Fifa World Cup: Dashing Dutch masters sink Spain

Stunning goals from Dutch captain Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben ensured an awful start to Spain's World Cup defence as the Netherlands destroyed one of the tournament favourites 5-1 in Group B on Friday.

In complete contrast to the tetchy World Cup final between the sides in 2010 which Spain won 1-0, the Dutch took revenge with a pulsating display capped off by two goals each for Van Persie and Robben and one by Stefan de Vrij.

"I certainly didn't expect this result but I did expect us to score in the way we did," Dutch coach Louis van Gaal told reporters.

"Spain were always going to come at us and we catch them on the counter. My players did it perfectly. It's far better than we ever expected."

Only once before had Spain conceded five times in a World Cup game, on Brazilian turf in 1950 in a 6-1 loss to the hosts. The Dutch mauling at Salvador's Fonte Nova arena was also the worst ever start for defending world champions.

"I can't find words to explain five goals," Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said.

"We have never been a very defensive side but always coped well defending. Today we've been very weak.

"We kept on fighting but they were physically stronger as the game went on and that made a difference... It is now a delicate situation for us which we will and try and overcome in our next game against Chile and then see what happens."

Spain, also 2008 and 2012 European champions, had been expected to dictate proceedings with their slick passing style and normal service looked to be established when a coolly converted 27th-minute Xabi Alonso penalty gave them the lead.

Van Gaal had set his Dutch side up to press and look for the quick ball and it paid dividends just before the break in spectacular fashion when Van Persie equalised superbly.

DIVING HEADER

The Netherlands' key man sneaked in between defenders Sergio Ramos and Jordi Alba in the 44th minute to meet a searching Daley Blind cross with a powerful diving header that left goalkeeper Iker Casillas rooted to the spot.

Moments before Van Persie's goal Spain missed a glorious chance to double their lead when midfielder David Silva's cheeky chip was pushed wide for a corner.

It was a wasted opportunity they came to rue.

After the break the Dutch hurried Spain in possession, pouring forward at every opportunity, and went ahead after 53 minutes when Robben got on the end of another superb Blind lobbed pass before turning Gerard Pique and holding off Ramos to fire home from seven metres.

Del Bosque reacted by swapping Alonso for the more attack-minded Pedro and Brazilian-born striker Diego Costa, booed with every touch by the locals, went off for Fernando Torres.

The match opened up but in the Netherlands' favour.

Van Persie rattled the crossbar with a ferocious right-foot volley before De Vrij, whose tackle on Costa had led to the penalty, stole in on 64 minutes at the back post to convert a free kick after Casillas who was pressurised by Van Persie.

It got worse for Spain as Van Persie added a fourth after taking advantage of a sloppy touch by Casillas to slot home in the 72nd minute and the excellent Robben sent the orange-clad Dutch fans into raptures with a brilliant fifth eight minutes later.

The rapid forward, who had spurned a glorious chance to give the Netherlands their first world title four years ago when bearing down on Casillas, flew out of his half on to a through ball before toying with the Spanish rearguard and belting home.

As the game closed out traditional chants of "ole", usually hailing the dominant tiki-taka style of Spain, greeted every Dutch touch of the ball as their disbelieving supporters celebrated.

FULL TIME

Spain 1 (Alonso 27") Netherlands 5 (Van Persie 43" 72" Robben 53" 80" Vrij 64")

90+4 Holland win easily. 

90" Four minutes of stoppage time added.

88" The nightmare continues for Spain as Torres lets slip a gift.

83" Casillas makes back to back saves. First denying Wijnaldum from close and from the rebound deprives Robben a hat-trick.

Spain 1 (Alonso 27") Netherlands 5 (Van Persie 43" 72" Robben 53" 80" Vrij 64")

80" GOAL! Robben proves that age is no bar as he beats the Spanish defenders with his swift running, rounds off Casillas who scrambles desperately for the ball, to find the roof of the net.

76" Persie is replaced and gets a rousing reception. Silva too is replaced by Fabregas as Spain go in search of a goal.

75" Stefan de Vrij is replaced having scored his first international goal. Joel Veltman comes in. 

75" Ramos free-kick has power but is wide.

Spain 1 (Alonso 27") Netherlands 4 (Van Persie 43" 72" Robben 53" Vrij 64")

72" GOAL! Big goof-up by Casillas. A back pass to him and he ends up making a mess as Robin van Persie is quick to pounce on the loose ball to score his second goal.

69" Casillas makes a sprawling save stretching his leg out after Robben unleashed a grounder.

67" Silva gets the ball in the net but is pulled up for off-side.

Spain 1 (Alonso 27") Netherlands 3 (Van Persie 43" Robben 53" Vrij 64")

64" GOAL! Stefan de Vrij manages to get the ball in from a free-kick.

61" Substitutions. Out-of-form Costa is replaced by Torres and Winjnaldum comes in for Guzman.

58" Robben at his best here with a solo run and on reaching the top of the box finds Van Persie. The Dutch captain unleashes a solid right footed volley which beats Casillas all ends up but the crosspieve denies them a certain goal.

Spain 1 (Alonso 27") Netherlands 2 (Van Persie 43" Robben 53")

48" Iniesta tries to catch Cillessen off guard with a first timer but it lacks power giving the goalkeeper time to dive full length.

47" Staunch defending by Holland in the initial minutes of the first half as the heavens open up and its raining with the players all drenched.

Dutch captain Robin van Persie scored a stunning diving header to peg back world champions Spain to 1-1 at halftime in their World Cup Group B match at the Fonte Nova arena on Friday.

In a repeat of the 2010 World Cup final, Spain took a 27th- minute lead through a Xabi Alonso penalty after Brazilian-born striker Diego Costa went down in the box under a challenge from Dutchman Stefan de Vrij.

Van Persie equalised brilliantly in the 44th minute, connecting with a long searching pass by left back Daley Blind.

HALF-TIME

Spain 1 (Alonso 27") Netherlands 1 (Van Persie 43")

42" Silva is all over the place but will rue this missed chance. A lovely through ball from Iniesta had Silva unchallenged and he tries to chip over Cillessen but the goalkeeper does very well to intercept it.

39" YELLOW! Vrij is hauled up for bringing down Silva.

37" The hard-working David Silva does a lot of off the ball running and is always on the lookout to sneak past the defenders.

34" Nigel de Jong tries to test Casillas with a long range left-footer but the cool and composed Spanish goalkeeper collect it without much ado.

31" Persie miises a good chance here but can't blame him as he was unsighted after Ramos and Pique missed clearing the ball.

Spain 1 (Alonso 27") Netherlands 0

27" GOAL! Xabi Alonso scores from the spot after Costa is brought down by Stefan de Vrij in the Netherlands box. Looks like a contentious decision but Spain will take it.

23" Ramos who is always dangerous from dead-ball situations, sends his header inches wide.

20" Spain seem to have a better say in the match so far but Holland came closest to scoring in the first 20 minutes.

18" A defensive lapse has Silva finding Costa who with a Ron Vlar close on his heels takes a shot but is far from threatening to score.

15" Busquets becomes the target of fouls by Nigel de Jong and Sniejder. Referee gives both players stern warning but no bookings. 

13" Costa makes a mess of his trapping when in clear for a shot at the opponents goal.

12" The pace of the match is comparatively slower than the one between Brazil and Croatia.

10" Iniesta lets fly a powerful right-footer which alarms the Netherlands goalkeeper but it sails over.

7" Golden chance here for Sneijder as he catches the Spanish defence napping after being put through by Robben. With only Casillas at his mercy he had a chance to score in his 100th appearance but his placement was nicely blocked by the goalkeeper. 

6" Spain, filled with players from Barcelona and Real Madrid, continue to play possession football as Holland take it easy. 

3" Long ball from Busquets and Costa beats a defender on the run but goalkeeper Cillessen was quick to leave his charge and deny the striker.

Spain get the game rolling. They are in white while Holland are in blue.

Both the teams have lined-up for their national anthems.

The Arena Fonte Nova stadium in Salvador is covered in a sea of orange. Lots of spectators for the Dutch side but the Spanish are not far behind. Time for some real action in a few minutes.

Fifteen minutes to go for what looks like a mouth-watering clash. 

Spain have kept a clean sheet in each of their last four World Cup games -- the record is five held jointly by Italy and Switzerland.

Spain's Brazilian-born striker Diego Costa was named to start against the Netherlands in the two teams' World Cup Group B clash on Friday, a repeat of the 2010 final.

Costa's participation in the tournament had been in doubt after he limped out of Atletico Madrid's title-clinching duel against Barcelona with a hamstring injury last month before making a similarly early exit against Real Madrid in the Champions League final.

Holland coach Louis van Gaal meanwhile was expected to test his new-look 5-3-2 formation, spearheaded by Manchester United striker Robin van Persie and Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben.

TEAMS

Teams for Friday's 2014 World Cup Group B match between Spain and Netherlands at the Fonte Nova arena, Salvador.

Spain: 1-Iker Casillas; 22-Cesar Azpilicueta, 15-Sergio Ramos, 3-Gerard Pique, 18-Jordi Alba; 14-Xabi Alonso, 16-Sergio Busquets, 8-Xavi, 6-Andres Iniesta; 21-David Silva, 19-Diego Costa

Substitutes: 2-Raul Albiol, 4-Javi Martinez, 5-Juanfran, 7-David Villa, 9-Fernando Torres, 10-Cesc Fabregas, 11-Pedro, 12-David De Gea, 13-Juan Mata, 17-Koke, 20-Santi Cazorla, 23-Pepe Reina

Netherlands: 1-Jasper Cillessen; 2-Ron Vlaar, 3-Stefan de Vrij, 4-Bruno Martins Indi, 5-Daley Blind; 6-Nigel de Jong, 7-Daryl Janmaat, 8-Jonathan de Guzman, 11-Arjen Robben, 10-Wesley Sneijder; 9-Robin van Persie

Substitutes: 12-Paul Verhaegh, 13-Joel Veltman, 14-Terence Kongolo, 15-Dirk Kuyt, 16-Jordy Clasie, 17-Jeremain Lens, 18-Leroy Fer, 19-Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, 20-Georginio Wijnaldum, 21-Memphis Depay, 22-Michel Vorm, 23-Tim Krul

Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Italy)

PREVIEW

Holders Spain open their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on Friday in a repeat of the 2010 final with the Dutch out for revenge.

Andres Iniesta's strike four minutes from the end of extra-time in the Johannesburg final crowned Spain as world champions for the first time and now, four years later, the European giants clash again at Salvador's Arena Fonte Nova in the mouth-watering opening match of Group B.

With South American dark horses Chile and Australia still to come, a win for either side would set the group's agenda.

Captain Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, Nigel De Jong and Dirk Kuyt are the five survivors from the 2010 final in the current squad and the Dutch have made no secret of their desire for revenge.

"It was a big chance for us to win the World Cup and we were really close," said Aston Villa defender Ron Vlaar.

"It should always burn inside to make something right. To play against them now in the first game is a great challenge."

Veteran midfielder Wesley Sneijder, who will win his 100th cap in the match, said the wounds of that defeat were still raw.

"It's like a scar that hasn't yet healed. It always gets me down when I think about it," said the Galatasaray star.

As the double European and reigning world champions, Vicente del Bosque's Spain are bidding to join Brazil and Italy as the only teams to have enjoyed back-to-back World Cup wins.

The ever-loyal Del Bosque is expected to make just one change from the side which started and won the Euro 2012 final with Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta coming in for Alvaro Arbeloa at right-back.

Cesc Fabregas should start up front for Spain with Brazil-born Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa expected to make a second-half appearance from the bench.

"We don't have any fear. But we do have respect," said del Bosque.

"Holland are a well-organised team, well-coached, and I am sure they will make things difficult for us."

Spain can expect a hostile reception in Salvador, judging by last year's Confederations Cup when they were widely booed on their run to the final where they lost 3-0 to hosts Brazil.

Much relies for the Dutch on their attacking triumvirate of Van Persie, Arjen Robben and Sneijder, while their defence has been criticised as the team's weak link.

Spain are wary of their opponents' ability to hit them on the break, warned midfielder Sergio Busquets.

The 25-year-old Barcelona star, who played in the 2010 final, said while most of the team that won the World Cup remained, Holland now have a lot of new young talent.

"We have practically the same players whereas they have had an infusion of new players and a new coach (Louis van Gaal)," said Busquets.

"They have deployed a different system of playing, with five defenders and relying on hitting their opponents on the counter-attack.

"We have to thwart their counter-attacks and also keep a close eye on their most effective players such as Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie and Wesley Sneijder.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.