PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa — Don’t call the Dutch underachievers anymore.
Not after the way the Netherlands rallied to upset five-time champion Brazil 2-1 in the World Cup quarterfinals Friday.
After waking themselves up at halftime, the title that has eluded the Dutch for all these years is now just two wins away.
“For 45 minutes we went full throttle,” Wesley Sneijder said. “We were rewarded.”
One of the shortest players on the field, Sneijder put the Netherlands ahead in the 68th minute on a header — a thrill so huge he ran to a TV camera, tapped the lens and stuck his face in for a close-up.
“It just slipped through from my bald head, and it was a great feeling,” Sneijder said.
He was in the middle of the post-game party too as his teammates swarmed him when the final whistle blew. John Heiting picked up Sneijder and slung him over his shoulder as Netherlands captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst, a Brazil shirt in hand, leaped up and rubbed Sneidjer’s closely shaved head.
The result was a case of role reversal for both sides.
The top-ranked team in the world and one of the most impressive squads in the tournament until Friday, Brazil lost its composure after falling behind and defender Felipe Melo was ejected in the 73rd minute for stomping on the leg of Arjen Robben.
The Dutch made the championship match in 1974 and 1978, lost both, and rarely have lived up to their talent in other World Cups.
They did this time, helped by an own goal off the head of unfortunate Melo that brought them into a 1-1 tie in the 53rd.
“I’m devastated. It was hard to see the players crying back there,” Melo said after emerging from the locker room. “I have to apologize to the Brazilian fans. I’m a human being. Everybody can make mistakes.”
He was almost the hero.
Robinho gave the Brazilians the lead on Melo’s brilliant low pass up the middle of the field that the striker put home with a low shot.
But the second half presented the unusual sight of the Brazilians scrambling wildly to find an equalizer.
It never came.
“We didn’t expect this,” Brazil manager 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.”
Today’s matchups
Capsules for today’s quarterfinals matches at the World Cup (FIFA rankings in parentheses):
GERMANY (6) vs. ARGENTINA (7)
8 a.m., ESPN, KCEC-50 (Spanish)
Argentina has won all four of its matches, taking Group B, then beating Mexico 3-1 in the second round. Germany won Group D despite a loss to Serbia, then defeated England 4-1 in the round of 16.
Argentina: Although he has not scored a goal, striker Lionel Messi has been in the middle of most successful Argentine attacks.
Gabriel Higuain leads the team with four goals, tied for tops in the tournament.
Germany: The youngsters have carried Germany, particularly Thomas Mueller, who had two goals against England, and Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Notable fact: Germany eliminated Argentina from the 2006 World Cup in a shootout in the same round, and a near-brawl erupted afterward.
PARAGUAY (31) vs. SPAIN (2)
12:30 p.m., ESPN, KCEC-50 (Sp.)
Spain beat Portugal 1-0 to advance after winning Group H despite losing its first match to Switzerland.
Paraguay was the surprise winner of Group F and is in the quarterfinals for the first time.
Spain: David Villa is tied for the scoring lead with four goals and has been Spain’s most dynamic player. That’s saying a lot considering how loaded the Spanish lineup is, with midfielders Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Xabi Alonso and striker Fernando Torres.
Paraguay: Paraguay beat Japan 5-3 in a penalty-kicks shootout after a 0-0 draw. It has yielded only one goal thus far.
Notable fact: Spain won its first major title since 1964 when it took the 2008 Euros. It never has won the World Cup.
