The best and worst of Brazil 2014
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E-mail Xinhua, July 13, 2014
6) Netherlands - the pragmatists
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Netherlands' forward and captain Robin van Persie takes a penalty kick to score a goal during the third place play-off football match between Brazil and Netherlands during the 2014 FIFA World Cup at the National Stadium in Brasilia on July 12, 2014. |
Having begun to stray from their long-nurtured Total Football philosophy under Bert van Marwijk, in 2010, the Dutch have thrown it out the window in Brazil. Louis van Gaal, once a loyal disciple of the playing style the Netherlands made famous at the 1974 World Cup, has become football's most accomplished pragmatist. Several times throughout the tournament he has abandoned his preferred 4-3-3 formation to meet the needs of the occasion. And each time he has been successful. His second-half changes helped swing matches the Netherlands' way against Spain, Australia and Mexico. Van Gaal's decision to replace goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen with Tim Krul for the penalty shootout victory over Costa Rica, was perhaps the finest example of his tactical guile.
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