After the infamy, the injury. Two World Cups have brought contrasting conclusions for Nigel de Jong.
One should have ended before it did.
The other was cruelly curtailed.
The Netherlands midfielder acquired notoriety after the 2010 final. He was the personification of the “clogs of war”, an unusually dirty Dutch team.
He was the man who planted his studs into Xabi Alonso’s chest, who should, as he subsequently admitted, have been sent off, but somehow lasted the full 120 minutes in Johannesburg.
Move on to 2014 and De Jong merited rather more sympathy after his early exit against Mexico. A torn groin muscle finished his World Cup.
The Netherlands may yet emulate their team of the 1970s by reaching a second successive final but De Jong will not be available to anchor their midfield.
His absence is, as manager Louis van Gaal said, “a big setback”.
In this World Cup, unlike the last, De Jong has been the right sort of destroyer, hassling and harrying, shielding the three central defenders without scything opponents down.
The Netherlands had less than 40 per cent of possession against Spain and Chile yet won each game.
That hints at the importance of an energetic, imposing, positionally disciplined defensive midfielder.
The AC Milan man was especially influential against Chile
“He is a fighter,” said Robin van Persie, the Netherlands captain. “We are really going to miss him against Costa Rica. You could see that against Mexico, even though Daley Blind did well.
“It’s great that Nigel is staying with the group as, even off the field, he makes a difference with his energy for the young and older players.”
As Van Persie said, Blind is the probable deputy as the Netherlands make plans without De Jong.
The versatile Ajax player began the tournament as a left wing-back and started as a central defender against Mexico before De Jong’s ninth-minute departure resulted in his move forward into the position he occupies for his club.
Blind, 24, is slower and less combative than De Jong, even if his passing range is greater.
Van Persie hinted at another potential problem. De Jong, 29, and boasting 75 caps, was very much the senior player in his position. Blind, capped 15 times, and his probable partner, Georginio Wijnaldum (nine), are rookies.
The side is top loaded with older players, with strikers Van Persie and Arjen Robben serving as captain and vice-captain, respectively.
Wesley Sneijder, the attacking midfielder, brought up a century of caps in the thrashing of Spain.
Behind him congregate the newcomers.
The only veteran elsewhere on the pitch is the converted forward Dirk Kuyt and, despite his dependability, the reinvented wing-back is a newcomer to such defensive duties.
Almost by default, Ron Vlaar is the senior centre-back. Van Gaal’s willingness to operate with younger players means that he was willing to discard survivors of the 2010 final, such as Maarten Stekelenburg, Gregory van der Wiel and John Heitinga.
An experienced core assumed responsibility but they are depleted.
The loss of De Jong threatens to prove particularly costly later in the competition. A potential semi-final matchup with Argentina means the Netherlands face the issue of how to subdue Lionel Messi.
Switzerland did a fine job for 117 minutes, crowding him, with defensive midfielders Valon Behrami and Gokhan Inler excelling, before Messi eluded them once to supply Angel Di Maria’s winner. First, however, the Netherlands have to overcome Costa Rica.
Blind and Wijnaldum’s task is not as imposing but the Ticos’ captain, Bryan Ruiz, has flourished in similar positions in Brazil.
If they can subdue him, the path could point to the last four for the Dutch.
Costa Rica have conceded once in open play and the onus will be on the prolific pair of Robben and Van Persie to score goals.
Yet they have been so effective in part because of the solid base to the team.
Deprived of De Jong, the youthful midfielders in the Netherlands side will have to show their steel.
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