Spain 1-5 Netherlands
Alonso (27)
Van Persie (44,72)
Robben (53,80)
de Vrij (64)
By Steven Oldham
A five star performance from the Netherlands destroyed reigning champions Spain in the opening match of Group B in Salvador.
Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben both scored twice, with defender Stefan de Vrij scoring his first international goal amongst the rout.
Spain had taken the lead from the penalty spot through Xabi Alonso after de Vrij brought down Diego Costa in the box.
Dutch keeper Jasper Cillessen went the right way, but Alonso's coolly taken spot kick gave the champions the lead.
Van Persie started the comeback with a brilliant headed goal from a perfect left-sided Daley Blind cross just before half time, giving Iker Casillas no chance in the Spanish goal.
Robben doubled the lead on 53 minutes, controlling the ball and outmanouevring both Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique before slotting the ball home.
From that point on the Netherlands were clinical as their opponents fell apart from front to back.
De Vrij gave the Dutch their third from a free kick, despite protests from Casillas who looked to be fouled in the build up.
Van Persie netted his second after a howler from Casillas who was far to casual in dealing with a routine backpass. The striker won the ball off the Real Madrid man to hit shellshocked Spain with a fourth.
Robben completed the rout with a wonderful solo goal, running straight at Pique and Ramos, bamboozling the pair, rounding Casillas and firing home to seal a highly impressive win for the Dutch.
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| Robin Van Persie scores the equaliser (@ForevrUntd) |
It could have been much worse for the Spanish - Van Persie's volley hit the woodwork and Wesley Sneijder had a decent attempt saved early on.
Spain did get the ball in the net at 3-1, but the David Silva's goal was disallowed due to the Manchester City man being offside.
Brazilian born Spain striker Diego Costa - who switched loyalties last year - was roundly booed throughout and made little impact in the game. He was lucky to stay on the pitch following a headbutting incident with defender Bruno Martins Indi, though the Dutchman did make the most of what was minimal contact.
Spain looked mentally and physically broken by the end of the match, and both Robben and Sneijder came close to adding to their misery. Fernando Torres summed up their night by missing an easy tap in at the end of the game.
Netherlands now move on to face Australia in buoyant mood, while Spain have a trickier looking tie against Chile to regroup for.
Questions will be asked about the long term future of this Spanish team, and it will be interesting to see how Vincente del Bosque reacts - particularly in goal.
Louis Van Gaal meanwhile couldn't have hoped for a better start - and has ripped the widely accepted belief they would struggle to get out of this group to pieces in 90 minutes.
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