Netherlands v Costa Rica: Los Ticos hoping to write another chapter in their fairy tale
Central Americans, who have surprised everyone, face their biggest hurdle yet against calculating Dutch
The irresistible fairy tale of Costa Rica faces a day of reckoning against Louis van Gaal's hard, calculating Dutch side on Saturday in the most unlikely quarter-final.
Few believed that Costa Rica, a small Central American country with an undistinguished footballing record, would still be standing, especially after a group including Italy, England and Uruguay.
Yet "Los Ticos" shocked Uruguay and Italy to top a group bracketing three World Cup winners, before battling past Greece on penalties after playing an hour with only 10 men.
Despite the talents of Joel Campbell and Bryan Ruiz in attack, it has been more a case of grit and organisation than Latin flair with Jorge Luis Pinto's side conceding only two goals so far and scoring five.
Holland is a great team, but I have to be honest and say that we have a good chance of beating them
Costa Rica have already outdone their best World Cup performance, reaching the last 16 in 1990, much to the jubilation of fans back home whose celebrations have stretched long into the night.