Netherlands Football World Cup

Half-time emails

"The penalty decision was woeful, " says Geoff James. "Yet again officials are determining the outcome of games. Why not automatically do instant replay for penalty decisions?"

"That was a good goal and congratulations RVP, but that run over to celebrate with Van Gaal really did demonstrate how slow he is these days, " says Marie Meyer.

"That was a magnificent execution of a header - incredible, " says Fraser Thomas.

"Glad you took another look, " says David Marriott. "The refereeing is rubbish, probably deliberately favouring the marquee teams. England don’t stand a chance. Mind you they probably didn’t anyway."

"Let me be the first: Van Persie - The Flying Dutchman!" says Victor Lacken.

"I'm still mesmerised by Spain's bench, " says Dave Green. "Were they 6/1 at the start of the tournament? And I predicted a cagey draw for this game, what a tournament so far! I'm in Taiwan and it'll be an ask to see every game but it's been a fantastic tournament so far, politics notwithstanding there is nothing like the World Cup. What a goal by VP, and if the heat and humidity does sap teams, as it did Cameroon vs Mexico, how important will possession and depth of the bench be, is there a team that can compete with Spain for both? As Alan says, it's a close game with chances for both teams."

"Warning: this email mentions Manchester United, " warns Harry Tuttle. "Is it better for Man Utd that the Netherlands do well at the World Cup, and van Gaal reports for duty at Old Trafford late, but with his "aura" intact, or is it better for Man Utd that the Netherlands bomb (qualification far from assured, and they play Chile last), meaning van Gaal shows up on time? It's got to be the first one, right?(Is it wrong I care about this? I'm not even a United supporter, although I have always had a soft spot for Ajax. Van Gaal's Ajax side - Finidi, Litmanen, young Davids, young Kluivert, young Kanu, young Overmars, young Seedhorf, the de Boer bros. - surely one of the great hipster teams. Be incredible to see if Van Gaal can import some of that Ajax academy goodness to England)."

It doesn't matter. Manchester United are finished. They should just fold as a football club and concentrate on being a social media and marketing force.

Here are the teams. Spain start with Diego Costa, an actual 9. How uncouth. Holland are, as Van Gaal promised, playing 3-5-2, with Van Persie and Robben supported by Sneijder in attack.