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Dutch national team boss Louis van Gaal is under fire from their fans – despite eliminating Spain to steer his side into the World Cup last 16.

While Van Gaal’s team will take on Mexico in Fortaleza on Sunday as the tournament top scorers, the Manchester United manager-in-waiting is being slaughtered for abandoning Holland’s Total Football traditions.

Van Gaal has been accused of 'abomination' football - adopting the 'catenaccio' style devised by Inter Milan in the 1960s, for ditching Holland’s usual three striker formation, going five at the back and playing on the counter through Arjen Robben and Robin Van Persie

Even Van Gaal’s protege, Ajax boss Frank De Boer, stepped into the debate when asked if he planned to adopt the same tactics next term.

De Boer said: "My heart says no. Even if we play Barcelona I want to play dominant football. I will not change that so quickly."

Spain 1-5 Holland photo gallery:

Van Gaal, never short of self-belief, or contempt for his critics, is bristling at the stick, his relationship with the Dutch media on the brink.

"I am not interested in what anybody has to say about how we play," he insisted. "The only thing that matters is that you score one more than the opponent. I’ve said that from the start of this World Cup.

Ironically, Holland’s Thursday training session at Flamengo’s Estadio Jose Bastos Padilha was gate-crashed by Zico, the star of Brazil’s great 1982 team which found itself eliminated by Italy.

And while the criticism keeps coming, Van Gaal’s players are backing their soon to be former manager.

Robben, who has been brilliant so far, said: "I know what people are saying back home but me feelings are not as negative.

"We have already done more than I expected. If we beat Mexico, we can go to the Final. It’s simple – we just have to win the next three and we WILL be in the Final."

Holland 2-0 Chile photo gallery:

Wesley Sneijder has also backed the coach, admitting: "I’m not world-class like I was four years ago. Now I have to be a worker."

And PSV Eindhoven skipper and midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum insisted: "It’s not just about beautiful football. In the World Cup, it’s about the result.

"Everyone must be subordinate to the team. Our football might not always be as beautiful and as everyone wants to see, but we’re getting results.

"For years we have been a symbol of good, positive and attractive football.

"But the only thing we’ve won in 40 years was the European Championships in 1988. If you can’t win by playing beautiful football, you just have to win. We are a fighting machine."