Dutch Kick Brazil’s Ass and Other World Cup News

Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder was involved in both second-half goals in Port Elizabeth after Robinho had scored for Brazil in the 10th minute on Friday.  Brazil thrilled in the first half, completely dominating the Dutch, but crumbled when Sneijder’s cross in the 53rd minute was deflected into his own net by Brazil midfielder Felipe Melo. Sneijder then headed in the winner in the 68th from near the penalty spot after Dirk Kuyt flicked the ball on from a corner.

Felipe Melo was shown a direct red card in the 73rd for stamping on Netherlands winger Arjen Robben, who tormented the Brazilian defense.

“We didn’t expect this,” Brazil coach Dunga said. “We know that any World Cup match is about 90 minutes. In the first half we were able to play better, and we weren’t able to maintain that rhythm in the second half.”

The Netherlands, which extended its unbeaten streak to 24 games since losing to Australia in September 2008, will play either Uruguay or Ghana on Tuesday in Cape Town on Tuesday. Ghana is seeking to become the first African team to reach a World Cup semifinal.

In Saturday’s quarterfinals, Argentina plays Germany in Cape Town and Spain takes on Paraguay in Johannesburg.

Germany coach Joachim Loew sought to tone down the pre-match criticism of Argentina by saying his players respect their quarterfinal opponents.

Several players criticized Argentina ahead of Saturday’s match and Loew said there was “freedom of speech” in his team.

He then proved it Friday by calling Argentina “incredibly aggressive” on the field.

Loew said Argentina is “physical to the limit” and that he expected the “greatest possible resistance” from the South Americans.

Ghana is the last of the six African sides in the competition and carries the hopes of all the continent as it seeks to become its first ever semifinalist.

But Africa was dealt a blow before kickoff on Friday when FIFA threatened to suspend Nigeria from world football unless the country’s government overturns its ban on the national team following its elimination in the group stage last week.

Nigeria President Goodluck Jonathan has until Monday evening to back down on his threat to pull the Nigerian Football Federation out of international competition for two years.

England’s Football Association decided to retain coach Fabio Capello despite the team’s disappointing World Cup campaign.

Capello has a contract through to the 2012 European Championship, but England’s struggle to qualify second in its group before being emphatically beaten by Germany in the round of 16 led the FA to say it would take two weeks to review the Italian’s position.

In the end, it only took the FA five days to confirm that Capello would fulfill his contract.

“We will look to introduce new players to give the team new energy and I will use all my experience to take England forward,” Capello said. “I am extremely proud to be the England manager, it means so much to me and I am determined to succeed.”

Laurent Blanc was officially appointed as France coach to replace Raymond Domenech at a French Football Federation council meeting following its calamitous World Cup.

Striker Nicolas Anelka was sent home for abusing Domenech, resulting in the rest of the squad refusing to train. France lost its final group game to go out for the second straight tournament without winning a match, after its first-round exit from Euro 2008.

Council member Lilian Thuram, who played alongside Blanc as France won the 1998 World Cup, said Patrice Evra‘s role in the training boycott that led to the defender losing the France captaincy should have repercussions.

“I asked that Patrice Evra does not play again for the France team,” Thuram said after the FFF meeting. “I think there is a minimum amount of respect to have.”

Greece’s new coach, Fernando Santos, says the team will adopt a different playing style, signaling a departure from the defensive tactics employed by his predecessor, Otto Rehhagel. Greece was eliminated in the first round in South Africa.

A Briton and an American were arrested for ticket touting at the World Cup.

South Africa police said a weeklong investigation resulted in the arrests of 38-year-old Karen Sorenson and 39-year-old Brendan Evans, a Zimbabwe-born U.S. citizen, at their hotel in Sandton, in northern Johannesburg.

Thanks to Newser for the lift that they lifted…