Brazil 0-3 Holland: Dutch sink sorry hosts to clinch third spot
- adamhigginsuk
- Jul 12, 2014
- 9 min read
Desolate: Brazil's dejected players look around despairingly after the third goal as their World Cup campaign ended on a losing note (Picture from Yahoo.com)
HOLLAND swept aside beleaguered hosts Brazil to comfortably secure third place at the 2014 World Cup.
Robin van Persie netted from the penalty spot inside three minutes after Brazil captain Thiago Silva was adjudged to have fouled Arjen Robben inside the box.
Daley Blind crashed home a second from 12 yards out after capitalising on a defensive lapse from David Luiz.
But the Dutch's third place play-off triumph was assured when Georginio Wijnaldum stroked home substitute Daryl Janmaat's cross late on.
It was the final nail in the coffin for La Selecao in a hugely disappointing World Cup campaign in which they were installed as tournament favourites before their utter humiliation in the 7-1 hammering by Germany in the semi-finals.
Brazil, who had gone 62 home competitive games without defeat before Tuesday, have now conceded 10 goals in their last two matches and were booed off in Brasilia by fans after another pitiful display as under-fire coach Luiz Felipe Scolari prepares to hold drastic talks over his future.
2010 runners-up Holland will take little consolation in claiming the bronze medal prize from a game described as "irrelevant" by boss Louis van Gaal, who received a winning send-off before becoming the new Manchester United manager.
The Dutch have been unconvincing in the knockout stages and lost on penalties to Argentina on Wednesday but have still been impressive throughout their surprising run - and barely moved out of second gear to inflict more pain on the Brazilians, who they beat in the quarter-finals four years ago.
? DID YOU KNOW ?
The Netherlands have not beaten a nation more times at a World Cup than Brazil (three).
Van Gaal swapped Nigel de Jong with Feyenoord's Jordy Clasie in midfield but was forced into a second personnel change when Wesley Sneidjer pulled up with a hamstring injury in the warm-up and Swansea's Jonathan de Guzman earned a recall as a late replacement.
Scolari - who took over for a second time in December 2012 - rang the changes with six in total as PSG left-back Maxwell and Atletico Mineirao striker Jo made their first appearances of the tournament.
With poster boy Neymar still sidelined with a fractured vertebrae, Fred dropped to the bench but Thiago Silva returned from a one-match ban as Premier League trio Paulinho, Ramires and Willian were reinstated in midfield.
The Samba Boys coach had urged his players to restore a semblance of pride after the tame demolition by the Germans ended their World Cup dreams and left the entire nation in a state of shock.
The five-time world champions were hoping to exact even minor redemption but got off to the worst possible start when Robin van Persie's threaded pass fed Arjen Robben, who raced in behind and was clearly tugged back by Thiago Silva.
Replays suggested the contact was outside the box and Silva was the last defender although Algerian referee Djamel Haimoudi pointed to the spot and issued a yellow card.
Skipper van Persie stepped up and emphatically converted his fourth goal of the tournament beyond Julio Cesar's reach as the Estadio Nacional was stunned into complete silence.
In an open start, La Selecao responded positively as Ramires almost connected with Oscar's teasing cross but the Dutch sprung forward themselves and added to Brazil's woes by doubling their advantage on 16 minutes.
De Guzman got on the overlap and his cross was poorly directed clear by David Luiz only as far as an unmarked Daley Blind on the penalty spot.
The Ajax left-back took one touch to steady himself before lashing into the top corner for his first international goal.
Turning a blind eye: Blind peels away in celebration after giving the Dutch a two-goal advantage (Picture from Zimbio.com)
Brazil were encouraged by optimistic cries from the terraces but struggled to trouble the Dutch defence as Oscar's low shot was well gathered by keeper Jasper Cillessen.
Holland threatened to put further daylight between the sides as de Guzman rifled over from the edge of the box from Robben's crisp pass.
Van Persie then gave the hosts a warning when testing Cesar with a low effort as Brazil were increasingly susceptible to the breakaway.
The tactically-astute Dutch established a measure of command and snuffed out any potential danger by conceding several set-pieces.
From one free-kick by Brazil's most creative and inventive player on the night Oscar, Luiz Gustavo was inches away from applying a telling touch as it flashed across the goalmouth.
It was another agonising moment for La Selecao, who were roundly booed by the 68,000-strong crowd in the capital as they trudged off at half-time.
Scolari reacted to the feeble first-half showing by introducing Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho in place of Gustavo.
Brazil sought to make in-roads in a quiet opening to the second period, which ebbed and flowed at a moderate pace, but were frustrated by a solid Dutch rearguard.
With Holland retaining possession purposefully, Hernanes was added to the Brazilian engine room in the hope of adding extra guile as Paulinho made way.
The Inter Milan midfielder, though, was fortunate to escape a booking within 60 seconds of coming on for a crude challenge on Robben.
Ramires came close to reducing the arrears on the hour mark when sidestepping away from Wijnaldum to fire a left-footer wide of the post from 16 yards.
Luiz then dipped a 20-yard free-kick into the grateful gloves of Cillessen before a penalty appeal was rejected when Maicon’s cross struck the covering Stefan de Vrij as a laboured Brazil continued to search in vain for a comeback trail.
To compound their utter misery, Oscar became the first player in the tournament to receive a booking for an alleged dive over the outstretched boot of Blind.
The knees of the two players appeared to collide but the Dutch defender came off worse and was urgently stretchered off following treatment as Newcastle transfer target Daryl Janmaat was thrown on.
Brazil also made a change as Hulk entered the fray to a mixed reaction from supporters with Ramires the man withdrawn.
The Zenit St Petersburg forward tried to make an instant impact, instead lashing a left-foot drive into the stands after accelerating away from Janmaat.
La Selecao were beginning to build up a head of steam but were let down on numerous occasions by their lack of a cutting edge and errant decision making.
(Used with the permission of FourFourTwo from Twitter)
The Dutch were seemingly less attack-minded in the latter stages and more content in holding out their lead.
Despite taking a conservative approach, Robben's pace and enginuity led some promising raids into Brazilian territory.
The Bayern Munich forward had a half-hearted shout for a spotkick waved away when he tumbled over in the box when competing for a high ball with Fernandinho - a decision which brought a furious van Gaal out of his seat and to the edge of his technical area.
van Persie glanced an angled Dirk Kuyt cross narrowly past the right-hand post before Clasie was stretchered off through injury as Ajax defender Joel Veltman was given a brief cameo.
? DID YOU KNOW ?
Brazil have now conceded 14 goals at this World Cup - the only other teams to concede 12 or more in history are North Korea and Saudi Arabia.
The game appeared to be drifting to its conclusion but in the first of five additional minutes, Wijnaldum sealed a convincing win for La Oranje with a third to rub more salt into Brazil’s wounds.
Janmaat made progress down the right and delivered an accurate cross which the PSV midfielder stroked into the bottom corner for his second goal in 12 internationals.
Immediately after, Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm came on to ensure every single Dutch squad member has featured at the tournament.
Meanwhile, the Brazilian jeers became louder in volume and a huge chorus of boos greeted the full-time whistle as the distraught players quickly disappeared down the tunnel with their heads bowed.
In contrast, the Dutch reflected on a job well done as they embarked on a lap of honour to milk the acclaim before collecting their bronze medals from Fifa president Sepp Blatter.
Jubilation: The Dutch players embrace after settling the issue to finish behind the two finalists while demoting Brazil to fourth at their home World Cup (Picture from Getty Images)
MORE MATCH FACTS & STATS:
The Netherlands have kept four clean sheets at this World Cup, their highest number since 1974 when they kept five.
Holland became the second team at the 2014 World Cup to use all three goalkeepers after Portugal while Jasper Cillessen became the first goalkeeper in World Cup history to be subbed off twice during the same tournament.
The Dutch have used 23 players at this World Cup, the most for a single squad in one World Cup ever.
Dutch boss Louis van Gaal has won 26 of his 43 games in charge (drawing 13 and losing four, excluding penalty shoot-outs).
Brazil have lost consecutive World Cup games for the first time since 1974 and have suffered two home competitive defeats in a row for the first time since 1940 (when they lost 3-0 to Argentina and 4-3 to Uruguay).
La Selecao have failed to score in two matches in a World Cup tournament for the first time since 1978.
The three Dutch goals took the tournament total up to 170 with just one match remaining - the record for a single World Cup is 171 in 1998.
Oscar became the first player to be booked for simulation at a World Cup since Gregory van der Wiel for Holland against Brazil in the 2010 quarter-finals.
Saturday 12th July 2014 Fifa 2014 World Cup Third Place Play-Off
Estadio Nacional (Brasilia, Brazil)
Brazil 0-3 Holland KO 9pm Live on ITV/HD (HT 0-2)
van Persie 3 (pen) Blind 16 Wijnaldum 90+1
(Holland secure third place)
Brazil: (4-2-3-1) 12 Julio Cesar - 7/10, 23 Maicon - 6/10, 3 Thiago Silva (C) - 5.5/10, 4 David Luiz - 5/10, 14 Maxwell - 5.5/10, 8 Paulinho - 6/10 (Hernanes 57 - 4/10), 17 Luiz Gustavo - 5.5/10 (Fernandinho 45 - 5/10), 16 Ramires - 6/10 (Hulk 73 - 3.5/10), 11 Oscar - 6.5/10, 19 Willian - 5.5/10, 21 Jo - 5.5/10.
Subs not used: 1 Jefferson (GK), 22 Victor (GK), 2 Dani Alves, 6 Marcelo, 13 Dante, 15 Henrique, 20 Bernard, 9 Fred.
Booked: Thiago Silva (2), Fernandinho (54), Oscar (68)
Holland: (5-3-2) 1 Cillessen - 8/10 (Vorm 90+3 - 0.5/10), 15 Kuyt - 8/10, 4 Martins Indi - 8.5/10, 2 Vlaar - 9/10, 3 De Vrij - 9.5/10, 5 Blind - 8.5/10 (Janmaat 70 - 4.5/10), 16 Clasie - 7.5/10 (Veltman 89 - 0.5/10), 8 De Guzman - 8/10, 9 van Persie - 8/10, 11 Robben - 8/10.
Subs not used: 22 Vorm (GK), 23 Krul (GK), 12 Verhaegh, 14 Kongolo, 21 Depay, 17 Lens, 19 Huntelaar.
Booked: Robben (8), De Guzman (36)
My Man of the Match: Stefan De Vrij (Netherlands) - Rating 9.5/10
My Poorest Performer of the Match: David Luiz (Brazil) - Rating 5/10
Referee: Djamel Haimoudi (Algeria) - 7/10 Assistant referees: Redouane Achik (Morocco) and Abdelhak Etchiali (Algeria) Fourth Official: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan) Reserve Assistant: Toru Sagara (Japan)
Attendance: 68,034
Match Facts
Possession: Brazil - 52% Holland - 48%
Shots: Brazil - 9 Holland - 6
Shots on target: Brazil - 3 Holland - 4
Shots off target: Brazil - 6 Holland - 2
Corners: Brazil - 4 Holland - 1
Fouls: Brazil - 13 Holland - 20
Offside: Brazil - 1 Holland - 2
Assists: Brazil - 0 (None) Holland - 1 (Janmaat)
MANAGER & PLAYER REACTION:-
Brazil head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari
"We haven't ended the competition well. We had the impression that it was going to be a very even game, but we conceded an early goal and that tipped the balance in their favour. I don't think that we played badly though, and I think the players deserve credit for what they achieved out on the pitch. The team battled and created chances. The one who will decide my future is the President [of the CBF]. We agreed beforehand that, once the competition was over, win or lose, we'd hand the reins to the FA directors [while a decision is made]. We're going to finish off our report, hand it in to the President, and he'll know what to do next."
Holland head coach Louis van Gaal
"This game came around very quickly for us. We've had just three days to rebuild the team after the huge disappointment of dropping out of the hunt for a title we’d been aiming to win. We had to try and see the light at the end of the tunnel and today we did. Despite the resistance put up by Brazil, we won the game and that was marvellous. We've scored 15 goals over this campaign and I think that it’s unfair that we went out. Even so, we had a fantastic tournament. I'm proud of my team and my staff. I'd like to thank the Brazilian people, their authorities and FIFA for a really well organised tournament. We were always able to do things the way we wanted to."
Holland forward Arjen Robben
"First of all, I'd like to thank all the Brazilian people for the support they gave us. It was a great honour to play here, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Winning this game was the best way to round off our campaign. There's no doubt we deserved to finish third, and nobody would have expected it [before the tournament]. It was a great achievement. We beat Brazil 3-0 in a game which was very tough for them mentally following their heavy defeat against Germany, but I wish them all the best for the future. I don't know what’s going to happen between now and Russia 2018. There's still four years to go, which is a long time, so we'll see. Speaking for myself, if I'm still enjoying my football and I'm still in good enough shape I'm going to want to play. It's always an honour to play for the national team."
Last updated: 12 July 2014 23:55pm
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