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WC MOTD: Spain 1-5 Netherlands

By on June 13, 2014

In 2010 the entire world gathered around Johannesburg, South Africa, to watch the final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup contested between Spain and the Netherlands. Spain won by one goal to nil in a tight, scrappy, and downright unattractive game of football. Tonight, as the two sides faced each other for the first time since that World Cup final, it might not have been the stage anybody could have imagined. It was simply the third match of World Cup 2014, the two team’s first match of the Group Stages. However, it could not have proven a more entertaining game, the one thing the final four years ago lacked.  For while Spain scored first, and remained in front until the very last moments of the first half, the Netherlands couldn’t have turned the game more on its head by the final whistle, as a goal from Stefan De Vrij, a second from Robin van Persie, and two from Arjen Robben gave the Dutch side an astounding 5-1 win. So much for the cagey affairs, which have only been settled by one goal when it doesn’t end in a draw, that have taken place when Spain and the Netherlands met in the forty-one years prior to tonight.

And not only that, but the loss provides the reigning champions Spain with a full on barrage of fresh criticisms and worries. Only once before has a nation won the World Cup having lost their first match. But certainly, the way the loss went down is the most worrying. Vicente del Bosque’s side, always known for their possession based football, struggled to stamp their dominance on the Netherlands in the opening stages, and never looked too sure of themselves in defense, either. In fact, when Arjen Robben cut through the Spain back-line with a defense-splitting through ball into the run of Wesley Sneijder, the winger looked to be on his way to putting the Netherlands in front just seven minutes in. Only did a poor effort from Sneijder and fantastic save from Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas kept Spain from falling behind.

Frankly, throughout the opening minutes the Dutch looked quite even with Spain – La Roja’s only sight of goal in the first twenty minutes came as Andres Iniesta ballooned a twenty yard shot over the crossbar. However, luck would be with the Spanish, who won a penalty twenty-five minutes in after Diego Costa found himself slipped in down the left side of the box via a brilliant pass from Xavi. The Atletico Madrid forward cut inside, only to find himself brought down by the trailing leg of Ron Vlaar, winning his side a penalty. Xabi Alonso stepped up to take it, and with the coolest of finishes tucked the spot-kick into the bottom left corner of the net.

But the Netherlands had far from given up. If anything, the goal spurred them; they responded to it by pinning Spain back into their own half.  Soon after, Nigel de Jong blasted a twenty-five-yard effort towards the top corner, forcing Casillas into a save. Yet once again, is seemed to all fall apart when Iniesta threaded a brilliant through ball into the path of David Silva down the left side of the box. Silva seemed to have all the time and space in the world to curl it around Netherlands goalkeeper, Jasper Cillessen, but attempted to chip the goalkeeper, who managed to get a vital touch on the ball to tip it to safety. And just like that, the fortunes turned. Suddenly, the Netherlands were on the attack and as Daley Blind clipped a long diagonal ball towards the run of Robin van Persie, time seemed to stand still. In a unique moment of brilliance, Van Persie launched himself in the air, and lobbed an improbable header from the edge of the box over Casillas and into the top right corner of the goal. Even Van Persie himself couldn’t believe the ball had gone in, as he belly-flop landed on the ground. The goal couldn’t have come at a better time, either, right on the brink of the half.

And it also rallied the Netherlands. Out for the second half the Dutch came, and despite the weather turning into a downpour of tropical rain, they came flying out of the gates. Robben completed the turn-around nine minutes into the second period as he brought down a diagonal ball from the left, cut back inside, and tucked home a finish, and seven minutes later Van Persie came inches away from a second goal as he slammed a vicious volley onto the crossbar. Stefan De Vrij nodded home a free-kick for the Netherlands’ third sixty-four minutes in, before Van Persie put the icing on the cake, tapping home a fifth after pouncing on an incredibly poor touch from Casillas. By the time Robben added a fifth eighty minutes in and the Netherlands sealed the win, the Dutch conga lines and songs were in full song and the damage to Spain morale was done.
Man of the Match: Robin Van Persie

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.