A rampant Netherlands team inflicted a heaviest World Cup defeat on
holders Spain in over 60 years with a dazzling 5-1 demolition on Friday
that sent shockwaves through the tournament.
The Dutch were nothing but brutal in a tetchy 1-0 final defeat by the Spaniards four years ago, but they set out to disrupt the champions' possession game and blew them away with two goals each from Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben.
Only once before had Spain conceded five times in a World Cup game, in a 6-1 loss to hosts Brazil in 1950. The mauling was also the worst ever start for defending world champions.
"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," Dutch coach Louis van Gaal told reporters.
Dutch revenge looked unlikely when Spain, also 2008 and 2012
European champions, went ahead in the Group B clash with a 27th- minute
Xabi Alonso penalty after Diego Costa was brought down.
Read more: Ruthless Dutch rip shell-shocked Spain to shreds - Football | The Star Online
The Dutch were nothing but brutal in a tetchy 1-0 final defeat by the Spaniards four years ago, but they set out to disrupt the champions' possession game and blew them away with two goals each from Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben.
Only once before had Spain conceded five times in a World Cup game, in a 6-1 loss to hosts Brazil in 1950. The mauling was also the worst ever start for defending world champions.
"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," Dutch coach Louis van Gaal told reporters.
Read more: Ruthless Dutch rip shell-shocked Spain to shreds - Football | The Star Online
