It was unforgettable day... I believe both Spain and Netherlands will never forget the moments So many articles .. this is how dailymail reported
Spain 1 - 5 Holland World Cup 2014: Arjen Robben scores INCREDIBLE solo effort as Netherlands hit FIVE and Robin van Persie also scores one for the history books
- Arjen Robben's fantastic goal is applauded by the Dutch bench
- Robin van Persie capitalises on Iker Casillas mistake to make it FOUR
- Stefan de Vrij scores a header to put Netherlands 3-1 up against Spain
- Diego Costa is substituted and replaced by Chelsea's Fernando Torres
- Arjen Robben gives Holland the lead with a great individual goal
- Robin van Persie's incredible diving header just before half-time puts the score to 1-1
- Xabi Alonso scores from the spot after Diego Costa is brought down in the box by Stefan De Vrij
- Louis van Gaal sets Holland up in a 5-3-2 formation
- Spain starting XI: Casillas, Azplicueta, Pique, Ramos, Alba, Busquets, Alonso, Xavi, Silva, Iniesta, Costa
- Holland starting XI: Cillessen, Janmaat, Vlaar, De Vrij, Martins Indi, Blind, De Jong, De Guzman, Sneijder, Robben, Van Persie
Three games in to this World Cup and already the champions have a weaker grip on their trophy. Spain lost the first game four years ago, too, but defeat to Switzerland back then cannot compare psychologically to the stunning events of last night.Spanish coach Vicente del Bosque will ask himself quite how his team lost from a winning position. A goal up on the cusp of half-time, Spain were cruising.
Three days in to this World Cup and already the champions have a weaker grip on their trophy. Spain lost the first game four years ago, too, but defeat by Switzerland in South Africa cannot compare psychologically to these stunning events in north-east Brazil.
Spain’s worst defeat since a 1963 reverse to Scotland, this was more than a setback. This was a humiliating, humbling capitulation, a defeat that asks as much about the mental fortitude of Vicente del Bosque’s team as it does their hapless defending.
Some defeats in sport represent more than the loss of a solitary contest and this was one of them. This was a 7&6 in Ryder Cup singles, an Ashes defeat by an innings, a round one knockout in Vegas. Some teams would not recover from this. It remains to be seen if Spain can.
VIDEO Scroll down to watch Ecstatic Dutch fans flood out of the Emirates
Dutch destroyers: Robin van Persie embraces Arjen Robben on a superb night for Holland
Heading into the net: Robin van Persie hurls himself through the air to score a superb equaliser
Aerial ultra: Van Persie hangs as he watches his header go into the Spain net
Calamitous error: Van Persie robs Iker Casillas to poke home Holland's fourth goal
Can't believe it: Casillas looks downcast as the Holland players celebrate Van Persie's goal
Match facts
Spain: Casillas 5, Azpilicueta 6.5, Sergio Ramos 5.5, Pique 5.5, Jordi Alba 7, Alonso 7.5 (Pedro 63), Xavi 7, Busquets 6, Silva 7.5, Diego Costa 7 (Torres 62), Iniesta 7.
Subs: De Gea, Albiol, Javi Martinez, Juanfran, Villa, Fabregas, Mata, Koke, Cazorla, Reina.
Holland: Cillessen 7, Janmaat 6, Vlaar 7.5, De Vrij 7, Martins Indi 6.5, Blind 7, de Guzman 6, Sneijder 6, De Jong 6.5, Van Persie 8, Robben 8.
Subs: Vorm, Verhaegh, Veltman, Kongolo, Kuyt, Clasie, Lens, Fer, Huntelaar, Wijnaldum, Depay, Krul.
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Italy)
Attendance:
Man of the match: Robin van Persie
Ratings by JOE CALLAGHAN in Sao Paulo
Holland were brilliant. So hungry as to be ravenous and driven relentlessly forwards by the mesmeric talents of Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben.
The upshot was one of the World Cup’s most startling results. We all remember Argentina’s loss to Cameroon in 1990, France succumbing to Senegal in Seoul 12 years later. In the very same way, we will remember this.
Taken in isolation, the result was staggering enough. Spain 1 Holland 5. Say it slowly to make sure it’s real.
What made this even more remarkable, though, was the way that it happened. Moments before half-time, Spain were a goal ahead and cruising. Had David Silva scored when played clear at this time the champions probably would have won.
Fast forward an hour, though, and Spain were on their knees. In their eyes they had the shocked look of street mugging victims. Holland scored five and could have scored eight. Iker Casillas – who had a dreadful night – produced a stunning double save late on, while Wesley Sneijder fell over when it looked easier to score.
'In the end, it could have been six, seven or eight,' said Van Persie. 'But, really, it couldn’t be better.'
Ultimately, the only thing that saved Spain was the full-time whistle. Back in the quiet of the dressing room, they will have looked at each other and seen faces they did not recognise staring back.
The highlights reel will, of course, show them scoring first. Once again there was controversy about it but few will care now.
Bunch of fives: Robben (left) slams home Holland's fifth goal in their stunning victory
Stefan de Vrij (left) bundles the ball in at the back post for Holland's third goal
Turning him inside out: Arjen Robben gets past Gerard Pique after taking the ball down superbly
Finish: Sergio Ramos can't close down Robben, who strikes the ball with his left foot
Net gain: Iker Casillas (right) is sent the wrong way as the ball goes into the goal
The best 11: Robben holds out his arms in celebration after scoring Holland's second
Pointing the finger: Nigel de Jong tells Fernando Torres to get up
Forward Diego Costa turned in the penalty area, placed his foot on a defender’s leg and was given a penalty. It was a poor decision but Xabi Alonso struck the kick to the right and Spain had a deserved lead.
For a while, all was normal. Costa was struggling but it didn’t seem to matter. Xavi and Silva enjoyed a good 15 minutes and Spain looked likely to score again.
Had they done so, Holland couldn’t have complained and Silva’s miss – trying to chip the goalkeeper – was certainly pivotal as within a minute or two the Dutch were level.
Dutch left back Daley Blind’s pass from deep across field to Van Persie was certainly a good one. Spain failed to move out as one and the Manchester United forward was onside. Briefly he looked as though he may control the ball but ultimately he threw himself forwards and the header that arched above and beyond Casillas was as good as you will see.
On terms at half-time, Holland would have taken a draw. As it transpired they emerged to humiliate Spain. The Dutch simply can’t have had a better 45 minutes of football.
The second goal, in the 53rd minute, started with Blind once again. This time his target was Robben and the manner in which the Bayern Munich star controlled the ball to turn back inside Gerard Pique and score was wonderful.
Happy Holland: Louis van Gaal high fives Van Persie after the forward's brilliant equaliser
Shut up: Diego Costa gestures to the Salvador crowd, who barracked him throughout the match
Trip: Costa is caught by De Vrij inside the area in Salvador
On the way down: Costa is tripped by Stefan de Vrij and the referee pointed to the spot
Spot on: Xabi Alonso rolls his penalty to the right of Jasper Cillessen and into the corner
Not too Xabi: Alonso celebrates putting Spain a goal up from the spot
HELL SALVADOR FOR SPAIN
It was Spain’s heaviest defeat since Scotland beat them 6-2 in 1963.
Portugal beat them 4-0 in 2010.
Spain last conceded three in Brazil in the Confederations Cup final last June (lost 3-0 to Brazil (Fred 2, Neymar).
They last conceded two to Group B rivals Chile in a friendly in September.
They lost WC opener to Switzerland in 2010 (0-1, Gelson Fernandes).
The Dutch have scored as many goals against the World Champions as they did in both their qualifying games against Andorra combined (5)
As the rain fell hard, Spain sought answers. Del Bosque appeared briefly to urge them to lift their heads but they couldn’t. He made substitutions but they didn’t work. The direction of the game was set, the die cast.
Goal three was a tough one. Casillas’ attempt to gather a corner was impeded by Van Persie but he simply needed to be stronger and as the ball disappeared over his head, Stefan de Vrij bundled it in on the goal line.
Here on Friday night, Casillas looked like a goalkeeper in need. He looks not to have recovered from his poor showing in last month’s Champions League final and it will be interesting to see if Del Bosque drops him next week and, if so, who out of David de Gea or Pepe Reina comes in.
'I won’t blame individuals,' said Del Bosque. 'But we must improve. We cannot go under.'
Certainly what happened in the 72nd minute wouldn’t have helped Casillas’ cause. Trying to control a simple back pass, the goalkeeper only managed to present the ball to Van Persie and goal No 4 was poked in to the empty goal as Holland took events from the surprising to the simply unforgettable.
Thwarted: David Silva sees his chip comfortably saved by Cillessen
Waste: Wesley Sneijder hits his shot straight at the keeper when through on goal
Proceed with caution: De Vrij (second right) is shown the yellow card by Nicola Rizzoli
Clash of the titans: Alonso and Arjen Robben compete for a ball in the air as the Dutchman goes flying
Stop right there: Holland defender Bruno Martins Indi (left) grabs hold of Spain midfielder David Silva
Still there was time for a fifth. More mistakes from Spain, a gallop forward by Robben past Sergio Ramos and another devastating finish.
On the Dutch bench, coach Louis van Gaal smiled and tried to look phlegmatic.
'We can get better, without a shadow of a doubt,' he said later.
Del Bosque, meanwhile, placed a towel across his knee as the rain fell. He may well have placed it over his head.
No comments :
Post a Comment