World Cup 2014: 6 things we learned as Brazil set up Chile clash and Mexico progress
The hosts were in amongst the goals, but it was the Netherlands' tactical prowess that impressed Ed Malyon in Sao Paulo. Here's what he learned yesterday
Day 12 of the World Cup marked the beginning of the end for the group stages, as a Neymar-inspired Brazil cruising past Cameroon and Mexico seeing off Croatia to book their place in the knockout stages in Group A.
First place was up for grabs in Group B, with the already-qualified Netherlands and Chile facing off in Sao Paulo, while down-and-out duo Spain and Australia also faced off.
Without further ado, here's what we learned.
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LvG put on a masterclass as his Holland side picked off Chile here in Sao Paulo.
It's been written about more at length here but it was impressive how the Dutch adapted their gameplan for the third successive match with no problems and came away, once again, with all three points.
Facing criticism from the media back home, he can once again point to the results to vindicate himself, and it only took two questions in his post-match press conference before he was doing just that.
He is likely to make the Premier League a very interesting place next season, and Old Trafford a more successful one.
Shapeshifters
A really noticeable aspect of Holland's play from the high position of the Itaquerao press box was how flexible the Holland shape was.
At time it appeared a 4-3-3 with Daley Blind at left-back, but within seconds of the game situation changing they had collapsed into a 3-5-2 with Dirk Kuyt becoming left wing-back and the impressive Blind tucking in alongside Ron Vlaar and Stefan de Vrij. When Chile really pushed, that became a back five of course, and then when Wesley Sneijder pressed Gary Medel or Marcelo Diaz to stop La Roja being able to pass so freely, it occasionally appeared a 3-4-3.
The nature of football is that numerical formations will never be precise and these things are obviously open to change, but when you compare it to the sheer rigidity of what Manchester United showed under David Moyes last year there is reason to be excited at Old Trafford.
The pain in Spain lies mainly at the end of the reign
I'm sure that there are many lessons that someone could learn from watching Spain vs Australia.
Regrettably I didn't as I was at Netherlands vs Chile, so I can only really muse on the more general points, but fortunately the situation throws up plenty to talk about.
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