The first of two battles between Europeans and Latin Americans takes place in Fortaleza, between two teams who have won many favorites in the first round of the World Cup and have received many good reviews for their racing behavior and readiness.
This game has fights on all fronts, since in addition to the battle on the pitch that looks ambiguous, the battle on the platform that has certainly won the Mexicans, there is also the battle on the bench between two great forms of world football, the great Luis Van Gaal and the creator of the great Club America Miguel Herrera. Both have proven to have their own madness and quirk and are top level coaches.
Mexico, based largely on America's big team in recent years and with some additions of quality players from European teams, managed to remain undefeated in the first round and steal the show with its appearances. A team that constantly presses into the center and consumes many kilometers without letting the rival take a break and exchange plenty of passes. They manage with 3-4 balloons to go into counter-attack and create opportunities when with Dos Santos and when with Peralta.
The Dutch came with a very infinite and youthful team, without the Dutch-known 4-3-3, and many had doubts about their ability to advance to this event. However, Van Gaal managed to make a set that is difficult to accept and Robben's speed and the experience of Van Persi and Snejder succeeded in winning 3 victories in the first phase against opponents like Spain and Chile, to turn the game against the Australians.
I think this game is extremely balanced. I can not see the Netherlands as a favorite, since the Europeans have so far been limited to playing a game of counter-attacks against teams that have either purely aggressive intentions or a slow center. But with Mexico things will not be exactly like that. For the first time they will face a team that chokes the opponent in the center and for the first time they will need to have the ball on their feet and have to create something.
Maybe the fight goes into prolongation, maybe Mexico can do it and from the normal run to throw the Dutch on the canvas. It is also the fact that the fight is in Brazil, which gives an advantage to the Mexicans. I think the performance so as not to lose Mexico is big enough.