HOLLAND VS SPAIN - OLA ADEOTOYE  ( 15/06/2014)

It was a rematch of the 2010 final in South Africa, Netherlands coached by new Manchester United boss Louis Van Gaal and Spain by their all conquering overseer Vicente Del Bosque. Four years prior to yesterday's titanic match, Bert van Marwijk's Holland attempted to kick Spain off the pitch (literally in De Jong's case), as a way of countering the slick possession based game the Spanish made it their own. Such tactics were condemned by pundits n professionals in the game even those from Holland.

However such employment of tactics weren't anywhere to be seen yesterday. Indeed Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso expertly dispatched his penalty on the 27th minute after Diego Costa was brought down a little clumsily by Dutch centre back Stefan De Vrij. But importantly Captain Robin Van Persie scored a well taken looping header over Iker Casillas, meaning both sides went in at halftime level. But what happened in the second half no one not even Van Gaal himself foresaw what was going to happen (though he might tell you the exact opposite) in the second half.

Holland came out like a team possessed, yes the stats as they always will in Spain's case favoured the World Cup holders, but in the second half the entire team was savaged by blistering and precise counter attacking football, lead by Arjen Robben and Robin Van Persie. The Dutch put a further four goals past the reigning champions, with Robben's solo mockery of the Spain backline before firing it into the net was the pick of the bunch.

The Dutch were fantastic and ruthless with the way they countered the Spanish, whereas Del Bosque's side were quite simply shell-shocked. They now face an up-hill struggle getting out of the group, even more so after Chile beat Australia 3-1. So anything less than a win against a very talented Chile featuring captain Arturo Vidal (Juventus) and Alexis Sanchez (FC Barcelona). Meaning potentially the reigning European and World champions could go out in the group stages.

As for the Netherlands they march on and have now sent a warning shot to the rest of the 31 teams in the World Cup, that they are gunning for glory this summer.