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Dutch humiliate Spain at World Cup

 
Arjen Robben of the Netherlands stops the ball midair before scoring the go-ahead goal in a 5-1 win over 2010 champ Spain.
Arjen Robben of the Netherlands stops the ball midair before scoring the go-ahead goal in a 5-1 win over 2010 champ Spain.
Published June 14, 2014

SALVADOR, Brazil — Louis van Gaal, one of the game's greatest coaches, was criticized before the World Cup for being too defensive for a nation that loves attacking play.

His decision to field five defenders against Spain though, proved a masterstroke.

His team thrashed the defending world champion 5-1 Friday with a clinical display of counterattacking that had Spain chasing shadows at the end as Dutch fans roared Ole! each time their team passed the ball.

"If you see how he prepared us, and how he predicted the game would go, and you see how it went — unbelievable," said Robin van Persie, whose stunning header to tie it at 1 just before halftime turned the tide.

It was Spain's worst loss in the tournament since a 6-1 defeat to Brazil in 1950.

The Dutch performance shocked even casual fans on the second day of World Cup, showing why Manchester United was so keen to sign Van Gaal to rebuild the storied club.

He starts work at Old Trafford when the Netherlands team leaves Brazil. If it keeps playing this way, he could keep Manchester fans waiting until mid July.

The 62-year-old Dutchman has a history of getting the best out of teams and blending youth with experience.

He is bidding to make the Netherlands world champions for the first time after losing three finals — including four years ago when Andres Iniesta's extra-time goal won it for Spain.

It wasn't shocking for the Dutch to get revenge for that loss, but the way they demolished Spain — dominant since 2008 — sent a signal that the run of this generation of Spanish stars might be ending.

Spain won the past two European Championships and the 2010 World Cup.

"They were better than us in the second half, you have to recognize that," Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque said. "It's a delicate moment for us. We need to find solutions now."

Veteran goalie Iker Casillas shouldered the blame.

"It wasn't one of my best games, I wasn't at the level I needed to be," he said. "I have to accept all criticism."

MEXICO 1, CAMEROON 0: Oribe Peralta scored in the second half, earning El Tri a win in Natal.

Peralta's left-foot shot in the 61st minute justified coach Miguel Herrera's decision to start him ahead of striker Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez.

Giovanni Dos Santos had two goals disallowed for offside — both incorrectly, replays showed — in the first half.

"Frankly, the refereeing took away two clear goals, but at the end of the day you've got to work for it, and we get to the next match with three points and very high spirits," Herrera said."

Chile 3, Australia 1: Alexis Sanchez scored one goal and set up another to lead Chile in stifling conditions in Cuiaba.

Next up for the Chileans: A Spain team that's sure to be smarting after their big loss.

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"They have a superlative history in (major events) … I don't think it will be a defeat that defines the path of the Spanish team," Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli said. "It will certainly be an electrifying game."