Surprised there isn't one dedicated to the Netherlands....so here it is.

If you are a fan then
(a) are you surprised at how well they have done or expected this despite the dodgy defence
(b) just how far can they go??

For me, if they can beat Brazil/Mexico/Croatia in the next round, then there's no reason not to reach the final again. Quietly confident....!!

The Netherlands is my "other team" and I hope they can go far and maybe win it. The Dutch have had some great players over the years, but always seem to "implode" during tournaments, and end up trying to kill each other.

At the moment they're looking like world beaters, even when they went down to Australia, they just up'd their game and banged in 2 goals. Something England never seem to be able to do, it's flat out or nothing, England never seem to be able to do "just enough"

Sorry, but comparing England's to Holland's performance at this World Cup so far is almost like comparing One Direction to Mozart - different professions.

I'm not, I was saying how Holland seem to be able to dictate a tempo and go with it, if they go behind they just up their game, Spain 1-1 at half time, 2nd half they crushed the Spanish. Australia 1-1 half time, 2nd half they go behind, they just upped it enough to bang in 2 goals, job done.

England just seem never to be able to control games, and thus can't get by with just doing enough to get a result without really tiring their players etc.

I have a £5 on Holland @ 33/1 to win the WC , and also a £10 on Belgium @ 22/1 to win the WC, I think I have MORE chance of winning with Holland

Does Robben realise how bad he looks everytime he throws himself to the floor if
touched ?

I'm surprised at their play so far. Everyone beforehand that I heard (Dutch and otherwise) was writing them off for various reasons (departing manager, Strootman injured, young defence).

I liked that stat about the names.

This is the first dutch team since 1996 not to have a player with Van in the name

Well, apart from being the worst game I've seen so far, they still go on to win!
Considering;
Van Persie - missing
Sneijder - missing in action (that was by some distance the worst game I've seen him have for Oranje)
Lens - completely hopeless and looking like an amateur that's been given a game just to be nice to him
.....to win that, quite comfortably (how many shots on target did Chile have) and playing very ordinarily is some relief.
Just worry about the iffy tackles in the box which could result in penalties if the ref's fussier than this one
Oh, and still Huntelaar can't get a game. Although van Gaal's substitutions put him in the "genius" class.

Hup!!! I'm off for een beertje. Proost!!

Another quarter-final dawns, and they are probably queuing outside de Hems right now. How much drinking can you do in 24 hours??

Hopefully this is a match too far for Costa Rica and Oranje can ease through 2 - 0. BUT, Costa Rica are on a roll and Oranje can make the simplest tasks difficult.

Like to see Huntelaar play alongside RVP, may yet happen if they are chasing the game.

Hup and hic, Holland!!

Not a fan of Holland but an admirer of their fantastic football history. I told people Holland would be a good side at the World Cup, a lot of people were rubbishing their chances because of a bad performance at the Euros. They have some genuinely World class players and some good new talent coming through, plus they are on a long unbeaten run, much like Italy were in 2006 and we all know what happened then. I would expect them to beat Costa Rica and after that, who knows?

They have a real chance with victory today of emulating their ladies field hockey side, by lifting the World Cup.

Dutch delight?

I have admired Dutch football since the wonderful European Cup winning Ajax side of the early 70s. The Netherlands are, in my view, the greatest footballing nation not to have won the world cup. Beating Germany in the final in the right way - no thuggery please - would be sweet revenge for 1974.

Before the tournament, I was quietly confident that we'd do well. LVG has a point to proof due to him not qualifying in his previous stint.

Like no other, he's able to put 'the right team' together and let them k oa what to do in order to win the game. He's an extremely good tactician and reads the game like no other, as demonstrated by changing the system twice amd the fact that his subs are making the difference when required.

Yes, Oranje may not have as many 'stars' in all areas, but that works in his favour in areas outside the attack, as they are more likely to thrive in the 'systems' LVG comes up with.

Anyway, Hup Holland Hup! Laat de leeuw niet in z'n hempje staan!

Holland have a big chance. Belgium could be the biggest obstacle to world domination.

And now the Semi-final dawns. It's beginning to get interesting!

Wonder if Huntelaar will get the nod over RVP this time, seeing how RVP struggled v Costa Rica? Big call if Van Gaal does, but he's made a few of those already....

What about their captain Van Persie?

He didn't play in one game (suspended) so there was no Oranje Van Man in the team!

Ahhhhh I gotcha! No one on the pitch with Van. I'm quite slow sometimes