With the one of the wildest group stages in World Cup history coming to a close, the Round of 16 has started to take shape, starting with what will be an excellent match between Group B winners the Netherlands and narrow runners-up of Group B, Mexico.
Both teams have shown they are more than capable of scoring while also holding strong defensively, so this has all the makings of a classic. With Robin van Persie returning to the line up for the Dutch after missing their third game on suspension, will the Netherlands have what it takes to overwhelm this dynamic Mexican team? Or will Gio Dos Santos and the Mexicans be up to the task?
Read on for everything you need to know about this huge World Cup match, the winner of which plays the winner of the Group C runner up and Group D winner, and get set for another fantastic soccer match.
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Netherlands vs. Mexico, World Cup 2014, Round of 16 Betting Preview and Predictions
After several hard-scrabble matches in their Group A play, Mexico has survived to the next round on the strength of their defending and the timeliness of their scoring. Mexico has now advanced out of the group stage at six-straight World Cups, one of only three teams to do so (Brazil, Germany).
[sc:Soccer240banner ]Against Croatia, Mexico weathered the storm, as the Europeans came out firing in a game they needed to win to advance. As they have throughout the tournament, most notably in their 0-0 draw with World Cup favorites Brazil, Mexico kept calm at the back and relied on the excellent play of Guillermo Ochoa, who has made outstanding saves in each of their three games this tournament. In the end, Mexico broke through the tired Croatian lines for three goals, propelling them to a 3-1 win that nearly caught them up to Brazil on goal differential and the group lead.
Against the Netherlands, the Mexicans will need every inch of the defending that has made them successful in this tournament while also finding the offense that got them to the World Cup in the first place.
After finishing fourth in the CONCACAF qualifying, Mexico was forced into a two-game playoff with New Zealand for the final World Cup berth between the two regions. The Mexicans came to play, winning on aggregate 9-3 behind no less than five goals from Oribe Peralta.
While Peralta, who has an impressive nine goals in his last nine international appearances, has been relatively quiet for the Mexicans at this tournament, Manchester United Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez (four goals in six appearances) and Villarreal star Giovani Dos Santos have been attacking with style when the moments present themselves. And though the latter has yet to officially crack the scoresheet for the Central American country, he has had two goals erroneously called back and can bury opportunities as they emerge.
If they hope to win this game the Mexicans will need an excellent game from Ochoa and strong finishing from their front line. The Dutch attack will get theirs, the question remains whether Mexico can answer back while Ochoa does his best to steal this game.
Betting on the Netherlands
Adios, España!
Netherlands and Chile took care of business in the group stage, eliminating the defending World Cup champions Spain and moving on to the Round of 16 comfortably.
The Dutch–despite making the World Cup Final in 2010–may have been the most underrated team in the field at this tournament, as many had picked them to be the odd ones out in a very competitive Group B. Instead, the Netherlands, powered by a deadly, fast-striking offense, moved easily past Spain (5-1), Australia (3-2), and finally Chile (2-0) to set up this Round of 16 match.
Offense has come easily for the Dutch, led by two of the finest scorers in the game in Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben, both have whom already have three goals in this tournament, behind only Brazilian genius Neymar.
It’s hard to pick out which of the two Dutch finishers has been playing better, and with Memphis Depay (two goals), Daley Blind (three assists) and Wesley Sneijder backing them up, there’s no sign of this attacking unit slowing down.
If there is one thing the Netherlands need to watch out for in this match it may be themselves. Keeper Jasper Cillessen nearly presented Chile with a costly penalty after a reckless diving challenge on a ball that was careening out of play.
Meanwhile, Nigel de Jong, while continuing to play with his characteristic aggressive style, could easily afford Mexico an opportunity or two when pushed – and you can bet the Mexicans will push him. Mexico has gotten under the skin of all three teams they’ve played, and have demonstrated they don’t need asking twice when given chances to score (so long as the refs stay out of the way).
Writer’s Prediction
Mexico comes strong and scores first by the Dutch won’t be denied by a team of this calibre, scoring enough to move on while pushing the game over the total.
