Here, from Louis van Gaal, came a demonstration of what a good international manager can achieve at a World Cup.
He can take a midfielder from Norwich City and turn him into a match-winner, as he did Leroy Fer only two minutes after sending him on from the bench.
And he can take a defence that was simply diabolical against Australia, despite winning the game, and reorganise them well enough to withstand the considerable pressure imposed by this marvellous Chile team.
The future's bright: Arjen Robben was again the star man as Holland enjoyed a 2-0 victory over Chile in Sao Paulo
Dutch of class: Holland celebrate after topping Group B with a 100-per-cent record
Head boy: Leroy Fer climbs to nod home and give Holland a 1-0 lead against Chile
Super sub: Fer had only been on the pitch for two minutes when he scored
Make them De-pay: Memphis Depay seals Holland's victory with a close-range finish
Take off: It was Depay's second goal of the tournament after his strike against Australia
MATCH FACTS
Holland (5-2-1-2): Cillessen 6; Janmaat 7, Vlaar 7, De Vrij 7, Blind 7, Kuyt 7 (Kongolo 89 6); Wijnaldum 6 De Jong 7; Sneijder 6 (Fer 75 7); Robben 7.5, Lens 6 (Depay 69 7).
Booked: Blind.
Manager: Louis Van Gaal 8.
Chile (3-4-1-2): Bravo 6; Medel 6, Silva 6 (Valdivia 70 6), Jara 6; Isla 6, Aranguiz 6, Diaz 7, Mena 6; Gutierrez 6 (Beausejour 46 6); Sanchez 7, Vargas 6 (Pinilla 81 6).
Booked: Silva.
Manager: Jorge Sampaoli 6.
Referee: B Gassama (Gambia) 6.
Man of the match: Robben.
True, a South American side that has dazzled at the this tournament did not play with quite their usual intensity in the knowledge that, like their opponents, they were already through.
It was simply a case of trying to win the group in the hope that it would probably mean avoiding Brazil in the last 16. But then you wonder if Chile want to play Brazil and play on the fact that Luiz Felipe Scolari has already identified Jorge Sampaoli’s team as one he would prefer to avoid.
Even so, Van Gaal responded to one bad defensively display in a way that Roy Hodgson did not, even though the warning signs were there against Italy.
In many ways these two teams are a real indictment of England. Chile progress to the last 16 using players from Wigan, Nottingham Forest and Cardiff, somehow organising them to play a brand of football superior to that that they play with their clubs. How can that be if it not down to the manager?
And let’s not forget the talent pools from which these two countries find their footballers; populations of little more than 17million.
Net gains: Depay wheels away in celebration following his 90th-minute effort
Crest of a wave: Louis van Gaal and assistant Patrick Kluivert have guided Holland to three group victories
Second best: A runners-up finish means Chile could face Brazil in the last 16
Fan-tastic: Holland supporters on the Copacabana beach celebrate their victory
In the end Chile were given a bit of a lesson of by the Dutch, succumbing to Holland’s counter attacking football with a second goal arriving in second half stoppage time from Memphis Depay.
With Robin Van Persie suspended - and therefore no Van in the Dutch team for the first time since 1996 – Van Gaal was forced to make changes that included the curious selection of Dirk Kuyt as a full-back. But it worked.
It also meant a start for Jeremain Lens alongside Arjen Robben in attack, and it’s fair to say in their captain’s absence the Dutch certainly lacked their usual verve to begin with.
That said, Chile weren’t too hot either, their forwards struggling to make any real impact against a well-organised Dutch defence. Having lacked discipline at times against Australia, it was clear Van Gaal had demanded higher levels of concentration for this encounter.
If they wanted to win this group to avoid the hosts – assuming, that is, that Brazil topped Group A – the onus was on Chile to attack with the Dutch sitting on at the summit with the superior goal difference.
They were displaying more ambition than their opponents. Playing some nice, neat football too. But not until the 23rd minute did Sampaoli’s side even threaten, Felipe Gutierrez meeting a corner from the inventive Alexis Sanchez with a first-time shot that flew over the crossbar.
At the opposite end Wesley Sneijder would test Claudio Bravo with a free-kick but the Dutch seemed content to defend with a high line and absorb what pressure was being applied by a fluid Chile team enjoying almost 70 per cent of the ball.
If Holland were going to score here at the Arena de Sao Paulo, it was going to be on the counter attack. Robben burst clear only to misplace a pass intended for Nigel De Jong, while Stefan De Vrij perhaps should have done better in meeting a Robben free-kick. As it was, his close-range header flew wide.
In the frame: Holland boss Louis van Gaal is photographed during the national anthems
Close: Holland goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen watches as Alexis Sanchez's shot flies wide during the goalless first half
No holding back: Charles Aranguiz is upended by midfielder Nigel de Jong
Grounded: Arjen Robben was unable to work his magic during the opening period
Attention: Alexis Sanchez is marked closely by Daley Blind
Danger man: Aranguiz gives chase to winger Robben, who had scored three times in the opening two games
No go: Jeremain Lens is tackled by Sanchez as both sides struggled to create after the break
The Dutch defence was beginning to creak a little as Chile’s attacking intensified. Daley Blind was certainly living dangerously when he tackled Charles Aranguiz from behind in the penalty area - he just about won the ball – and there was a further appeal for a penalty when Sanchez collapsed under what looked like the lightest of challenges from Kuyt. The former Liverpool striker certainly wasn’t impressed with the Barcelona forward.
As this contest progressed towards the interval it did begin to ignite. Robben exploded into life with a trademark run from inside his own half only to send his diagonal shot beyond the far post. Little more than a minute later and Gutierrez threatened again.
What momentum was building towards the break seemed to disappear after it, with Van Gaal becoming increasingly animated as a result. At one stage Kuyt certainly got an earful.
Chile continued to press, with Blind collecting a booking to stop Sanchez. The Dutch defence was stretched at times but holding firm.
In the end Van Gaal’s substitutions proved decisive, both goals coming from players he dispatched from the bench.
Fer struck first in the 77th minute, meeting Daryl Janmaat’s marvellous cross with a thumping header.
The second arrived 15 minutes later, the Dutch breaking from a Chile corner with Robben bursting down the left flank and delivering a cross Depay converted at close-range. In fairness the scorer of Holland’s winning goal did well to hold off the challenge of Marcelo Diaz.
In the end a very satisfying afternoon’s work for the next Manchester United manager.
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