Netherlands demolished World Champions Spain by 5 goals to
1 on Friday night in the opening game of group B of this year FIFA World Cup in
Brazil. A repeat of the 2010 World Cup finals as defending World Champions
Spain took on the Netherlands in a pretty tensed game at the Arena Fonte Nova
in Salvador. Both teams had won 4 of their last nine meetings with one ending
in a stalemate.
Netherlands should have shot themselves in front in 12
minutes when midfielder Wesley Sneijder failed to pounce on a one-on-one
situation with Iker Casillas. It seemed to be an even contest between the two
European sides but it was Spain who looked more dangerous in attack, as they
kept the pressure indentifying.
After 26 minutes Spain won themselves a penalty kick when
Diego Costa was brought down in the 18 yard box after picking a through pass
from Silva. Xabi Alonso did no mistake as he powered a low shot past
Netherlands goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen to put Spain in a 1-0 lead to leave the
ecstatic Spanish fans in joy. In the 30th minutes, De Guzman’s
attacking cross into the 18 yard box had no one to connect. Another perfect
cross from left back Deley Blind had no one to get a touch to it in the 32nd
minutes as the opportunity went begging. The Netherlands will come back into
the game after 33 minutes.
A thoroughly and enjoyable game in the opening 33 minutes. An
ambitious left footed effort in the 34th minutes by Nigel de Jong
was never going to trouble the experienced Iker Casillas in post for the
Spanians. But Del Bosque’s men still kept their resilience as they founded the
ball among themselves with the tiki-taka
football. Netherlands defender Stefan de
Vrij became the second player to be booked after a hash challenge on Andre
Iniesta in the 36th minutes. A frustrating moment for Spain forward
Diego as he received boos and taunts anytime he had the ball as he was been perceived
as a traitor following his decision to boycott his country of birth[Brazil] to
play for Spain.
David Silva squandered a glorious opportunity in the 42nd
minutes when he tried to chip the ball over Holland goalkeeper Jasper
Cillessen, but the goalkeeper had his hand to it as he tipped the ball to
corner.
A lovely and intelligent goal by Robin van Persie after he
broke through the Spanian defense to get
a diving header over Iker Casillas to pull even, just on the stroke of half
time following an in- swinging cross from left back Deley Blind to end the
first 45 minutes. The top scorer for the Netherlands has pulled priority.
The second half was comparable to the first half as both teams
took off from where they left with Spain pushing forward with more men. Iniesta
had his long rang shot saved by Cillessen in the 49th minutes. The
game got very tightened as both teams showed incursions at goal. The Dutch
began to enjoy possession beating the Spanians to their own tike-taka inversion.
Netherlands shot themselves into the lead when Arjen Robin
perfectly controlled a first time ball and expertly planted the ball behind
Iker Casillas with his left foot after receiving a nice top pass from Nigel de
Jong in the 52nd minutes. Netherlands began to control the pace of
the game after that goal. Interesting scenes unfolding as the game become livelier.
Netherlands still showed how dangerous they could be when
Robin Van Persie hit the upright with his weaker foot after a counter break
from Arjen Robben who had been tormenting the Spanish defense.
Both coaches inserted substitutions in the 62nd minute.
Holland coach Van Gaal brought on Georginio Wijnaldum for De Guzman. Spain on the other
hand brought on Pedro for Xabi Alonso, Torres for Costa and Fabregas for Silva.
A well delivered set piece from Sneijder had Stefan de Vrij
getting his head to it at the near post to make it 3-1 after 65 minutes. The
defending champions have been thwarted by the Dutch after starting on a bright
note.
In the 67th minutes David Silva had his
consolation goal disallowed after pouncing on a rebound as he was adjudged
offside. Another vigorous attempt by Robin Van Persie had Iker Casillas save
the ball with his legs in the 68th minutes. The Dutch had raised
their game after starting slowly.
A sloppy move by Iker Casillas had Robin Van Persie hit his
brace when he capitalizes on the mistake by the Spanish goalkeeper to put the
ball behind the empty net in the 72nd minutes. The World champions
had totally been stunned.
Van Gaal brought out his third goal scorer Stefan de Vrij
for Joel Veltman, while Jeremain Lens came on for two goal hero Robin Van
Persie. A counter break from the Dutch saw Arjen Robben taking on the Spanian
defense to exhibit a piece of skill when he confidently dribbled Iker Casillas to
slot the ball at the back of the net. Total humiliation in the camp of the
World Champions.
The Dutch showed no mercy as they pushed forward for more
goals even after a 5 goal lead. Fernando Torres had an opportunity to redeem
the tally but failed to put the ball behind the empty net after trying to be casual.
A complete morning on the part of the World Champions as
were demolished in Salvador. A Black
Friday for the defending Champions were left disillusioned in their opening
game of the 2014 World Cup.
Spain Starting
XI:
Iker
Casillas, Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba, Cesar Azpilicueta, Xavi,
Sergio Busquests, Xabi Alonso/ Pedro, Diego Costa/Torres, Andres Iniesta, David
Siva/Fabregas.
Netherlands
starting XI: Jasper Cillessen, Ron Vlaar,
Bruno Martins Indi, Stefan Vrij/ Wijnaldum, Delay Blind, Daryl Janmaat, Wesley
Sneijder, Nigel de Jong, Jonathan de Guzman/Veltman, Arjen Robben, Robin Van
Persie/Lens
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