Netherlands beats Brazil, 3-0, in World Cup’s third-place game
One more, with gusto for the Dutch, who finish off Brazil, 3-0, in the third-place game of the World Cup.
Arjen Robben, who seems to have a role in every scoring threat for the Netherlands, starts another with a dribble down the right side and a dish toward the corner to Daryl Janmatt, who sends the ball to the middle to Wijnaldum for a goal in stoppage time.
Coach Louis van Gaal brings on goalkeeper Michel Vorm, the only Dutch player yet to log any minutes at the Cup, to mop up.
Brazil closes out a horrid week with a 3-0 loss, nearly as embarrassing as its 7-1 thrashing by Germany in the semifinals. With more to play for than the Dutch, the tournament host suffers two consecutive losses in its homeland for the first time in 74 years.
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What glimmer of hope Brazil maintains is likely snuffed out by another debatable decision from referee Djamel Haimoudi.
A dribbling Oscar gets bumped in the box by Dutch midfielder Daley Blind sufficiently enough to warrant a penalty kick. But the ref finds fault with Oscar, showing him a yellow card for diving rather than to Blind for a foul.
Brazil keeps pushing forward, primarily with energy from substitute Hulk. But his scatter-shots typify Brazil’s day -- lots of ball advancement, little payoff.
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Brazil settles down for the balance of the first half, owning ball possession and firing half a dozen shots. But only one is on goal, while three inviting free kicks -- two from just inches beyond the penalty box -- fail to throw a scare into the Dutch defense.
The most welcome news for Brazil is a yellow card for Dutch forward Arjen Robben. If somehow he can draw another and take a seat on the sideline, maybe the Brazilians can rally.
Until then, they can look longingly at their man on the sideline. Star forward Neymar, recuperating from a broken vertebra in his back, joined his teammates to provide inspiration and advice. He might hold their attention more than Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who probably will work his final half with the national team.
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The Dutch slice through Brazil’s defense again for a second goal.
Netherlands forward Arjen Robben dribbles the ball deep and dishes to teammate Georginio Wijnaldum near the end line. His cross veers dangerously toward the goal and is headed out by Brazil defender David Luiz, but the ball goes directly to the Netherlands’ Daley Blind, who had never scored in an international match.
Now Blind has with a nifty two touches to control it, then a right-footed blast to the upper right corner.
Only 17 minutes have ticked off, and Brazil’s fans are fearing another rout.
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For Brazil, the man who was sorely missed in the semifinals was almost solely responsible for a quick 1-0 deficit.
Captain Thiago Silva, soundly beaten by the speedy Netherlands forward Ajren Robben, reached from behindand impeded his dribbling with a hand to the upper body. Referee Djamel Haimoudi, in a compromise call, signaled a penalty kick for the Dutch but brought out a yellow card instead of a red for Silva, perhaps because there was some question if the contact occurred just inside or outside the box.
The left-footed Robin Van Persie hooked the penalty try into the upper right corner, and the restored excitement for Brazilian fans went flat in almost no time.
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Each coach sent a message with his choice of lineups.
Brazil benched some of its underperformers, chiefly spotty midfielder Hulk and worse-than-spotty forward Fred.
Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari also demoted forward Bernard, midfielder Fernandinho and defenders Dante and Marcelo. One change was a given: ace defender Thiago Silva returns from a yellow-card suspension.
The other fresh starters for Brazil are defender Maxwell, forward Jo and midfielders Willian, Paulinho and Ramires.
For the Dutch, Coach Louis van Gaal planned to make only one replacement, which hints at his intention to go all-out for a win. Nigel de Jong, a surprise starter in the semifinals with a groin ailment, gives way to Jordy Clasie.
However, valuable midfielder Wesley Sniedjer was hurt during warmups and will be replaced in the starting lineup by Jonathan de Guzman.
