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Several of the teams that have progressed in this tournament have had a special player – Messi, Neymar and Rodriguez being the obvious examples, and Suarez prior to his banishment. The other one is Arjen Robben. He has the balance of a ballet dancer and the speed of a gazelle. Today, with Mexico sitting deep after going ahead, it was the nimbleness of his footwork, rather that his speed across the ground that told.

With the Dutch showing impressive fortitude in the heat Robben wore the Mexicans down, mentally as much as anything. That, and Mexico’s weakness at set-pieces, means Louis van Gaal is the first to lead a European team into the last eight. How many will follow?