I think most of us expected this game to feature USA, who were widely expected to top Group E.

So did the many USA fans who have been seen around Sydney today - including at the airport, catching flights to Melbourne.

And so apparently did Fifa, with this game scheduled to kick-off on Saturday afternoon in the States. Best laid plans and all that.

Anna Thompson
BBC Sport at Sydney Football Stadium

Peter, Eva and Danielle have been living in Sydney for a number of years and have split loyalties at the World Cup.

They are supporting Netherlands - the country of their birth - and Australia.

"It's been fantastic fun to be able to come and watch a World Cup. I think Netherlands will win 4-0 today," said Eva.

"Our dream final would be to see the Netherlands take on the Matildas," added Peter.

Image source, BBC Sport

BBC One

For our readers in the UK, the BBC One television coverage of this game has just begun.

Tune in on your TV, or click the play button at the top of this page.

After this match, get yourself some breakfast/lunch/sleep, and settle in for a Sunday blockbuster.

United States, the reigning world champions, have failed to fire at this World Cup so far. Can they find their groove in Melbourne?

They face very tough - and very familiar - opponents in Sweden. That game kicks off at 10.00 BST, and you absolutely do not want to miss it.

Goals, goals and more goals. Some of them brilliant, some of them fortunate, some of them absolutely bizarre.

Spain, having been plagued by years of off-field problems and been thrashed 4-0 by Japan in their final group match, turned on the style to beat Switzerland 5-1. They will face the winner of this match.

In the later game, Japan continued to look the business as they earned their fourth successive win at this World Cup, seeing off Norway 3-1. They face either Sweden or USA in the quarter-finals.

Anna Thompson
BBC Sport at Sydney Football Stadium

The Queen of Cheese aka Mick van Rens-Verbers is resplendent in her outfit and travels the world to follow the Netherlands.

She was in England for last year's Euros and told me: "The ambience in the UK is much better than here but I'm still loving the tournament."

She is very confident the Netherlands will win.

"If they fancy it today, it could be 8-0. But I'll settle for 3-0."

Image source, BBC Sport

If you are up late/early to watch this game - a 3am kick off in the UK, 4am in the Netherlands and in South Africa - then we salute you.

Bear in mind that as we enter the knock-out stages, extra time and penalties are a serious possibility. So make sure you are well stocked with snacks and caffeine, because this could be a long night's journey into day.

South Africa have been one of the stories of the World Cup on the pitch. Imagine how good they would be with proper support off it.

Their build-up to the tournament was dogged by arguments over bonuses. The players will receive at least $50,000 each from Fifa for reaching the last 16 at the World Cup, but nothing from the South Africa Football Association (SAFA).

They also had to field a 13-year-old girl in a key World Cup warm-up friendly against Botswana because of a player boycott.

You can read more about the trials South Africa - and too many other teams at this World Cup - have had to face in our feature here.

Anna Thompson
BBC Sport at Sydney Football Stadium

Tarryn King has lived in Australia for nearly 40 years but she is most definitely supporting South Africa, where she was born.

She's at the match with her sister Bronwyn Oakes and families and told me: "It means so much to be able to watch South Africa in a World Cup and for them to be doing so well.

"We are so proud of what they have achieved so far. But we're confident they can go even further."

Image source, BBC Sport

Having never reached the last 16 previously, South Africa's story in 2023 has been of two near misses - then one huge triumph.

They took the lead against Sweden, only to succumb to a 2-1 defeat with a last minute goal. They then went 2-0 up against Argentina - only to concede twice in the final 16 minute to draw.

It left them needing to beat Italy in their final Group G game. And they did, in a 3-2 thriller with Thembi Kgatlana scoring a stoppage-time winner.

Image source, Getty Images

Anna Thompson
BBC Sport at Sydney Football Stadium

It's not hard to spot the Netherlands fans as they congregated in a field a few minutes walk from Sydney Football Stadium.

After all assembling, they walked en masse to the stadium with drums and horns blaring.

Hailing from Blackpool it reminded me very much of the tangerine kit the Seasiders wear - but this is most certainly not Bloomfield Road!

Image source, BBC Sport

Beaten finalists in 2019, the Dutch look to be warming up nicely as they attempt to go one step further this time around.

After a narrow victory over Portugal to start their campaign, they faced United States in a rematch of the final four years ago. Beaten in France, Netherlands gained a measure of revenge with a 1-1 draw.

Then, as the US laboured to a 0-0 draw against the Portuguese, Netherlands smashed seven past Vietnam to secure top spot in Group E.

Image source, Getty Images

England

Briefly away from this match, some very good news for England fans this morning.

England midfielder Keira Walsh has returned to team training following a knee injury in a boost to the Lionesses' Women's World Cup hopes.

Walsh suffered the knock in England's Group D win over Denmark, with fears it could be a serious knee injury.

However the injury is far less serious than originally thought, and the 26-year-old should be fit to play again at the tournament.

England face Nigeria in the last 16 on Monday in Brisbane.

Full story here.

Image source, Getty Images

Anna Thompson
BBC Sport at Sydney Football Stadium

The Netherlands fans arrived off the light railway at Moore Park to banging Dutch techno beats, courtesy of DJ Allen.

Loving his cargo bike too!

Image source, BBC Sport

One change for the Netherlands from the thumping 7-0 win over Vietnam in Dunedin last Tuesday.

Everton forward Katja Snoeijs makes way for Lineth Beerensteyn's return.

New Aston Villa keeper Daphne van Domselaar makes her fourth start of the tournament as does new Manchester City midfielder Jill Roord and Arsenal's Victoria Pelova.

Roord has scored three of the Netherlands' nine goals at this tournament.

Netherlands XI: Van Domselaar, Janssen, Van der Gragt, Spitse, Groenen, Brugts, Pelova, Van de Donk, Roord, Martens, Beerensteyn.

Image source, .

South Africa also make one change as Banyana Banyana look to cause another big shock after defeating Italy last Wednesday.

Kholosa Biyana returns to the midfield in place of Robyn Moodaly.

Influential captain Thembi Kgatlana, who has scored two and provided a further two assists at this World Cup, starts her fourth game as does Glasgow City's Linda Motlhalo.

South Africa XI: Swart, Dhlamini, Matlou, Mbane, Ramalepe, Gamede, Magaia, Seoposenwe, Motlhalo, Biyana, Kgatlana.

Image source, .

Yesterday saw some great goals...

Image source, Getty Images

...and great performances...

Image source, Getty Images

...and there's plenty more action at the Fifa Women's World Cup to come today.

Welcome to our live text coverage of the third match in the last 16, between Netherlands and South Africa.