Iceland in huge upset versus Netherlands

Sigurdsson helps Iceland take historic Dutch scalp

Iceland enjoyed one of the most famous victories in their history as a Gylfi Sigurdsson double inspired the hosts to a first win against the Netherlands in Reykjavik.

Already on their best start to a qualifying campaign after opening with two Group A victories, Lars Lagerbäck's side had nothing to fear against the Dutch who sat three points behind them after two games. On 16 minutes Iceland were handed the chance to go ahead as Stefan de Vrij tripped Birkir Bjarnason in the area and Sigurdsson calmly stroked the resulting penalty to Jasper Cillessen's left.

The visitors did not panic and controlled possession as they tried to pick holes in the Icelandic defence. Robin van Persie did break through but was repelled by a good stop from Hannes Halldórsson before Arjen Robben headed a great opportunity over the bar from just five metres.

Having failed to find the net Guus Hiddink's men were punished further as a corner from the right could not be dealt with and it bounced up for Sigurdsson to rifle into the roof of the net from ten metres, showing outstanding technique to keep the effort under the crossbar.

The second half lacked the drama of the first as Iceland shored things up at the back and refused to give the Oranje the chance to get behind them. They even had the chance of a third at the other end, but Jón Dadi Bödvarsson could not find the target when ideally placed. The Nordic team nevertheless claimed a historic win which puts them level on points with the Czech Republic at the head of Group A, six points in front of the third-placed Netherlands.

Tim Krull stars as Netherlands stops giant killing Costa Rica 4-3 on penalties

 The Netherlands line up for a penalty shootout during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Quarter Final match between the Netherlands and Costa Rica at Arena Fonte Nova on July 5, 2014 in Salvador, Brazil. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

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SALVADOR, Brazil (AP) — Tim Krul came on as a substitute in the final minute of extra time and then saved two penalties in a 4-3 shootout victory over Costa Rica on Saturday, giving the Netherlands a spot in the World Cup semifinals.

"We had a lot of chances but it didn't go in," Krul said on Dutch television. "Then I come in, stop two penalties and here we are."Krul saved spot kicks from Costa Rica captain Bryan Ruiz and Michael Umana after the  match had finished 0-0.

In another stroke of tactical genius at this year's World Cup, Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal pulled Jasper Cillessen moments after the Ajax goalkeeper had saved a shot from Marcos Urena in extra time.

"The trick is good," said Krul, who plays for Newcastle. "A lot of preparation went into it."

The Dutch team will next face Argentina in the semifinals on Wednesday in Sao Paulo.

Netherlands came from behind to show Mexico the door

Jan Klaas Huntelaar celebrates after his penalty goal

DW

The Dutch have mounted a shock comeback against Mexico to reach the World Cup quarterfinals. What looked like a sure El Tri win was turned around in the final minutes by a vicious volley and a controversial penalty. 

Late goals from Wesley Sneijder and Klaas Jan Huntelaar finished off Mexico 2-1 in Fortaleza on Sunday. After taking a 1-0 lead early in the second half, Guillermo Ochoa's excellent goalkeeping looked like it would lead El Tri to victory. But the tired Mexicans had their hearts broken in the final moments, crashing out in the Round of 16 for the sixth straight World Cup.

After three wins in the group stage, Sunday's match was the first time Louis Van Gaal's side was tested in the brutal Brazilian heat and humidity. It was an ominous beginning for the Oranje against Mexico, with lynchpin midfielder Nigel de Jong going off after just nine minutes with an injury.

The first hour of the game was dominated by Mexico, who looked much more decisive in the final third. Giovanni Dos Santos, Oribe Peralta and Hector Herrara were a dangerous combination, while Robin Van Persie and Arjen Robben looked isolated in the Dutch front line.

Dos Santos gave Mexico a deserved lead three minutes into the second half with a brilliant effort from the top of the box. Firing back across goal on the run, it was the best effort of the tournament from Mexico's number 10.

As the match wore on, however, it was the side from the Americas, not Europe, that appeared to tire. Ochoa put in yet another world class performance in goal for the Mexicans, but it was only a matter of time before the Dutch pulled one back.

A loss that is hard to explain

Fernando Torres and Andres Iniesta dejected how the game turned

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Unexpected thrashings don't make much sense at the time, which is great, because everybody is far too busy laughing or crying or gasping or vomiting or doing the conga. And that's as it should be. But unexpected thrashings don't make much sense afterwards either, which is a problem when it comes to writing entertaining-yet-informative features for a discerning international audience. Tempting as it is to just write 'LOL OMG WUT' over and over, it's not really what you've come here to read.

If it had been just a normal victory — If Netherlands had won 2-1, say — then things would be straightforward and sensible. Louis van Gaal's decision to embrace wing-backs would have been laudable, David Silva's miss at 1-0 would have be regrettable, Iker Casillas and his defenders would have been mildly castigatable, and the world would have carried on as normal. The heat-mappers would have heat-mapped, the punners would have punned. Ah, folks would be saying, but they lost the first game in South Africa too.

Instead, all of the above is true, but it's true to a remarkable and slightly disquieting extent. This was a Spinal Tap loss: everything dialled right up to 11. It could have been six, seven, eight, said Robin van Persie after the game, and he was absolutely right. Ten wouldn't have been a surprise. Yes, Spain lost the first game in South Africa too. But not like this.

Take van Gaal's wingbacks. For a Dutchman, playing anything that doesn't look like a 4-3-3 is an act of sedition akin to finding tulips a little tedious. But even van Gaal, having made his peace with his treason, cannot possibly have imagined that Daley Blind would take possession of the left flank to such a ludicrous extent. That van Persie and Arjen Robben would take it in turns to find so much space between Spain's centre-halves. That Spain's only goal -- and these, it's worth remembering, are the world champions -- would come from a generously awarded penalty. That Xavi would lose the midfield battle against Nigel de Jong, and it wouldn't even involve that much applied violence.

Nor could he have conceived that the reigning world champions, who haven't so much as conceded a goal in ten major tournament knock-out games, would defend like strangers. Like drunk strangers. Like drunk strangers who, upon meeting one another for the first time, had taken an instant and belligerent dislike to one another. On the BBC, one pundit suggested that both Ramos and Pique had simply forgotten how to play against two strikers; certainly, as van Persie and Robben took it in turns to saunter into the acres of grass between them, it seemed that this was something bigger than a simple bad performance. They've played badly before, but they've rarely (if ever) looked sillier.

Netherlands exact sweet revenge, hammers Spain 5-1

Iker Casillas dejected as Netherlands player and fans celebrate

SB Nation 

It was supposed to be one of the best matches of the 2014 World Cup group stage, but the Netherlands had other ideas as they picked apart Spain's defense and hammered the defending champions, 5-1. Robin van Persie scored twice, and Arjen Robben added two goals of his own as the Oranje absolutely crushed Spain.

The game's first great chance happened in the eighth minute and belonged to the Dutch, when Wesley Sneijder broke free behind Spain's back line. Robben's pass set up the break, but despite racing into the box ahead of the defense, Sneijder's effort wasn't great, and Iker Casillas made a good save to deny him.

Diego Costa, who was showered with boos from Brazilian fans in the crowd every time he touched the ball, nearly created a chance in the 13th minute after a turnover by Jonathan de Guzmán in the Dutch defensive third. Ron Vlaar made an excellent recovery, though, preventing Costa from getting a shot off, and saving de Guzmán's figurative bacon.

Costa was back in the 26th minute. This time, Stefan de Vrij was unable to stop the striker, and Spain was awarded a penalty. After breaking in behind de Vrij, Costa made a hard cut back inside, and was tripped up by the defender who's trailing foot on the tackle attempt took out Costa's foot. Xabi Alonso stepped and put his shot past Jasper Cillessen, giving Spain a 1-0 lead.

David Silva had a wonderful chance to double Spain's lead in the 43rd minute, but his chip attempt was touched away by Cillessen. Andrés Iniesta gets the credit for the pinpoint pass that allowed Silva to break free into the Dutch box, but the keeper was able to get his fingers on the shot and deflect it wide.

Two minutes later, the Dutch struck when Robin van Persie executed a sensational volley header that left Casillas frozen as the ball sailed over his head and into the goal. As good as RVP's run and finish was -- and it was really good -- the long curling pass fromDaley Blind was perfect, as well, giving van Persie the time he needed to get behind Spain's back line and make a play on the ball.

Early in the second half, Robben put the Dutch ahead 2-1 thanks to some wonderful footwork in the Spanish box. He showed a tremendous touch, bringing down the looping cross from Blind, and managing to immediately control the ball and cut back as Gerard Piqué's momentum carried him past. Robben fired his shot to the right of the sliding Casillas, and the Netherlands were ahead.

Instead of a response, Spain continued to struggle, and in the 64th minute, the Dutch expanded their lead.

Spain is King of the World!

Iniesta goal in extra time gave Spain its First World Cup.

No goals in regulation and it seems no one is giving in in the extra time. The game is heading on to a nerve wracking penalty shootout.

Then at the 117th minute, Fernando Torres feed a waiting Andres Iniesta on a deflection by the Dutch defense. Iniesta squared off just on the legal side and fired it to the Dutch goal. The defender touch the ball barely but it was all he can do as the ball swished through the net, setting a frenzy of Spanish fans in Soccer City, South Africa, in Madrid, Spain and to the whole world.

Spain won the Cup for the First time. It also achieved the feat for a team to have won both the Euro league and the World Cup at the same time.

The Spanish win is a win deserved for a team that is oozing with talent.

Finally, their time has come.