Spain will technically be the world champion for another month, until someone lifts the trophy in Rio de Janeiro. But barring a remarkable recovery at this tournament, Friday will go down as the day the Spanish dynasty died.
Spain didn't just drop its World Cup opener, as it did four years ago to Switzerland. It watched the Netherlands set it on fire. With a four-goal second half, the Dutch demolished one of the greatest sides to ever play the game, 5-1.
"Absolutely inexplicable," Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said. "I have no words."
Friday's result can't change the fact that the Netherlands lost the 2010 World Cup final to Spain. But there can be nothing better for the Dutch soccer neuroses than this trouncing. (See how the World Cup would play out if countries were competing in things other than soccer.)
The Netherlands' therapy began the moment striker Robin van Persielaunched himself into a swan dive. Suspended in midair, he met a 35-yard pass to loop the ball home and tie the game at 1, just before halftime.
He seemed to lift the weight of four years off Dutch shoulders. When they came out for the second half, his unfancied side played at a speed that made Spain look like it was standing still. Van Persie added another goal, Arjen Robben had two and even defender Stefan de Vrij got it on the act.
Netherlands' Robin van Persie scores his team's first goal. Associated Press
"In the end, it could have been five—well, it was five—but it could have been six, seven or eight," van Persie said.
Back in the Netherlands—where hopes were dim coming into the tournament—fans were deliriously jumping back on the bandwagon. (See a guide to Brazil's World Cup stadiums.)
"I'm ecstatic," said David Vermijs, 34, a consultant from Amsterdam. "I had good hopes about a successful outcome, but could never have dreamt of a complete walkover like tonight."
Much of the blame will fall on Spain's 33-year-old goalkeeper Iker Casillas. Once a golden boy of Spanish soccer, he no longer starts for his club side, Real Madrid, in league games—a falling out with former manager Jose Mourinho landed him on the bench.
On Friday, Mourinho was vindicated. Casillas was caught out of position on at least two goals and offered up the fourth by miscontrolling a back pass.
Arjen Robben scored two goals. European Pressphoto Agency
Those individual errors were a distraction from Spain's larger problem: a brewing crisis of tiki-taka, the quick-passing style that lifted it to the top of the sport.
"It would be a mistake to change it," Spain and Barcelona midfielder Xavi said of the approach before the game. "All our players have adapted to this philosophy and we're going to stay with it right to the very end."
Spain stuck to its guns, but the Dutch revamped. Under coach Louis van Gaal, the team is a far cry from the self-loathing squad that lost every game at Euro 2012. It's an efficient team set up in a 5-3-2 system that was only introduced the past few weeks.
Robben gave the Netherlands the lead for good in the 53rd minute. The third goal, when it came, wasn't as pretty. But by bundling home a free kick from a yard out, de Vrij made up for the earlier foul on Costa, which led to Spain's opening goal. (Xabi Alonso converted the penalty kick.)
But once Robben and van Persie started running wild, Spain's lead became just a distant memory. And so did South Africa.
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