'Until the very last minute we were fresher and fitter than the Mexicans' - Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal

 
Triumphant: Dutch boss Louis van Gaal hailed his side's last 16 win
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Charlie Eccleshare29 June 2014

Dutch manager Louis van Gaal hailed the fitness of his side after their late rally saw off Mexico 2-1 in the searing heat of Fortaleza.

Speaking after the last 16 match, the soon-to-be Manchester United manager said: "Until the very last minute we were fresher and fitter than the Mexicans.

“My players deserve a big compliment. Not only did they have belief and faith that they could perform today, they were also fit for this match."

Defender Daley Blind, who played in midfield after Nigel de Jong went off injured, said the game was unlike anything he had experienced before.

Netherlands v Mexico - player ratings

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The 24-year-old said: "The tension was unbelievable, I've never lived through anything like that.

"We showed a lot of character in coming back. We couldn't find our men with our passes in the first half, we struggled to get to the ball, but we came back stronger in the second."

The Netherlands will take on the winner of the clash between Costa Rica and Greece in Friday’s quarter-final.

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