The Netherlands trailed Mexico by a single goal in the 88th minute, yet turned around the result to produce a 2-1 win and send themselves into the quarter-finals, where they will meet Costa Rica.
So how many did Van Persie score? None. He was actually subbed off before the decisive final minutes. Calling this a "bold decision" by Van Gaal is an understatement. The big man on the touchline was fifteen minutes away from being eliminated from the biggest tournament on Earth and required at least one goal. What does he do? He takes off his most prolific goalscorer, who is also his captain! Yes, we all love RVP, but with the tactical changes, he wasn't clicking as he usually does. The replacement striker, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, made the difference by providing an assist and converting a penalty just before the final whistle. Van Gaal's men produced two goals. Brave, confident, and not concerned with big names or egos. He demands respect. Remind you of anyone?
A few days prior to his last sixteen match, Louis Van Gaal raised concerns with the temperatures that both teams would be experiencing. He dropped many hints that there should be frequent "cooling breaks", which the match officials did enforce. This was a big deal. These were the first of the tournament. Not only did the Dutch use this for rehydration, they used it for tactical changes. With all the players in one area, Van Gaal was able to seamlessly swap formations and switch to what he referred to as "plan B". Tactical genius who likes to play mind games. Remind you of anyone?
Finally, we can't ignore that this victory was Manchester United-esque. Late drama, last minute goals, a bunch of added time, and the sheer drive to get a result. Remind you of anyone?
Admittedly, you can't ignore the fact that the winning goal was scored via a controversial penalty decision. It's almost what you expect to see from Arjen Robben. But it's not like Louis Van Gaal won't have someone like Ashley Young at his disposal. If you know what I mean...
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