In a rematch game in which Netherlands looked to get revenge over Spain (La Furia Roja) from the last time they met up in the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final, it was Netherlands who took the win over Spain. No one expected for Netherlands to manhandl Spain the way they did today. Spain wasn’t the team that we are all used to seeing in the field. A lot of questions will be brought up with the fact if Del Bosque made the right decision to bring Diego Costa and also start him in the front along with Davis Silva and Iniesta. Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, David Silva, Fernando 9 Torres and Xavi were all quiet during the match. We didn’t see much from them and goalkeeper Iker Casillas made many mistakes. So did del Bosque make the right decision to start Casillas as Keeper as well? So many mistakes were made by his defense and by Casillas himself that gave Netherlands the chance to take the 5-1 win.
The first half kicked off and we saw a Spain team that we are used to seeing. With their tiki taka technique and fast speed it seemed like they had control of the match. In the 26 minute, a penalty call given to Diego Costa in which it looked like he was tripped but he actually put his leg there, gave Spain the 1-0 lead over Le Oranje.
Xabi Alonso was there to put it in the 27th minute.
But in the 44th minute it was Manchester United’s Robin Van Persie that equalized the match for Netherlands. In a cross from Daley Blind, Van Persie was able to find it with his head, fly like superman and get it in the net.
Robin Van Persie looked up and as we can see, was in disbelief when he saw the ball in the net. This gave Netherlands the 1-1 tie game to end the half.
As the second half took place, it was Netherlands who had control of the match. In the 53rd minute Bayern Munich’s Arjen Robben got the ball from a cross, was able to get it down with his left leg, control the ball, juke some defenseman players and get it in the net for the 2-1 lead over Spain.
11 minutes later in a free kick given to Netherlands, Sneijder was able to cross the ball and find Stefan de Vrij to head it in to make the 3-1 lead. Iker Casillas thought Van Persie fouled him during the play, but the ref said no foul and this gave the Netherlands the lead they were looking for.
David Silva had a chance to cut the lead by one goal after De Vrij’s goal but was called offsides when the ball was inside the net. In the 72nd minute, it was Robin Van Persie who scored for Netherlands once again. In a play were Iker Casillas lost control of the ball, Van Persie was able to steal the ball away from him and get in inside the net to make it a 4-1 lead.
Just as we thought the game was over and Netherlands was done scoring, it was Arjen Robben who scored again for Netherlands. During the play Spain was in attacking position but the ball was taken away and was crossed to Arjen Robben, who came from behind and flew passed Sergio Ramos to take the ball, juke Iker Casillas and some defenseman players and score to make the lead 5-1.
Spain had many chances to score but luck just wasn’t on their side. As we saw, Iker Casillas was very rusty and made many mistakes.
Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique were no where to be found to help defend and the attacking line of Diego Costa, Andres Iniesta, David Silva and Fernando 9 Torres just wasn’t enough to help Spain. Netherlands on the other hand looked very strong. Van Persie and Arjen Robben both had 2 goals with Stefan de Vrij scoring his first ever-international goal.
This wasn’t the Spain team we are used to seeing, like I have mentioned a little while ago, but this isn’t the end for Spain. They still have two matches against Chile and Australia to gain 6 points and go on the next round. As for Netherlands, they gained three points and the next two matches should be easy for them, as we saw today.