SPORTS,NEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT: Revenge for Dutch over Spain in Brazil

Spain 1-5 Holland: Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben score twice as Dutch stun world champions in Salvador
Spain v Holland Match Zone

Three games in to this World Cup and already the champions have a weaker grip on their trophy. Spain lost the first game four years ago, too, but defeat by Switzerland back then cannot compare psychologically to the stunning events of Friday night.

Spanish coach Vicente del Bosque will ask himself quite how his team lost from a winning position. A goal up on the cusp of half-time, Spain were cruising.
What will have kept him awake, though, is the manner in which his team lose all semblance of discipline, confidence and organisation once they went behind.
For the final half an hour the world champions were an absolute shambles as Holland went on to exploit some surprising leaden-footedness in the Spain defence to score the goals that have threatened to turn this tournament on its head before it’s even properly got going.

Dutch destroyers: Robin van Persie embraces Arjen Robben on a superb night for Holland

Heading into the net: Robin van Persie hurls himself through the air to score a superb equaliser

Aerial ultra: Van Persie hangs as he watches his header go into the Spain net

Calamitous error: Van Persie robs Iker Casillas to poke home Holland's fourth goal

Can't believe it: Casillas looks downcast as the Holland players celebrate Van Persie's goal

Both the first two Dutch goals were wonderful. Both were created by astute passes from left wing-back Daley Blind and both were finished exquisitely, if in contrasting ways, by Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben.
Goals three and four, meanwhile, were down to calamitous goalkeeping from Iker Casillas. Ahead of Spain’s second game next week – a match they now have to win – there is an increasing argument for Manchester United’s David de Gea to replace the great Spanish ‘keeper.
As for the victors, who scored again through the irrepressible Robben, once again a team from the Netherlands has arrived at a major finals with attacking talent others would die for. Whether they remain solid and focussed enough to prosper in the long-term remains open to question but this was an incredible way to start.
After all the discussion beforehand about 2010 final, it was perhaps fitting that the early stages provided a couple of throwback moments.
In just the eighth minute, Holland found themselves with the opportunity to take the lead courtesy of a clean break on goal. Just as they did on two occasions at Soccer City, they failed to take it.

Bunch of fives: Robben (left) slams home Holland's fifth goal in their stunning victory

Stefan de Vrij (left) bundles the ball in at the back post for Holland's third goal

Arjen Robben's control and finish for Holland's second were sublime... click here for more from our brilliant Match Zone

Turning him inside out: Arjen Robben gets past Gerard Pique after taking the ball down superbly

Finish: Sergio Ramos can't close down Robben, who strikes the ball with his left foot

Net gain: Iker Casillas (right) is sent the wrong way as the ball goes into the goal

The best 11: Robben holds out his arms in celebration after scoring Holland's second

Pointing the finger: Nigel de Jong tells Fernando Torres to get up

Arjen Robben was the villain four years ago but here he played a perfect pass behind the Spanish defence to release Wesley Sneijder. The Galatasaray midfielder – making his 100th international appearance - had some distance to go to goal, but he was clear and should have done better than bring a relatively straight forward save from Iker Casillas, who had decided to stand tall.
Soon after, the Dutch were reminiscing again, this time through the brutality of their challenges.
Louis van Gaal had said on Thursday that there was nothing wrong with the way the Dutch approached the 2010 final but two challenges in quick succession by Nigel de Jong and Sneijder were thuggish in the extreme. That they chose to pick on Sergio Busquets – the most formidable man in the Spanish team – was indicative of bravery or stupidity.
Certainly the game had plenty in it during the opening exchanges. Often opening group games can be nervous, cautious affairs but here both teams wanted to get on the front foot and it made for some entertaining football.
Diego Costa was booed at every turn by Brazilian fans irritated at his decision to choose Spain over Brazil and for some time it appeared as though the occasion was proving too much for him.
He was stopped in his tracks by a well-timed Ron Vlaar tackle in the 13th minute and then blazed wildly wide with his right foot after Manchester City’s David Silva played him clear down the right.
As the game settled down, Silva and Barcelona playmaker Xavi were having the greatest influence for Spain and it was Xavi’s pass to Costa that provided the game with a moment of genuine controversy just before the half hour.