Brazil 0-3 The Netherlands: Dutch delight while hosts limp to fourth placed finish

The Netherlands finished the 2014 World Cup as the third best team thanks to a 0-3 win over hosts Brazil with goals from Robin Van Persie, Daley Blind and Georginio Wijnaldum.

Van Persie’s second minute penalty gave the Netherlands the lead in the traditional tournament match that many consider a dead rubber as Brazil’s hangover from their Semi Final thrashing continued to linger.

Arjen Robben was fouled by Thiago Silva in an incident that appeared to occur outside the box but one thing that was certain was that the Brazil Captain should have seen red for the second time this summer as he was the last man.

He was only shown a yellow card however and Van Persie dispatched the resulting spot-kick past a despondent Julio Cesar.

Silva’s new Paris Saint-Germain teammate David Luiz’s poor from continued when he headed Jonathan De Guzman’s cross into the path of Blind who calmly slotted home a second for the Dutch on 17 minutes.

2002 Champions Brazil conceded their tenth goal in two games when Daryl Janmaat’s low cross was diverted past Cesar’s near post by Wijnaldum.

Ramires came closest for Brazil when he shot wide just before the hour mark after leaving Ron Vlaar in his wake.

Oscar thought he had won a penalty for Luiz Felipe Scolari’s dejected squad but was booked for simulation. The Chelsea man knocked the ball past Blind and the two clashed knees but the referee Djamel Haimoudi of Algeria indicated there was no wrongdoing.

Blind himself was carried off injured following the clash.

Like most other matches involving Holland this World Cup, Robben believed he was due a penalty, this time after being tugged by Fernandinho but the referee said no again.

Louis Van Gaal diminished the importance of the third place playoff game before kick-off but will have little qualms with his side finishing in the football equivalent of a bronze medal place as he embarks on his forthcoming Manchester United career.

The Netherlands 2-1 Mexico

Two late goals from Wesley Sneijder and Klaas Jan Huntelaar provided Dutch delight as Holland reached the last eight with a 2-1 win over Mexico.

Louis Van Gaal’s exciting side sealed the win deep into added time when Huntelaar converted a penalty won by Arjen Robben. The player of the tournament contender was fouled by Rafael Marquez but with minimal contact. Robben showing the other meaning to his “Flying Dutchman” nickname.

Ex-Tottenham midfielder Giovanni Dos Santos provided the opener for the Mexicans three minutes into the second half with a long distance half volley that gave Jasper Cillessen no chance in the Holland goal.

Sneijder equalized for the Netherlands with an equally impressive half volley, Robben’s corner was headed back by substitute Huntelaar into the path of the Galatasaray play-maker who let the ball bounce before smashing it past Guillermo Ochoa and in with two minutes left on the clock.

On what was ultimately a sad day for Mexico, Goalkeeper Ochoa provided one shining light for El Tri, another superb performance from him to illustrate further his credentials as being named the ‘keeper of this World Cup.

His highlight being when he magnificently kept out a Stefan de Vrij header that he tipped onto the bar and out from point blank range.

It is Holland who go onto the Quarter Finals however and they will meet the victor of Costa Rica and Greece.

 

Australia 2-3 The Netherlands: Holland hopes grow with second successive win

Holland just managed to overcome a determined Australia side 2-3 with goals from Arjen Robben, Robin Van Persie and Memphis Depay. The result looks to have all but eliminated Australia from the 2014 World Cup.

Flying Dutchman Arjen Robben opened the scoring when he drilled past Matthew Ryan inside the area following a fine solo run from the halfway line after 20 minutes.

Tim Cahill leveled for Australia with perhaps the goal of the tournament so far a minute later when he hit a superb volley inside the box that thundered past Jasper Cilessen and went in off the underside of the bar from Matthew Leckie’s cross.

Australia took a shock lead eight minutes into the second half from a Mile Jedinak penalty that was accurately slotted to Cilessen’s right, the Dutch Goalkeeper guessing the right way but it was out of reach. Leroy Fer’s handball was the cause of the spot kick.

Much like Australia in the first half, Holland hit back soon after conceding, five minutes after Jedinak’s penalty, Van Persie smashed home the equalizer following Depay’s neat pass. The goal could have easily been prevented but Jason Davidson switched off from Australia’s defensive line and played the Manchester United forward onside.

Depay won the match for Holland on 68 minutes when his swerving shot from distance squirmed under Ryan who really could have done better.

It came just seconds after the Socceroos had a chance to win the game for themselves. Tommy Oar was clean through on goal with the chance to shoot but instead opted to cross to Leckie who, off balance, headed straight at Cilessen with the goal gaping.

The Netherlands’ win came at a cost though, Bruno Martins Indi, who played admirably in the 1-5 demolition of Spain was stretchered off just before the break after a clash with Cahill, who received a booking for his trouble. Martins Indi now has a nervous wait to find out if he has a tournament future.