The team picked by many to win it all vs. the bookmaker odds is out as Brazil was beaten in 2-1 in the quarterfinals by the Netherlands. The five-time World Cup champs led 1-0 at the half but the Netherlands scored twice in the second half to upset Brazil in World Cup offshore betting.
Bookmaker odds now favor the Netherlands to reach the championship match. In the match against Brazil it appeared that the Netherlands was in trouble after they gave up the first goal but they scored to tie the match in the 53rd minute on an own goal by Brazil defender Felipe Melo. It was the first own goal in Brazil’s World Cup history. Fifteen minutes later it was Wesley Sneijder scoring on a header to give the Netherlands a shocking 2-1 lead. Just five minutes later, Melo was given a red card for kicking Arjen Robben. That red card was huge as Brazil’s chances of getting the equalizer were substantially hurt when they were down to 10 men.
Brazil scored first in the match as Robinho scored off a nice pass from Melo in the 10th minute. Normally when Brazil gets a lead they are unbeatable vs. the bookmaker odds. In fact, the loss against the Netherlands was the first time in World Cup history that Brazil has lost after leading at the half. It was only the third time in the World Cup that they lost after scoring first. A key point in the match came when the Netherlands was trailing 1-0. Goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg made a superb save as he deflected a shot by Kaka that was headed into the net. Had he not made that save the Netherlands would have trailed 2-0 and the match would have gone much differently.
Brazil was the favorite at the bookmaker but losing in the quarterfinals is nothing new to this team. Four years ago they were upset in bookmaker World Cup odds by France in the quarterfinals. This was the first loss for Brazil under head coach Dunga when both Kaka and Robinho played.
The Netherlands is normally the team that fails to live up to expectations but this year it was Brazil. The Netherlands last made the final of the World Cup in 1978 when they lost to Argentina. They also were beaten in the final in 1974. This will be the first semifinal appearance for the Netherlands since 1998. The Netherlands is unbeaten in the World Cup and they are now unbeaten in their last 24 games overall and they are finally getting some respect in offshore betting odds.