Resilient Dutch Embarrass Champions

The long-awaited rematch between last World Cup’s finalists – The Netherlands and the team who beat them to claim its first World title, Spain, kicked off at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador this afternoon with the Spaniards looking to reaffirm their superiority on the game and the team they beat to take the title in South Africa four years ago, and the Dutch looking for some manner of revenge. It was a bit of a quiet start  to the Group B encounter though, as the Spanish tried to dominate  possession early on but without creating any real clear-cut chances. Ironically, it was the Dutch who had the first genuine chance as Sneijder forced Casillas to make a crucial save in the 8^th minute. Soon though, Spain created their chances, as the man who broke Dutch hearts four years ago, Iniesta, fired high and wide in the 10^th minute. In the 13^{th minute} Diego Costa had a good chance for Spain but the Dutch defense held firm to repel the threat. In the 24^th minute Spain got a corner and Sergio Ramos was left all alone, but he couldn’t connect. Not surprising though, it was Spain who took the lead. Diego Costa was brought down in the Dutch penalty area and the referee pointed to the spot. Xabi Alonso stepped up and calmly slotted the ball past Dutch goalie Cillessen to give Spain a 1-0 lead. It was the fourth time in five major championship matches that the Dutch had fallen behind first.

The Spanish continued to dominate in possession, with the Dutch constantly having to chase for long periods. Cillessen had to come to the Dutch aid in the 43^rd to avoid them going further behind. Then came a moment of Dutch magic. Daley Blind fed a brilliant cross in the Spanish penalty area and Robin van Persie’s superb diving header brought the Netherlands level. That was the way the scores stayed going into the half. At the resumption Spain had the first shot at goal when a somewhat tame effort from Iniesta was controlled easily by Cillessen in the Dutch goal. Then another moment of greatness from the Dutch. Arjen Robben controlled a long ball with wonderful skill, steadied himself, took the ball past Pique and hammered one in past a hapless Iker Casillas in the Spanish goal. The Champions were shocked. From 1-0 up, they were now trailing 2-1. In the 60th minute van Persie missed a great chance to send the Dutch further in front when his shot hit the cross bar much to the relief of  Casillas.

In the 64^th minute though more misery was piled on the Spanish as De Vrij sent the Netherlands further in front. It was a score line no one expected Netherlands 3, Spain 1. Just when the Spanish thought that it couldn't get any worse, van Persie caused Spanish hearts to sink even further. It was now 4-1 and the World Champions were being utterly humiliated. And just when the stunned World Champions thought that they had gotten enough, Robben delivered another killer blow by sending his team 5-1 in front. The writing was on the wall now. Spain was going to lose. And lose big too. At the final whistle the Dutch celebrated a huge win. One which no one expected. They had thrown the World Cup wide open by completely outclassing the World Champions against all odds and leaving La Furia Roja with a monumental task ahead of them if they want to stand any chance of progressing to the next round. Based on this result and with the dangerous Chile to come in their next game, the Spaniards need nothing less than a major miracle if they want to still hold on to their World Title.