Holland Completely Dismantles Spain in Group B Opener

There are some intriguing first matches in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and one of them was today in Salvador as Spain took on the Netherlands in a 2010 FIFA World Cup Final rematch at the new Arena Fonte Nova. The dutch were looking to erase the loss of that World Cup final, but it didn't seem like things were going to go their way in the game in the first half. Spain was controlling the game with possession as they usually do and eventually they would frustrate the Dutch defense. In the 28TH Minute of play, Stefan de Vrij would get called for a tackle that I felt was way too soft on Diego Costa and Spain was awarded the penalty shot. Xabi Alonso would step up to the plate to take the penalty and the crafty veteran didn't miss as he beats Jasper Cillessen the goalkeeper for Holland. Spain looked as if they were in control of the match, but before you knew it, that would all change. In the 44TH Minute of play, Daley Blind will send a long volley into the box that finds the head of Robin van Persie who beats out Iker Casillas for the equalizer.

When the two teams came back from halftime, it was a completely different looking game as Holland never looked back. In the 53RD Minute, Arjen Robben will get the long pass, but it's what he does that is amazing. He manages to stop the ball and then he fakes out Pique with his second touch and he unloads it past Casillas for the go ahead goal. In the 64TH Minute, Wesley Sneijder will send in the free kick and every player in the box misses it except for Stefan de Vrij who is there at the edge to knock it in for the third goal. In the 72ND minute, Casillas will mishandle the ball and he gives it up to van Persie who will easily kick it in for the fourth goal of the game. To make matters worse in the  80TH Minute, Sneijder will feed the ball to Robben who literally makes a fool out of two defenders and Casillas to score his second and the fifth goal of the game to hand Spain it's worse world cup loss since 1950 (the last time Brazil hosted it) which means 64 years. I know it's only the first game, but you have to wonder what this will mean for Spain moving forward.