2014 Brazil World Cup Review - Holland vs Spain Classic Encounter

HOLLAND VS SPAIN

The most surprising result of the 2014 World Cup was the 7-1 German win over Brazil. However, the first real surprise and the game that had possibly the most effect on the entire cup was the game between the Netherlands and Spain.

The finalists from 4 years ago were paired in the same group and had set up a mouth watering rematch in the first round. With the loss still fresh in their memory, the Dutch were out to exact revenge desperately.

The teams had not changed much for both sides from the last World Cup with almost more than half the sides comprising of players who participated in the final. Spain's powers were reducing and they did not have the same invincible aura about them and neither did the Dutch with age catching up with both sides. The Spanish were still one of the favorites for the title and the team to beat.

When the match did get underway, it seemed like more of the same from Spain as they held onto possession and kept trying to pry open their opposition. Diego Costa started for his first World Cup game but never quite gelled. Spain despite all their problems still managed to open the scoring and lead 1-0 through a Xabi Alonso penalty. the game seemed to be firmly in Spain's grasp, with David Silva missing a sitter.

However, totally against the run of play, Holland equalized. It was possibly the best headed goal of all World Cups and one of the most astonishing otherwise. The ball was whipped in from just inside Spain's half by Daley Blind and was met by a running and leaping Robin Van Persie who ballooned the ball past the keeper and into the net to make it 1-1. It was just the kind of inspiration that the Netherlands needed.

With their tails up now, Holland were looking for another goal. And it came and what a goal it was. Blind once again made the ass to set Arjen Robben through who sprinted across the opposition half in record breaking speeds to leave the entire defense in tatters, embarrassing Ramos and Casillas on the way, to make it 2-1. It was a goal to remember as Robben found the pace and turned back the years to race past the defense and finish with aplomb and score another fine goal.

With Spain now chasing the game, the Dutch were happy to sit back and attack on the counter. And it worked as they scored again, this time from a corner to make it 3-1.

And as if the scoreline wasn't embarrassing enough, Netherlands would rub more salt in the wounds as they would go on to score two more times through Robben and Van Persie to make it 5-1 and hand the Dutch one of their most famous victories in the World Cup.

It was a win that set them on their way to a deep run in the finals, finishing 3rd. Spain on the other hand suffered the ignominy of suffering a first round exit, and Underwent a grand scale revamp, blooding in youth and started looking forward.

A famous famous win and a game that probably sent the most prominent shockwaves across the footballing world in 2014.