SportGenio : O' HOW ART THE MIGHTY FALLEN

Two goals apiece for the attacking duo and a
tap-in from Stefan de Vrij left Vicente del
Bosque's men totally torn apart in the first
game of their title defence
Netherlands left World Cup holders Spain shaken to the
core after they recorded a 5-1 thrashing in their
opening game on Friday.

Andres Iniesta scored in extra-time to give Spain a 1-0
win and the trophy in South Africa four years ago, and
it appeared the same result was on the cards in
Salvador when Xabi Alonso powered home a first-half
penalty.
But the Netherlands hit back in stunning fashion, with
Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben in scintillating form.

Van Persie levelled matters with a fabulous header on
the stroke of half-time, before Robben - who fatefully
missed a one-on-one with Iker Casillas in the 2010 final
- gave Louis van Gaal's side the lead eight minutes after
the interval.

Things went from bad to worse for the world
champions when Stefan de Vrij nodded home a third on
64 minutes, before Van Persie and Robben netted again
to complete a remarkable rout in Group B's opening
fixture and cast further doubt over Spain's chances of
winning their fourth straight major tournament.

Spain boss Vicente del Bosque forewent the temptation
to start with Cesc Fabregas in the false-nine role that
was so successful during Euro 2012, instead choosing
Diego Costa as an out-and-out striker.

Costa's impact on their system was evident, too, as
Spain opted for a more direct approach than in
previous tournaments.

It was the Netherlands who created the first opening,
Robben's inch-perfect throughball finding Wesley
Sneijder, only for the playmaker - making his 100th
international appearance - to shoot straight at Casillas.
Costa then spurned a couple of half-openings as Spain
began to find their feet and the Netherlands' defending
became increasingly desperate.

It was a last-ditch tackle that led to the opener, De
Vrij's sliding challenge bringing down the lively Costa -
with Alonso coolly converting from the spot.

Van Gaal's side enjoyed a good spell thereafter, but
Spain threatened again on the stroke of half-time as
Jasper Cillessen kept out David Silva's cute dink
following a stunning Iniesta pass.

That miss would become all the more important soon
after, Van Persie looping a superb diving header over
Casillas after being picked out by Daley Blind's
sumptuous long diagonal.
Picking up where they left off, the Netherlands went
ahead soon after the break.

Another searching Blind delivery found Robben , who
controlled and turned beyond Gerard Pique - who
could only deflect his effort beyond Casillas.

Spain suddenly had no answer to their opponents' new-
found verve, Van Persie rattling the crossbar with a
vicious strike.

The woodwork could not save Del Bosque's men soon
after, though, as De Vrij atoned for his earlier misstep
by heading Sneijder's deep free kick in off the post
after Casillas thought he had been fouled by Van Persie.

The Spain captain was visibly rattled, and an
uncharacteristic error from him 18 minutes from time
enabled Van Persie to notch his second goal of the
game as he stole the ball from his feet and poked home.

And the Netherlands were not finished there, as Casillas
was forced to pick the ball out of the net again as the
irresistible Robben took advantage of more lax
defending to race clear and round off a scarcely
believable result.