The Dutch earned the title “World Cup Comeback Kings” with a 2-1 win over Mexico, the third time in four matches they have come from behind to win in the tournament, and are now preparing for another tough battle against Costa Rica in the quarter-final.
The run started in their opening Group B match when they conceded first against world champions Spain in Salvador on June 13, and trailed for 17 minutes before winning 5-1.
They then trailed 2-1 to Australia four minutes midway through the second half in Porto Alegre on June 18 before turning that game around to win 3-2.
They had no such problems in their third group game seeing off Chile 2-0 in Sao Paulo on June 23, but reverted to type again on Sunday when two late goals gave them their dramatic last-16 win over Mexico in Fortaleza.
They trailed for 40 minutes to Mexico after Giovani Dos Santos put El Tri ahead in the 48th minute before Wesley Sneijder equalised with a blistering shot after 88 minutes and Klaas-Jan Hunter converted the late penalty that put the Dutch into a quarter-final against Costa Rica.
Sneijder said their confidence and self-belief was a factor in overcoming the odds and winning from losing positions.
“Even when we are losing, we go for it,” said Sneijder, who has now scored five goals in his last five knockout round matches for the Dutch.
“We are full of confidence, we just keep going, we don’t know when we are beaten. Costa Rica are a very good team and they came through a difficult group with Italy, England and Uruguay which no-one expected them to do.
“Now they have come through and are very happy and it is going to be a very tough game for us to get through to the semi-finals.”