DAY 18 REVIEW

Holland produced another efficient if not an impressive performance to book their place in the quarter-finals on Friday. They did just enough to squeeze past a spirited Slovakia side, who's players had already written their names into their nations sporting history after they sensationally dumped world champions Italy out of the tournament last Thursday. Holland look like they are cranking up through the gears, and they will need to, as they face the mighty Brazil in the last eight. There is some discontent because the Orange aren't winning with sufficient style, but with players of the quality and flair of Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben and Rafael van der Vaart, you wouldn't bet against them. The rest of the team are mainly on the pitch to feed those talented individuals, and against a country such as Slovakia, this was always going to be enough. Both van Perise and Sneijder went close in the first half, before Robben marked his first start of the tournament with a goal of equisite quality. After 18 minutes, the brilliant Sneijder drilled a superb pass into the Bayern Munich winger. From there it was all about Robben - he ran on with the ball, cut inside onto his favoured left foot and curled a brilliant shot into the bottom corner. In the second half, as Slovakia chased the game to a certain degree, chances came a bit more freely. Robben and Sneijder brought superb saves out of Slovakia keeper Jan Mucha, but twice in two second half minutes, the eastern Europeans came close to a surprise equaliser. Chelsea winger Miroslav Stoch cut inside onto his right book and brought a good save out of Holland keeper Maarten Stekelenburg, but the better chance fell to star striker Robert Vittek - after Marek Hamsik played him in, he shot straight at the Ajax stopper. And with six minutes later, Sneijder made the game safe, slotting in a cut back from Dirk Kuyt to slot into the empty net. This was enough to book Holland's passage, but Slovakia's final touch in their first World Cup as an independent nation meant they ended their tournament on a high note. Vittek slotted home a penalty in the final minute of injury time after he had been upended by Stekelenburg.

Brazil continued on their imperious path through the World Cup with a comfortable 3-0 victory over South American neighbours Chile, and on this form, they look like they will be hard to beat. Chile, who have won many admirers for their exciting expansive brand of attacking football, started brightly and tried to take the game to the five times world champions. But with Humberto Suazo unable to recapture the form he showed in qualifying, Marcelo Bielsa's side lacked a cutting edge to go with their enterprising play, and class eventually told in the end. Suazo barely tested Brazil keeper Julio Cesar, and Brazil should have been awarded a penalty after Pablo Contreras brought down Lucio, before the Selecao took the lead just after the half hour mark. Defender Juan powerfully headed home a corner from Maicon, and from there on in, it was practically one-way traffic. With 38 minutes gone, the boys in yellow as good as killed off the game. This time it was all about the movement and passing - and as Dunga's side has been accused of being built too much in the mould of their coach (that is, efficient and dogged), this was a pleasing sight. Robinho, who again looked a completely different player to the one who looked so lethargic in the blue of Manchester City, cut inside before playing a square ball for Kaka. The world's second most expensive player then played in Luis Fabiano with a brilliant first time pass, and the Sevilla striker rounded Chile keeper Claudio Bravo with ease before slotting into the empty net. Fabiano came close to a second, but he glanced a header just wide, but it made little difference. After 59 minutes, the impressive Ramires broke forward, and set up Robinho following a surging run, and he passed the ball into the net for his first goal of the tournament. Bielsa had made all three of his substitutions by half-time as his team chased the game in vain, and Jorge Valdivia fired narrowly over, before Suazo tested Cesar and clipped the crossbar. But Brazil were still a threat going forward, and Robinho brought a good save out of Bravo before having a second goal ruled out for a narrow offside decision. On reflection, a three goal difference was probably about right on the balance of play. And Friday's clash with Holland in Port Elizabeth, in a repeat of the 1994 quarter-final and 1998 semi-final meetings, is a truly mouthwatering prospect. Dunga, who played in both those Brazilian wins, will be hoping to complete a hat-trick of victories against the Dutch.


GOAL OF THE DAY - Arjen Robben.

The Bayern Munich winger showed what Holland had been missing with a sensational goal on his first start of the tournament. Collecting an excellent pass from partner-in-crime Wesley Sneijder, and from there, he cut in from the right touchline onto his favoured left-foot (as is his want) and curled an excellent shot into the bottom corner. Classic Robben, and he will have to produce more of that if they are to get the better of Brazil on Friday.

PLAYER OF THE DAY - Robinho.

With a goal and an assist, Robinho continued his excellent World Cup. And it makes you wonder - why does he never turn up on cold wet nights in the North West of England. That will probably be the question on lips of Roberto Mancini. Linking up with Kaka, Ramires and Luis Fabiano, he looks a completely different player, full of tricks and confidence, with the end product to match.

GAFFE OF THE DAY - Robert Vittek's miss,

After the composure he showed to dump out Italy on Thursday was not replicated today against Holland. With Slovakia trailing 1-0, he wasted a brilliant chance to equalise and give his country the chance of another shock. With just Maarten Stekelenburg to beat, he fired straight at the Dutch keeper, and with it, went the Slovak's best chance.

FANTASY TEAM

On a profitable day for my team, captain Wesley Sneijder led the way with a goal and an assist in Holland's win over Slovakia. Brazil striker Luis Fabiano also contributed points, with his country's second goal to set up a meeting with the Scot. Robin van Persie failed to trouble the scorers despite having some presentable chances. But Mark Gonzalez and Marek Hamsik added little in defeats for their country, as both players find themselves on the plane home.