Kicking off: Brazil coach Dunga and Holland's Bert van Marwijk
Quarter final

Holland v Brazil
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Kick-off: Fri July 2, 3pm BST
TV: BBC1, BBC1 HD 2.30pm BST

These teams have met just three times in the World Cup previously – and all three have been epic battles.

In 1974, in West Germany, Holland won 2-0 to finish top of the second group stage and qualify for the final, a game they lost 2-1 to the hosts.

Twenty years later, in the United States, a quarter-final clash saw Brazil win by the odd goal in five.

And in the next World Cup, in France, Brazil won a semi-final against the Dutch, the victory came courtesy of penalties.

Brazil make one forced change. With Ramires suspended for collecting a second year card, against Chile, they could call back Gilberto Silva or Dani Alves to midfield.

So far this has neither been Total Football nor Jogo Bonito. The Dutch and the Brazilians have taken a far more pragmatic, hard-to-beat approach but there is still flair there although not as obvious as of old.

Elano ruled out with an ankle injury while Ramires is suspended and Felipe Melo is also a doubt. Arjen Robben’s return to fitness is a significant boost to the Dutch as he offers more pace and directness than Rafael van der Vaart.

Touchline duel

Dunga is the youngest coach left in the World Cup and is aiming to match Franz Beckenbauer' record of winning the competition as a player as well.

He has moulded a team in his image, somewhat, as a tough, disciplined defensive midfielders and has had a tetchy relationship with the Brazilian media.

Bert Van Marwijk is an experienced, organised coach. He is also, crucially for the often feisty Dutch, calm and collected and is also known as a good communicator.

Talking tactics

Both coaches – Bert Van Marwijk and Dunga - deploy similar tactics with two deep-lying defensive midfielders playing behind a quartet of more attacking players. They have also both faced criticism for this.

The onus is very much on that front four to create and the Brazilians would appear to have more options, even though Elano is missing, while the Dutch will rely on Arjen Robben.

Key clash

Kaka v Wesley Sneijder: The battle of the play-makers. The Brazilian has had a curious World Cup, including a sending off and has looked far from fit, while, despite his two goals, the Dutch feel Sneijder has yet to dominate in the way he did for Inter Milan last season. The stage is set for one or both to take control.

What they say

Bert Van Marwijk: “We are a small country but a creative country and we have what Johan Cruyff always described as ‘a kind of arrogance.’ We cannot let that arrogance become negative. It must be a positive arrogance.”

Dunga: “Holland have a style of play very similar to ours. They are a team with a South American style

Probable teams

Holland (4-2-3-1): Stekelenburg; Van der Wiel, Heitinga, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst; Van Bommel, De Jong; Robben, Sneijder, Kuyt; Van Persie.
Brazil (4-2-3-1): Julio Cesar; Maicon, Lucio, Juan, Michel Bastos; Gilberto Silva, Melo; Dani Alves, Kaka, Robinho; Luis Fabiano
Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan).

Previous Meetings

Played: 9 Holland 2 wins, Draws 4, Brazil 3 wins

1963: (Amsterdam, Friendly): Holland 1 Brazil 0
1974: (Dortmund, WC): Holland 1 Brazil 0
1989: (Rotterdam, Friendly): Holland 0 Brazil 1
1994: (Dallas, WC): Brazil 3 Holland 2
1996: (Amsterdam, Friendly): Holland 2 Brazil 2
1998: (Marseille, WC): Brazil 1 Holland 1 (Brazil on penalties)
1999: (Salvador De Bahia, Friendly): Brazil 2 Holland 2
1999: (Goiania, Friendly): Brazil 3 Holland 1
1999: (Amsterdam, Friendly): Holland 2 Brazil 2

Fact: The winners between these teams in the World Cup have always gone on to reach the final.

Prediction: So close to call: Samba Spirit v Total Football. The brazilians are probably just too strong for the Dutch.