After the relentless schedule of the group stages, Netherlands and USA get the last-16 phase of the World Cup underway on Saturday.
Neither team enjoyed a comfortable passage through to the knockout stages, particularly USA, but there is a feeling that one of the more competitive ties in this round should materialise at the Khalifa International Stadium.
Netherlands collected seven points from games against Senegal, Ecuador and Qatar, although that does not tell the whole story with both of their goals in the first match coming from the 84th minute onwards and Oranje arguably being fortunate to earn a draw with Ecuador.
Meanwhile, USA came through fixtures with Wales, England and Iran with five points to their name, the Stars and Stripes following draws in their opening double-header with a tense 1-0 triumph in the latter.
The end result is a showdown in Al Rayyan on Saturday and the two nations will be squaring off for the sixth time in their history.
Each of the previous five contests have been played within a 17-year period between 1998 and 2015, the maiden encounter taking place in Miami with Ronald de Boer and Clarence Seedorf getting on the scoresheet in a 2-0 win.
The same scoreline was recorded four years later in Foxborough, with Roy Makaay and Andy van der Meyde netting the goals on that occasion.
In 2004, the teams would meet in Amsterdam and it took a first-half effort from Arjen Robben to secure the win for the Netherlands.
The sides reunited at the same venue six years later and USA finally scored their first goal in this fixture. However, Carlos Bocanegra's goal in the 88th minute proved to be a consolation after Dirk Kuyt and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar had previously netted for the home side.
Seven years ago, it was third time lucky for USA in Amsterdam as they prevailed in a seven-goal thriller. Jurgen Klinsmann's team trailed 1-0 and 3-1 at different stages of the match, and it took three goals in the final 20 minutes to pull off a sensational comeback.
John Brooks and Danny Williams got USA back on level terms by the 88th minute before a last-gasp goal from Bobby Wood, his first of 13 strikes for his country, sealed one of their most memorable wins in their recent history.
NETHERLANDS VS. USA HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD
Netherlands wins: 4
USA wins: 1
Draws: 0
Netherlands goals: 10
USA goals: 5
MATCH HISTORY
February 21, 1998: USA 0-2 Netherlands (International Friendly)
May 19, 2002: USA 0-2 Netherlands (International Friendly)
February 18, 2004: Netherlands 1-0 USA (International Friendly)
March 3, 2010: Netherlands 2-1 USA (International Friendly)
June 5, 2015: Netherlands 3-4 USA (International Friendly)
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