Robin van Persie returns to the Dutch attack to face Mexico in the second round of the World Cup this evening while Mexican defender Hector Moreno will lock horns with his former mentor Louis van Gaal.
Van Persie was suspended for the Netherlands’ 2-0 defeat of Chile in their final group match but will be back to partner Arjen Robben in the tournament’s deadliest attacking duo.
The pair scored three each during the group stage as the Dutch romped into the last 16 with three victories and 10 goals, more than any other team at the World Cup.
That rich vein of form makes them favourites against the Mexicans but their previous clashes have been remarkably even.
In six meetings, the Dutch have won three and the Mexicans two.
Of the 22 goals in those matches – an average of nearly four a game – both sides scored 11, and their only previous meeting at the World Cup, in 1998, ended in a 2-2 draw.
Van Persie’s return means Dirk Kuyt is likely to be relegated to the bench after starting against Chile, but if he does play, either from the outset or as a sub, the 33-year-old will win his 100th international cap.
At the other end of the age spectrum, 20-year-old forward Memphis Depay is also likely to start on the bench despite scoring twice in his two appearances.
“I must be realistic,” he told reporters at the Dutch training camp.
“With incredible players like Robben and Van Persie, it’s logical that I sit on the bench.
“If you see what Robben can do with dribbling the ball it’s unbelievable.”
The Mexicans are largely injury free and were impressive in the group stage.
They beat Croatia and Cameroon and held hosts Brazil to a goalless draw in Fortaleza’s Castelao Arena, the setting for today’s last-16 showdown against the Netherlands.
Their defender Moreno played under Van Gaal at Dutch side AZ Alkmaar and knows a thing or two about the talent in the Netherlands squad.
“They were young guys like me and they were just starting their careers when I was there,” said Moreno, who now plays his club football at Espanyol in Spain.
“They’ve grown up under the guidance of Van Gaal. With the players they have it’s going to be a very difficult match.”
Moreno said he hoped to hug the Dutch coach twice today – once before kick-off as a gesture of friendship and again after the final whistle to commiserate him in defeat.
The winners will face either Costa Rica or Greece in the quarter-finals and either side would fancy their chances of reaching the last four of the competition.
Key statistics
• With 10 goals, the Netherlands were the highest scorers among teams in the 2014 World Cup group stage.
• Mexico have only made it past the round of 16 twice, both times when host country of the finals, in 1970 and 1986.
• Mexico were one of three teams to concede only one goal in the group stage along with Costa Rica and Belgium.
Previous meetings
• The teams have faced each other six times, with the Netherlands winning three matches, Mexico two and one match was drawn.
Last meeting: May 26, 2010, Freiburg, Germany, friendly – Netherlands 2 Mexico 1.