Touch of Dutch Klaas

Substitute Klaas Jan Huntelaar scored a last-gasp penalty to send Holland into the World Cup quarter-final with a 2-1 win over Mexico.

Holland were the clear favourites to win after having cruised through Group B with maximum points, including a 5-1 hammering of Spain. But the Dutch knew Mexico would be hard to break down as their opponents had only conceded one goal so far in the tournament.

Mexico looked on course for a shock victory when Giovani Dos Santos, who had unfairly had some goals disallowed earlier in the tournament, scored with a sublime long-range effort within three minutes of the restart.

Holland came close to equalising through Stefan de Vrij but Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who has been one of the stand-out players of the tournament, produced a stunning save to keep him out.

With two minutes left on the clock Mexico looked on course for the quarter finals, but instead they ended up dramatically crashing out of the tournament in the round of 16 stage for the sixth successive year. The ball was headed back out from a corner and Wesley Sneijder was on hand to rifle the ball home, sending the Dutch fans into raptures.

It looked like Mexico would be forced to be content with playing extra time but they didn't even get that. Arjen Robben has a reputation for theatrically going down in the box and he had already had more than one penalty claim turned down in this match.

Although there did appear to be some contact from Mexico's Rafael Marquez, it didn't appear to be enough to warrant a tumble from Robben nor a penalty to have been awarded by the referee. But when the referee pointed to the spot Mexico fans were left praying for a miracle.

It didn't happen for them and Huntelaar coolly dispatched his penalty to keep Holland's World Cup dream alive. Mexico's World Cup was now over but they can leave Brazil with their heads held high as they gave it everything and it just wasn't to be.

But who would Holland play in the quarter finals? Surprise package Costa Rica and the scorers of late goals Greece faced off in Recife to decided that one!

Costa Rica have become a favourite among the neutrals as they continue to surprise, while also proving their results thus far have been no fluke. When Jorge Luis Pinto's men beat Uruguay in their opening group game most people undoubtedly thought it was a one-off shock result. But after a win over Italy and a goalless draw with England, Costa Rica finished unbeaten at the top of Group D. A truly remarkable achievement and thoroughly deserved.

But the Greeks wouldn't go down lightly. With their World Cup dream within seconds of being ended against Ivory Coast they scored a last-gasp penalty to put them into the knockout stages.

There was little to separate the sides over 120 minutes but goalkeeper Keylor Navas proved to be his nation's hero once again as his save in the penalty shootout put Costa Rica into the quarter finals for the first time in their history. Pinto undoubtedly believe in the potential of his players but even he must be pinching himself that his side have made the last eight of a World Cup.

Costa Rica could've fallen behind in the first half had it not been for the heroics of Navas, who produced a top class instinctive save to keep out Dimitris Salpingidis. That missed proved costly as Bryan Ruiz side-footed the ball beyond Greece goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis after 52 minutes.

The task became harder for Costa Rica when Oscar Duarte was sent off for a second bookable offence, although it was easy to forget at times that they were actually playing with 10 men.

Greece, who had scored a late goal to quality for the knock out phases, produced some more drama in Recife as Sokratis Papastathopoulos scored from a rebound in the final minute of normal time.

There have now been as many goals in this World Cup as there was during the entire tournament in 2010 and the drama didn't show any signs of letting up in this match.

Navas did superbly to tip over substitute Kostas Mitroglou's header in extra time before later denying Lazaros Christodoulopoulos. The tension became too much for Greece boss Fernando Santos who was sent to the stands late on.

Navas produced more heroics to keep out Theofanis Gekas' penalty before Michael Umana scored a historic goal from the spot to win it for Costa Rica.

Costa Rica will face the Dutch in the quarter finals and once again will go into the game as huge underdogs. But if this World Cup has taught me anything it is, underestimate the underdogs at your peril!

Let the drama continue!

Come on you underdogs!