Bald and beautiful Sneijder keeps head up

There was only one name on the lips of the thousands of Dutch supporters here Friday and that was Wesley Sneijder after the Inter Milan star fired Holland into the World Cup semi-finals.

Sneijder’s second half header in the Netherlands’ 2-1 win over Brazil took the playmaker’s tally in South Africa to three, after his goals against Slovakia in the last 16 and Japan in the closing group game.

The man of the match, reflecting on his crucial header, said: “This was my first header here, I don’t think it will happen again, but it was great. The ball slipped on my bald head and went into the net, a great feeling.”

The 26-year-old added: “If you can eliminate Brazil, one of the best teams in this championship the first feeling is relief, we always believed in it.

“Brazil have a strong defence but nonetheless we scored two goals. We did a great job – just so happy going on to the semis, it’s a moment to savour – from tomorrow we will concentrate on the semi-final.”

Holland went into the break trailing 1-0 and Sneijder disclosed the conversation in the dressing room at half-time had been tense.

“At the break we said to each other we really had to improve things and put more pressure on the Brazil defence. For the last 45 minutes we went full throttle and we were rewarded for it – we scored two goals – it was wonderful.”

Sneijder’s preparations for this crunch match against the country that had knocked the Dutch out of the 1994 and 1998 World Cups had been far from smooth.

But the 26-year-old put a reported outburst from teammate Robin van Persie firmly behind him to produce the killer blow just when his country needed it most.

Sneijder and the rest of the team had taken a pre-match stroll along Port Elizabeth’s beachfront hours before kick-off, and the sea air evidently did just the trick.

In stark contrast to Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and England’s Wayne Rooney, who left their outstanding club form behind in Madrid and Manchester, Sneijder has lit up South Africa just as he had done for Inter Milan in their historic treble-winning season.

His match-winning contribution at the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium on a balmy winter’s afternoon was textbook stuff, as unmarked he headed home an Arjen Robben corner after a flick on from Dirk Kuyt.

A product of Ajax’s youth academy he played for the Dutch giants before a spell with Real Madrid, moving to Inter in 2009.

He is a regular on the Dutch team after making his international debut in 2003 at the age of 18.

Born in Utrecht, Sneijder’s pre-match prediction that Friday’s clash against the five-time chhampions was winnable proved 100 percent accurate.

Explaining why he believed Brazil could be toppled he had said: “For the first time since the start of the tournament, we’re going to play against an opponent that plays an open game and therefore leaves us spaces. It’s an advantage.

“The difference between Holland and Brazil is negligible. I really think we can win. We have everything to reach the semi-finals, even though I’m aware we’re playing a great team.”

Now Sneijder and co. march on to a semi-final with either Ghana or Uruguay, while Brazil head back to inevitable recriminations from their demanding fans and press.