Watch: Electric Arjen shocks Spain

Spain v Netherlands

Brazil 2014 | Group stage Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador Attendance: 48,173

Going into the game

History was in the making. The two teams that tussled in the last FIFA World Cup™ final would, for the first time ever, meet in their first outing of the next edition. Spain were the sizeable favourites. They had, after all, downed the Netherlands to conquer South Africa 2010 and won back-to-back UEFA EUROs. Vicente del Bosque’s side was similar to his Soccer City model, but had one major modification. The false nine was gone. Out-and-out striker Diego Costa, who had won two Brazil caps the previous year before controversially switching allegiances, was in. The Netherlands had lost all three games at EURO 2012 and suffered shaky form in the run-up to Brazil 2014. Arjen Robben, by contrast, was fresh from a spectacular season for Bayern Munich in which he scored 21 times in 45 appearances from the wing. Furthermore, he wanted revenge. Iker Casillas’s ankle had pulled off one of the most miraculous saves in World Cup history in Johannesburg, rendering Robben open-mouthed.

The game

Robben’s genius was showcased early. The 30-year-old’s fantastic first-time pass sent Wesley Sneijder through on goal, only for Casillas to save his decrypted defenders. Spain then went in front when Diego Costa won a hotly-contested spot-kick and Xabi Alonso successfully dispatched it. What could have become 2-0 became 1-1 just before of the break. David Silva spurned a superb opportunity, and Robin van Persie went skydiving to score the most iconic header ever witnessed.

The second period was all about his incompressible sidekick. A flying Robben astonishingly controlled a Daley Blind chip forward, cut inside Gerard Pique and rippled the net. Another one of his swashbuckling dashes enabled Van Persie to clatter the crossbar. Then, after Stefan de Vrij and Van Persie had powered the Netherlands into a comfortable lead, Robben exercised Cheetah’s speed to outsprint Sergio Ramos to a Sneijder through-ball, swivelled to sink Casillas to the floor, and slammed it home.

A smart save from Casillas denied Robben a wonder volley and a hat-trick, but it did nothing to dilute one of the most sport-shaking results and finest individual displays in the competition’s history. The Netherlands No11, who was part of the fabled ‘Batman and Robben’ double act in Bavaria, left Bahia in a superhero’s cape.

Quotes

“He was unbelievable. He looked like a player from a video game. His speed and skill were on another level.” Javi Martinez “Robben was key to my tactics. I knew Spain’s players were superior to mine. I decided to play on the counter to provoke the Spanish defenders to play high up the pitch. The plan was for [Wesley] Sneijder and [Daley] Blind, who were two great passers, to get the ball to Robben. Obviously he still had a lot to do, and he did it magnificently.” Louis van Gaal “Robben absolutely destroyed us. He’s so fast and good at dribbling. When he’s in full flight, he’s devastating.” Vicente Del Bosque

Trivia

• Robben reached a mind-blowing top speed of 37 km/h en route to scoring his second goal.

• Van Persie and Robben became the first Dutchmen to score in three World Cups.

• While his team-mates would rock up at training in Audis, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, Robben was renowned for cycling to practice throughout his career.

• The heaviest World Cup defeat ever suffered by the reigning champions was Spain’s 5-1 thrashing by the Netherlands. It was also the most goals La Roja had conceded in a game since a 6-2 loss to Scotland at the Bernabeu 51 years earlier.