Both teams started this match on top of their game but still offered plenty of room for improvement.

Joris Mathijsen was injured in the warm-up and had to be replaced by André Ooijer, and the hole in the Dutch defence was instantly exploited on a couple of occasions.

Having already had a goal disallowed for offside, Robinho made sure at the second attempt; running onto a long, low through-ball from Felipe Melo.

Dirk Kuyt tried to reply for Holland, but Julio Cesar saved for a corner.

Brazil maintained control of the first-half, passing better, moving better, defending better and frustrating Holland to such a point that Arjen Robben tried the mother of all pointless corners; making a slight touch and then running away for someone else to come over to the ball.

The Brazilians even snuffed that trick out with a sweet treat of sublime football; a lesson to the Dutch in how to defend with style, attack with class and play the game with purpose.

No wonder Johan Cruyff wouldn't pay to watch the game on this showing, Holland looked too one-dimensional and unable to change the way they played when route one was blocked over and again.

Half-time: 0:1

Michel Bastos was lucky not to receive his second yellow card, even though Arjen Robben did overact, but Holland pulled themselves back into the game when Felipe Melo went up with Julio Cesar, as Wesley Sneijder's curling ball came towards the goal.

The Brazilian goalkeeper missed the punch but Melo made contact with the ball; for the third own goal of the 2010 World Cup Finals.

Holland took the lead in the 68th minute when Dirk Kuyt flicked on a corner and Wesley Sneijder headed the ball in at the far post; tapping his forehead with glee.

Then Brazil started to lose the plot and frustrate themselves; Felipe Melo's red card reducing Brazil to ten men. Oh well, they're hosting the next World Cup Finals in 2014.

Wesley Sneijder could have sealed it for Holland with less than seven minutes to play, then André Ooijer was on the case to deny Kaka an equalising chance.

With three minutes to go, Dirk Kuyt tried to impersonate Diego Maradona at his best and run through the opposition on the way to goal, but was foiled by a solid tackle from Juan.

Holland 2 Brazil 1