"FIFA, for every match, have this advertisement around fair play."
These are the words that rang around the room during the Dutch team's press conference as manager Louis Van Gaal hit out at Fifa for its scheduling of tonight's group-ending games.
Despite being in Group A, Brazil will play their final game at 9pm, two hours after the Group B is due to finish, giving the hosts the luxury of knowing who their Round of 16 opponents will be stepping on the field to play Cameroon.
"They play these tricks, it's not a good thing. It's not fair play. We're going to focus on a victory against Chile and I don't think that will be affected by the fact Brazil will play after us. I am just assuming they (Brazil) will do their sporting duty. Why on earth are they (FIFA) doing that (with the fixture schedule)? That is the question.
Van Gaal, whose side play Chile tonight to decide the winners of the Group A, said he hoped to avoid the host nation, citing a disadvantage his side would suffer.
"If I could choose, I hope not to have to play against Brazil although Croatia and Mexico are not bad teams either," Van Gaal added. "But I think in a World Cup, the tournament hosts always have an advantage".
Van Gaal's comments certainly seem to have a touch of sour grapes, as a quick look at the fixture list would confirm that only once in the final four days of fixtures fixtures does the early kick-off go to the chronological group.
Quotes via Irish Independent.
