Dutch delight v Spanish sorrow

Source: KA T en Unsplash

Spain 1 Netherlands 5 match report: Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben run riot as Louis van Gaal's side thrash stunned champions


Revenge, they say, is a dish best served cold. It did not feel cold in the humidity of a Salvador evening but four years after losing the World Cup final to Spain, the Netherlands exacted revenge in quite stunning fashion here last night.

Outplayed for the first 44 minutes and trailing to a Xabi Alonso penalty, they came back to inflict a 5-1 hammering on the holders in which both Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben struck twice. Spain came back from an opening defeat by Switzerland in South Africa but it is hard to see how they can retain their title after a demoralising setback like this. *They had not conceded five goals in an international since 1963 and though this World Cup is still very much in its infancy, it will take a special team to bounce back after being stunned by Louis van Gaal’s team in this Group B fixture.

Spain just could not live with the pace and quality of the Dutch attack who rounded off the rout with a quite brilliant individual goal from Robben who raced away from Sergio Ramos and rounded Iker Casillas before definitively burying the ghosts of Soccer City.

A game that began at a slow pace in humid conditions almost produced an early goal when Robben put Wesley Sneijder clear. As in Soccer City, though, when Robben was bearing down on his goal, Casillas was equal to Sneijder’s shot, sticking out a strong hand to push it away. It was not the only echo of the 2010 final as Nigel de Jong caught Sergio Busquets in the midriff; no kung-fu kick this time, but a strong arm and while Busquets went down like a drunk on an icy pavement, Nicola Rizzoli, the Italian referee, kept his card in his pocket. For all the talk about the Netherlands’ changes under Van Gaal, the striking feature of the first period was seeing Spain play with a genuine centre-forward in Diego Costa, a striker fresh from a 36-goal season with Atletico Madrid. For Costa, who had appeared twice in friendlies for Brazil, it was the first competitive start for his adopted country and came just three months after his Spain debut. The 25-year-old was born less than 200 kilometres from the Arena Fonte Nova, in the town of Lagarto, and his change of allegiance earned him loud boos when his name was read out before kick-off and again virtually every time the ball came anywhere near him.

Yet with his clever runs, he gave Spain’s skillful passers an important outlet, stretching the Dutch defence, and he should have had an early goal when he broke clear after David Silva had robbed Jonathan De Guzman. Instead his heavy touch gave Ron Vlaar time to make the covering tackle. This is a Dutch team short on tournament experience – all but one of the back five were appearing for the first time in a major tournament – and it showed not least with Bruno Martins Indi. A slip by the Feyenoord centre-back let Silva play in Costa in a promising position on the right but his shot was wild and wayward. 

On 26 minutes, Costa won the penalty with which Spain took the lead. It followed a typically flowing move through the midfield and a lovely Xavi through pass between two blue shirts, which set Costa clear. It was a questionable penalty all the same, Costa going down over the trailing leg of Stefan De Vrij as he stepped inside to shoot. Rizzoli did not hesitate to point to the spot and Xabi Alonso’s conversion was wonderfully precise, beating Jasper Cillessen even though he dived the right way.

Spain were controlling the midfield and Silva should have doubled the lead in the 43rd minute when put through by Iniesta but his dink lacked the height to beat Cillessen.

Instead Van Persie brought them back into the game. It was an unusual goal in some ways, as Daley Blind sent over a deep cross from near the halfway line. Ramos lost Van Persie’s run and the striker threw himself at the ball and sent a wonderfully improvised header looping over Casillas from 16 yards.

Eight minutes after the restart the Dutch had a second goal, this time following a precise five-man move after Spain had lost possession in midfield. On the eve of this match Robben described his 2010 final miss as something that would remain with him “all my life” so what came next would have been sweet indeed. Plucking Blind’s pass out of the air, he turned Gerard Pique and fired past Casillas.

For all the debate about Van Gaal’s use of wing-backs and the questions about the Dutch rookies, what the Dutch do have is exceptional quality in attack and Spain’s struggling defence were almost pierced again as Van Persie smashed a shot against the crossbar. The reprieve was brief. Vicente Del Bosque had just sent on Fernando Torres for Costa – a change that gave the Brazilians in the crowd nothing more to sing about – when the game slipped further away from Spain as De Vrij bundled the ball in following a free-kick. It was a goal touched with controversy as Van Persie raised an arm as he jumped with Casillas, who let the ball run on to the far post where De Vrij converted.

Silva scrambled a shot into the net as Spain sought a response but was offside and instead their evening got even worse with 18 minutes remaining as Casillas’ heavy touch on a back pass was punished by Van Persie who stole in to tap in his second goal.

After Robben’s wonder goal, it might have got even worse for Spain as only a fine Casillas double save stopped the Dutch getting six.

Source: the Independent

*They fail to mention that it was Scotland who defeated Spain 6 - 2.

Vocabulary:

a nightmare - una pesadilla

a performance - un desempeño??

to run riot - uncontrollable - desmandarse??

revenge is a dish best served cold (idiom) - la venganza es un plato que se sirve frío

exact (= take) revenge - vengarse

stunning (adj) - alucinante, asombroso, impresionante

to outplay - jugar mejor que

to trail - to lose - quedarse atrás

to inflict - infligir

a hammering - una paliza / a hammer - un martillo

a holder - un poseedor

to strike (struck) - to hit - golpear??

a / to defeat - una derrota

a setback - un revés

to bounce back - recuperarse

to stun - aturdir, dejar pasmado

to round off - redondear

a rout - una derrota (goleada)

to bury - enterrar

to bear down on - to rush towards - venirse encima??

to stick out - extender??

midriff - estómago

a striker - un delantero

a / to boo - un abucheo

kick-off - el saque inicial??

skillful (adj) - habíl, diestro

an outlet - una salida??

to stretch - estirarse??

a / to tackle - una entrada??

a / to slip - un resbalón, un error

a shot (at goal) - un remate

wayward (adj) -

to take the lead - tomar la delantera?? ponerse a la cabeza??

flowing - fluye

to hesitate - dudar, vacilar

to point - señalar

the (penalty) spot -

to beat - vencer

to dive -

to lack - faltar, carecer

height (n) - altura

a yard - una yarda

the eve of - la vispera de

to pluck -

a rookie - un novato, un principiante

to / a struggle / struggling - luchar, tener problemas / en apuros

to smash - hacer un mate??

the crossbar - el travesaño??, el larguero??

a reprieve - un alivio??

brief (adj) - breve

to slip away - escaparse

to bundle away -

to raise - levantar

to scramble - pelearse por??

to seek (sought) - to try to get - buscar

to tap in -





 Tulips from Amsterdam

When it's Spring again I'll bring again
Tulips from Amsterdam
With a heart that's true I'll give to you
Tulips from Amsterdam
I can't wait until the day you fill
These eager arms of mine
Like the windmill keeps on turning
That's how my heart keeps on yearning
For the day I know we can
Share these tulips from Amsterdam


Dutch idioms:

Let's go Dutch - We say this when we want to share the price of something eg a meal in a restaurant.

I need some Dutch courage - The confidence that you get from drinking alcohol.

It's all double Dutch to me - Talking or writing that is nonsense or that you can't understand.


I have to say that I was supporting the Dutch last night. I should support Spain I know but it's just that I can't stand all the arrogant commentary. I watched the match with the mute button on.

Still all is not lost - remember that Spain lost the first match in the last World Cup and Carbanero got the blame.


Check out all the football vocabulary that you will need for the next few weeks.

Comments

Roberto said…
Yeah!.
Roberto said…
Graham: What´s the difference between "beat" and "defeat"?.I think "performance" is "representación".In Football,"striker" is a "delantero",but in Martial Arts,"striker" is "golpeador"(like in Boxing),and it´s the opposite of "grappler",that means "luchador"(like in Judo).A "tackle" in football means "entrada",but in Rugby means "placaje".A "yard" is a unit of linear measure,and something like "jardin" o "patio".To "smash" means "machacar" or "derrotar".
Graham said…
Hi Roberto,

I don't think I will be very popular with my neighbours after last night - cheering when Chile scored their two goals.

I was going to shout Goaaaaaaaaal , Goooooooal, Goooooaaaaaal like the commentators do when Spain scores but I just cheered and clapped.

(and laughed when Spain missed a clear chance)


I think "beat" and "defeat" mean the same but "defeat" is more formal.

I was unsure how to translate "performance" in this context.


It's really difficult to translate. I can understand things in Spanish but often can't translate it into English.

I'll try to finish the rest of the words in the vocabulary list asap.


Roberto said…
Be careful with the neighbours,they must be angry...
Graham said…
Roberto,

Don't worry; I'm not afraid of my neighbours.

Last night my next-door neighbours had people round. I could hear them shouting and laughing at the tops of their voices until very late.

This morning I had to skip the gym because I had been up half the night.

I'm currently plotting my revenge...

José said…
Hey Graham

It´s wonderful to you watched the match Spain-Netherlands. I know you like good thing. I refer Spain no Netherlands. I don´t think that you wish a defeat of Spain. They have failed only two times, it´s bit thing. This is a sport, no a machine. I´m sure this is the beginning of a next success. It´s doesn´t matter if we share defeats and triumphs. I think the media are very upset because they have lost a lot of money. Before, we were routine losers and now we want to win always. Spain isn´t the first in culture and science and nobody protests.

See you.
Graham said…
José,

There were three teams that I didn't want to go through to the next round: Spain, Italy and England.

I should have placed a bet on them all going out in the first round. I probably would have won a tidy sum.



I was celebrating when Spain won the Euros six years ago and happy that they won their first World Cup.

However, since then, the Spanish have got far too big for their boots.

It's fine to hope to succeed but I dislike those who expect to be on top.



There is a fourth team that I don't want to see winning - Argentina.

Before their last warm-up match, they posed for a photo with a banner which said that the Falklands were Argentinian.

Apparently, they have pulled the same stunt on various occasions.

They should not be allowed to make political statements at sporting events.

If England had done such a thing, there would have been a huge uproar.



It´s wonderful that you watched the match Spain-Netherlands. I know you like good things. I am referring to Spain not the Netherlands.

I don´t think that you hoped for a Spanish defeat. They have failed only twice, it´s . This is a sport, not a machine.

I´m sure this is the beginning of the next success. It doesn´t matter if we share defeats and triumphs.

I think the media are very upset because they have lost a lot of money. Before, we were routine losers and now we always want to win.

Spain isn´t first in culture and science and nobody protests.


Roberto said…
"Revenge is best served cold" (or something like that).
Graham said…
Roberto,

"Revenge is a dish best served cold" - it's in the vocabulary list!

They say that revenge is unhealthy but I disagree.

I usually feel better for it.

Maybe my neighbours will think twice before they make any more noise.

José said…
I didn´t know that you were a compulsive gambler.:-)))

You haven´t guessed Argentina team right, because it has won. I have placed a bet on Alemania and Costa Rica for final. The winner will be Alemania. What is your bet? I have a little problem when I going to bet, because I don´t distinguish between that I want it and it can happen or it will happen. I have to teach my brain to learn to bet. For this reason I think that I´ll fail it. Sometimes don´t you feel that the brain deceives?

See you.
Graham said…
Hey José,

It's because I usually support the underdog that the four wrong teams got to the semi-finals.

I'd have preferred to see France, Colombia, Costa Rica and Belgium go through.

Now I'll be supporting Holland in spite of Robben's diving.

They provided a lot of joy and laughter when they scored 5 goals against Spain. :-))))

I don't want to see Argentina win for reasons I have explained.

I could live with the Germans or Brazilians winning.

If there is a German - Dutch final, then I'll have a bet with you. I could do with some money to see me through the summer. LOL


I have a little problem when I go to bet, because I don´t distinguish between what I want to happen and can happen or will happen. ... For this reason I think that I won't win. Sometimes don´t you feel that the brain deceives?



I have the exact same problem. It's called putting your heart before your head. :-)


José said…
Okay, Graham. I pick up your glove (Spanish expression). I have placed a bet on Germany as winner of world cup 2014. After Germany, 2º Argentina, 3º Brazil and 4º The Netherlands. You have to bet before tomorrow evening. If I guess right it, you´ll invite me to a menu lunch. If you guess right it, I will invite to have lunch. You can choose place (another vegetarian restaurant?) and time (September or October).

See you in Autumn. José.

P.S. Please, don´t open old wounds, it isn´t necessary remind me “five goals from Holland”.
Graham said…
José is the winner!!!!

You should have gone to a betting shop and gambled your wages.

It seems a long time ago now but the final was quite boring as far as I remember.

I'm just glad the Argies didn't win.


The Spanish expression is like the English one. It originates from times when men used to challenge each other to duels.

In English you'd say "accept the challenge" or "take/pick up the gauntlet".

A gauntlet is a knight's "glove".

If you set a challenge then we cal also say you lay down the gauntlet.


I can just see you in a suit of armour rescuing a damsel in distress LOL


If I guess it right, you´ll invite me to a lunch menu. If you guess it right, I will invite you to lunch / then lunch is on me. You can choose the place (another vegetarian restaurant?) and time (September or October).

P.S. Please, don´t open old wounds, it isn´t necessary to remind me about the “five goals from Holland”.


Ok, as you won, you can choose the place.


See you soon.