun vs. Janmaat and Blind vs. Aguilar will determine where this part of the pitch is won. I like the Dutch backs offensive ability but they are also more susceptible to defensive lapses and allowing players behind them. Advantage: Even
In the Mexican Third: Don't know if Mexico is as capable here as they appear in this game. 3 great central defenders but not the speed to necessarily keep pace with Robben and van Persie. I think the Brazil game is key here. Mexico surrendered plenty of chances on goal to Neymar in particular but bad finishing and great goalkeeping held them in. That was once in a lifetime performance by Ochoa and don't know if that can be repeated against all the attacking options the Dutch have. Advantage: Netherlands.
Goalkeeping: Ochoa has been the goalkeeper of the tournament so far. Nothing wrong with Cillessen either although the way he handles the ball must be terrifying to Dutch fans. Advantage: Mexico.
Netherlands will win if:
Close down the attacking midfielders in the space above the penalty area and get the ball to Robben/van Persie on the break. One area that does concern me for the Dutch is the area above their own penalty area. Have found they do allow a gap there with space to operate and Mexico are great at firing long-range shots from there. Have to close that down unless Cillessen wants to be in a shooting gallery. Offensively, Robben in particular is best with the ball at a full sprint. Look to the wings for Robben in particular on a counter-attack and they'll have plenty of room to work on the Mexican defence.
Mexico will win if:
Have to win the battle of the wing backs on either side of the field and find a way to mark all of Robben/van Persie/Sneijder. Mexico isn't likely to get offence going up the centre of the field today against de Jong and the back 3. But they will likely be able to get Layun and Aguilar behind Blind and Janmaat wide and can really stretch the field that way and create scoring chances. Defensively, there are 3 Dutch players that can all burn you in attack and need very little space to operate. Easier said then done but they all need to be marked at all times in your half. Shut down those 3 and this Dutch attack becomes non-existent.
Mexico with too little teeth in attack to seriously harm the Dutch. My guess is they sit back defensively and force the Dutch to probe and keep them out of the penalty area. That didn't work for Chile though and that was without van Persie. Netherlands take this one in the second half.
Netherlands 2-0 Mexico
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