6) Netherlands - the pragmatists

Having begun to stray from their long-nurtured Total Football philosophy under Bert van Marwijk, in 2010, the Dutch have thrown it out the window in Brazil. Louis van Gaal, once a loyal disciple of the playing style the Netherlands made famous at the 1974 World Cup, has become football's most accomplished pragmatist. Several times throughout the tournament he has abandoned his preferred 4-3-3 formation to meet the needs of the occasion. And each time he has been successful. His second-half changes helped swing matches the Netherlands' way against Spain, Australia and Mexico. Van Gaal's decision to replace goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen with Tim Krul for the penalty shootout victory over Costa Rica, was perhaps the finest example of his tactical guile.

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