World Cup results, Spain vs Netherlands: Dutch dominate La Roja 5-1

Spain and the Netherlands squared off in the 2010 World Cup final, with Spain winning 1-0 to take the trophy home. They’re not only in the same group in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, but opening up the tournament playing against one another in Brazil.

More from World Cup

• USMNT news: Berhalter announced, Adams to Villa, Pepi to PSV
• USMNT news: 3 managers Americans should have hired instead of Gregg Berhalter
• USMNT news: Berhalter returns, Balogun to Inter, Altidore to Greece
• USMNT news: Vieira next head coach, Adams to Liverpool, Cowell to Europe
• USMNT news: Pepi to PSV, Richardson to the US, Brooks safe

It was as quality back and forth for most of the first half, and the game was living up to the hype. For some reason FIFA didn’t want either Spain or the Netherlands wearing their red or orange kits respectively. That might have been to make it easier to discern the two teams, but not allowing one makes sense, preventing them both from wearing their preferred kit was a curious decision.

Spain wore white and the Dutch wore their blue kits.

Upon closer look, it appears that Costa went down rather lightly. From the original television angle it looks like Stefan de Vrij’s back foot catches Costa’s left foot while sliding past. When you look at the close up angle it looks like that isn’t necessarily the case and Costa hitting the turf might have been more about losing his balance.

Netherlands winger Arjen Robben, who is familiar with Xabi Alonso, tried to give his keeper some advice before he took the kick. It wasn’t enough though and Netherlands found themselves down a goal in the first half.

Spain looked like they were taking a 1-0 lead into the break when Netherlands captain Robin van Persie tied the game up. Daley Blind sent in a long cross into the box from the touchline near midfield and Van Persie got behind the defense while remaining onside. There were no defenders who followed him or were in any kind of position to defend the cross. Goalkeeper Iker Casillas seemed to second guess whether to stay on his line or come out and challenge Van Persie and that in decision put him in a position where Van Persie could head the ball over him.

In the second half the rain began to pour down, which affected the game play though somewhat unnoticeably. It certainly didn’t slow down the Dutch attack.

Early in the second half, Blind sent in another beautiful long pass to Arjen Robben. The winger’s ability to bring in the pass and what he did after that is even prettier than the Blind’s pass itself. Robben gets the ball down with his right foot and is able to then cut it back to the left into the front of the goal to get a look at goal, leaving Spanish defender Gerard Pique in the dust.

That gave the Netherlands the lead for the first time in the game, and a lead they would not relinquish for the rest of the game. In fact, it might have only served to drive the Dutch offense even further.

Roughly 10 minutes later a Arjen Robben cross into the box found the back of the net on a header from Stefan de Vrij. Robin van Perise looked like he could’ve gotten it but was unable to do so, instead finding De Vrij at the back post.

In the 72nd minute an error by Spanish goal keeper Iker Casillas allowed Robin van Persie to get the ball away from the keeper. Casillas had the ball pass backed to him but a bad touch saw the ball bounce away from him, he raced after the ball but Van Persie got there first and was able to get enough on it to put it in the goal.

Spanish defender Gerard Pique was there but unable to stop Van Persie from capitalizing on Casilla’s error.

With a commanding 4-1 lead in the World Cup it looked like the game was in the bag but the Netherlands wasn’t backing down yet. Robben, who had worked his way around defenders for his first goal, did the same for his second.

After a long run into the box along the right post, Robben cut it back and went across the box towards the opposite side. He then buried the shot into the back of the net giving the Netherlands an unexpected and incredible 5-1 lead over Spain.

The Netherlands attack didn’t slow down in the final minutes. There was a moment when it looked Robben was going to be able to navigate through the defense again for a third goal but ultimately nothing came of that opportunity. Several other Dutch attackers had shots that were saved or deflected away.

GIFs and videos are from @FanSidedGIF and/or Zombie Prophet, make sure to follow both for the latest in GIFs and videos from FanSided.