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Before today’s eagerly-awaited quarterfinal clash between Brazil and Holland, one couldn’t help but compare it to a historic game of the past.

It was during the 1974 tournament that the world held in baited breath as Netherlands faced Brazil for a World Cup Final birth.

These two teams represented two very different things: firstly, Brazil were the world’s favourites, buoyed by a decade of sublime football success and superstar teams; and opposing them were the Dutch, with their progressive play and avant-garde style of “Total Football.”

Ultimately it was the Dutch that emerged victorious and booked a coveted spot in the final - with their legendary talisman, Johann Cruyff, proving the inspiration for the 2-0 win.

Although Holland went on to lose the 1974 final to West Germany, their defeat to Brazil was predicted to symbolize the changing of the guard of world football super-powers. Brazil, the old king – merely a shell of its former self, had been dethroned by these European upstarts.

But, in reality, the Dutch were unable to ultimately win a World Cup, and Brazil was able to rebound back to greatness.

Below is a video of the second goal of the game, from Johann Cruyff – arguably, along with Franz Beckenbauer – the icon of world football during the 1970s.

Holland defeated Brazil 2-1

Today’s match was truly a game of two very different halves.

In the first half, Brazil looked sublime.

They harked back to the samba-style of old, while continuing to impress on their defensive aspects.

Although Robinho’s first-half goal was due to a lamentable defensive error from the centre backs where the striker's run was left unguarded from midfield, Brazil dominated the half and controlled the flow with relative ease.

They defended comfortably and attacked in numbers.

Today’s Brazil may not have a superstar on par with 1974’s Jairzinho or Rivelino (probably the best duo of opposite wingers in the history of the game) but they do have quality attacking wing options that come from much deeper on the pitch, in the form of full-backs Maicon and Michel Bastos.

Their prime playmaking-attackers, Robinho and Kaka have the ability to read the flow of these marauding defenders, and they played the ball quickly and added to the large sweeping movements of their team’s early counter-attacks.

On the other hand, Holland seemed out of their depth early in the game.

It is not the same Dutch team as when Cruyff and Neeskens wore the famous orange of old. The mythical “Total Football” is now seen by many – including Holland’s current coach, Bert van Marwijk – as not viable for football’s ultimate success.

So in a similar vein to Brazil, this tournament’s Holland chose a more defence-minded and pragmatic approach – where they spend long periods of time soaking up pressure and passing the ball around laconically, until they can muster the perfect counter-attacking strike.

Although not as entertaining to watch as their popular predecessors, the Netherlands were able to grind out results largely through a good mixture of strong-willed defensive terriers, De Jong and van Bronckhorst, and fleeting creative options in Sneijder, Van Persie, Kuyt, and Robben.

But against the Brazilians in the first half, they struggled to muster definitive chances and get the same quality penetration through the wings or full-back positions as their opponents.

And when they did get a forward chance, too often had an inefficient amount of support followed the ball, prompting a lone attacker to go head-to-head with multiple Brazilian defenders and needing to take on too much.

But that was the first half.

Early in the second, when Wesley Sneijder’s attempted cross was met with a muddled effort by the Brazilian defenders to clear - and drifted off hands and over the goalline - one could sense the tide was turning.

Growing in confidence, the Dutch were now in control of play and it was the Brazilians who struggled to get forward in numbers.

Soon Sneijder had a second goal after he was able to connect a head onto a Dirk Kuyt glancing header-cross from a corner – igniting riotous celebrations from the Dutch supporters in attendance.

The Brazilians looked shocked at the extreme change in Holland’s form. They seemed flustered and rattled while, conversely, the Dutch continued to surge forward in waves.

To cap of Brazil’s self-destruction, a frustrated Felipe Melo was shown a red card for inexplicably stomping on Arjen Robben’s hamstring, leaving the hopeless Brazilians a man down.

The game ended understandably with large, open spaces appearing all over the pitch and golden chances were gifted to both teams, of which none were taken.

So when the final whistle was blown, extraordinary scenes ensured – further allowing Dutch dreams of that ever-elusive World Cup title to become that little bit closer to reality.

Uruguay defeated Ghana 4-2 on penalties (1-1 after extra-time)

Please excuse me for my review of this game not being as in-depth as the previous – but in reality Uruguay v Ghana never really had the same ring to it as the super-heavyweight battle that preceded it.

But the game turned out to be an absolute classic.

When a traditional Sulley Muntari long-range strike was equalled by a Jabulani special in the form of Diego Forlan’s free-kick 10 minutes after halftime, the game came alight.

With the score remaining deadlocked after the full 90 minutes, extra-time was subsequently called.

But it was heartbreak for the Ghanese as their star attacker Asamoah Gyan dramatically sent a penalty – given to them in the last-minute of extra-time after a deliberate handball from Uruguay’s Luis Suarez on his defensive goal-line – crashing off the crossbar.

The game was sent to penalties, where a buoyant Uruguay prevailed and qualified for their first semi-final in 40 years.