Agadir - In a rematch of the 2010 World Cup final in South Africa, the Netherlands took title defenders Spain by surprise and sealed a landslide 5-1 victory at Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador on Friday in the opening game of Group B.
Spain had taken the lead in the 27th minute after converting a controversial penalty by La Roja’s midfielder Xabi Alonso, but Robin Van Persie equalized with a fabulous diving header just before halftime.
The most pessimistic fans of La Roja would have never imagined what will happen in the second half.
Veteran Arjen Robben gave the lead to the Dutch just eight minutes after the resumption, and Louis Van Gaal’s men tightened their grip on the game even more which brought more goals afterwards as Stefan de Vriji deepened the score difference with a third tap-in goal in the 64th minute.
Van Persie and a fast Robben visited Spain’s nets again in the 72nd and 80th minutes, respectively, to draw the curtain on an outstanding opening game for the 2010 World Cup runner-ups and to raise questions on La Roja’s performance and whether they can even make it to the second round let alone preserving their chances to win the major trophy for the second year in a row.
AFP PHOTO / DIMITAR DILKOFFDIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP/Getty Images
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