The 2014 World Cup has its first
historic moment as the Netherlands hammered Spain
5-1 in an incredible match in Salvador.
The champions were not just beaten,
but absolutely ripped to pieces by a much-unfancied Dutch side that could have
scored even more than the five they put past the reigning Spaniards.
Yet it was actually Spain who
started the strongest, having several chances to put themselves in the lead
through Diego Costa, who thrice broke clear of a
ponderous Dutch backline to get in space.
The first such chance was denied by Ron Vlaar, who made a fine recovering tackle
after the big striker hesitated, while a ponderous touch for the second allowed
Daryl Janmaat to shepherd him into the corner.
The third, however, was the most
decisive and the most controversial, as Costa was clearly brought down by De
Vrij after cutting back inside, although replays showed he may have been
looking for the contact. Nonetheless, it was a penalty, and Xabi Alonso stepped up to roll it into the bottom
corner.
Spain were looking comfortable, but
the Netherlands soon struck back with a majestic goal, Robin van Persie meeting Daley Blind's long pass with a diving header that
was more reminiscent of Nijinsky than Henrik Larsson, the ball sailing over Iker Casillas and into the net.
Suddenly, Spain seemed to waver, and
the Netherlands took the lead shortly afterwards through Arjen Robben, the
winger collecting another Blind pass before cutting inside and putting his shot
past Casillas. And from there, Spain began to fall apart. A free-kick from Wesley Sneijder found Stefan de Vrij to make it
3-1, and Casillas' horrorshow continued after when he presented the ball to Van
Persie while playing out of defence, allowing the Dutchman to prod into the
empty net.
Just when it seemed like things
couldn't get any worse for Spain, an unbelievable run and counter-attack from
Robben made it five. The Bayern forward darted between his two markers to pick
up a long pass, cut inside, left Casillas in a heap and then leathered the ball
into the roof of the net past the waiting Spanish defence.
Incredibly, things could have been
even worse - a ragged Spain defence came close to conceding three more times
before they heard the referee's whistle, with Fernando Torres almost pulling back a consolation
goal but being denied by a last-ditch tackle. But the scoreline could not be
improved - this was a mauling.
An historic evening in Brazil,
and perhaps the greatest group stage match of all time.
KEY MOMENTS
28' COSTA PENALTY - Diego Costa appears to get a stonewall penalty, but
replays show he may have deliberately put his leg out for De Vrij to collide
with. Either way, Alonso puts it away to make it 1-0.
44' VAN PERSIE STUNNER - Van Persie equalises out of nowhere with a majestic goal
just before half-time.
52' ROBBEN PUTS DUTCH IN FRONT - A fine goal by Arjen Robben has Holland ahead, but could
Ramos really not suspect he was going to turn onto his left? It was bad enough
that he let the winger get away from him in the first place.
72' CASILLAS SHOCKER - Spain finally lose all hope of victory when Casillas makes
a disastrous error to allow Van Persie to score, surely threatening his position
in the team in the process.
79' ROBBEN SEALS SPAIN'S MISERY - Robben rounds off a horrible night for Spain and a
brilliant performance for the Bayern winger with a wonderful goal, completing
Casillas' humiliation too.
TALKING POINT Is this the end of tiki-taka?: Where to start? This
annihilation of a passing team by a counter-attacking one was more brutal than Bayern Munich vs. Barcelona. It came on the
biggest stage of all and in probabilty the greatest Group Stage match of all
time. Spain aren't out yet, but they have a big task to recover from this. Even
France weren't destroyed like that...
KEY STATS
Spain have conceded 5+ goals in an
international for the first time since losing 6-2 to Scotland in June 1963.
Robin van Persie has scored 10 goals
in his last nine appearances for Netherlands.
Only once before had Spain conceded
5+ goals in a World Cup game (1-6 vs Brazil in Brazil in 1950).
The last team to beat Spain after
conceding the first goal were Northern Ireland in September 2006 (3-2).
Spain only conceded two goals in the
whole of World Cup 2010.
A four goal margin is the biggest
losing margin by a defending champion at a World Cup.
Spain conceded 10+ shots on target
for the first time in a World Cup game analysed by Opta (1966-2014).
Arjen Robben has scored seven goals
in his last seven appearances for the Netherlands.
Daley Blind is the first Dutch
player to provide two assists in a single World Cup match since 1998 (Wim Jonk
v South Korea).
Spain conceded as many fouls as goals
in this game (5).
This is only the third time the
Netherlands have scored five goals in a World Cup game. Austria and South Korea
were the previous victims.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Arjen Robben - Just edges Van Persie, but the pair were simply unstoppable
tonight. Spain's defence could not get anywhere near them and as the game wore
on, they improved and were even more deadly. Robben's dribbling, creativity and
finishing, however, was the real decisive influence, and Spain could do nothing
at all every single time the Dutch launched an attack.
PLAYER RATINGS
Spain: Casillas 2, Alba 4, Pique 4,
Ramos 3, Azpilicueta 5, Alonso 5, Busquets 4, Xavi 6, Iniesta 7, Costa 4, Silva 4. Subs: Torres
5, Pedro 5, Fabregas 5.
Netherlands: Cillessen 7, De Vrij 7, Martins
Indi 6, Vlaar 7, Janmaat 7, Blind 9, De Guzman 7, De Jong 7, Sneijder 8, Van
Persie 9, Robben 10.
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