Netherlands know they were lucky to make it past Mexico

Robben, meanwhile, had already reverted to type. “I have to apologise,” he said. “In the first half I took a dive.” For the record, he insisted the late penalty which sent the Netherlands through was not won through simulation.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, a player used sparingly by Van Gaal, had a huge influence when he came on. It was his downward header that teed up Sneijder to smash home a late leveller. Responsibility then fell on Huntelaar’s shoulders to convert the stoppage time spot kick that sent Clockwork Orange through.

The Netherlands will play Central American surprise package Costa Rica in the quarter-finals as they edged Greece, who once again were never panicked into playing football, on penalties. Jorge Luis Pinto’s plucky charges have lost Oscar Duarte from their backline for their next match due to suspension.

What price Costa Rica can continue to confound us all and lift the World Cup? Coral have them down at just 33/1 to pull off a seemingly impossible dream. Conventional wisdom says the quarters are as far as Los Ticos can go. Pinto’s players are 11/2 outsiders to upset the Dutch in 90 minutes, and 3/1 to qualify for the final four.

Van Gaal would do well not to underestimate Costa Rica as fortunate underpinned their advancement to the last eight. Bryan Ruiz’s opener came off the bottom of his heel, probably taking it into the opposite corner than he intended.

Sokratis Papastathopoulos forced extra time somewhat infuriatingly just when it looked like the minnows would hold on, despite being a man light. It was nearly midnight UK time when Greece finally had the decency to bow out. There is no right or wrong way to play football, but there is no debating how ugly their style under Fernando Santos and Otto Rehhagel has been to watch.

This shoot-out loss brings the curtain down on Giorgos Karagounis’ international career, a player associated with the golden age of Greek football, but he was banned for that mother of all upsets when they won Euro 2004. He could hardly have chosen much later in his career to find the grace to step aside.

One thing is for sure, Robin van Persie, Robben and company will have to try and find a way past Costa Rica keeper Keylor Navas, who has been in inspired form at these finals, though are odds-on to do so. Like Mexican counterpart Guillermo Ochoa, the Levante stopper has certainly played himself into the shop window, and is 11/2 to keep the Netherlands out.