The Flying Dutchman : Robin Van Persie Can Fly Like A Bird In World Cup 2014 Brasil
Robin van Persie earned the nickname "Flying Dutchman" on Friday, when he scored the Netherlands' first goal against Spain in the third match of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The striker stunned supporters meeting a long forward pass from defender Daley Blind with an acrobatic header that improbably found the back of the net right before the first half drew to a close.
It was perhaps the best goal of the new World Cup, replayed over and over on TV screens from Australia to Austria, and it showed casual fans the talent that that Dutch have known for years. Former Netherlands striker and current ESPN studio analyst Ruud van Nistelrooy called the goal "genius" during the halftime break. As if that wasn't enough, Van Persie ended up scoring another goal before the match ended.
As captain of the Dutch national team, van Persie is one of the Netherlands' most beloved players, and he plays for Manchester United in the English Premier League when he's not with his national squad.
A 30-year-old leader, van Persie was born in Rotterdam on Aug. 6, 1983. In the intervening years he's built quite a career, serving eight years on Arsenal before he went to ManU in 2012.
A prodigious scorer, he's passed the 200 mark in his EPL career, and has made more than 40 in his time with the Netherlands. He's only the fourth Dutchman to score four goals in the EPL's top division.
This year's World Cup in Brazil is his third. He scored his first international goal for the Netherlands in the 2006 World Cup. During this year's FIFA World Cup qualifiers, he became the Netherlands' all-time- highest scorer during the team's 8-1 trouncing of Hungary. He has long been a key figure for both ManU and the Netherlands, but has had injury trouble in recent years.
Van Persie has been known for a series of personal problems off the pitch, including being exposed for being unfaithful to his wife, Bouchra Elbali, though the two remain together today. The story centered around his having had sex with beauty queen Sandra Krijgsman. He was initially arrested in June 2005 on suspicion that he had raped Krijgsman, but the charges were dropped.
The Netherlands' Robin van Persie provided the first goal of the tournament contender for the 2014 World Cup with his beautiful header to equalize against Spain
just before halftime. It also led to a run of complete domination for
the Dutch in the second half, giving them a 5-1 win that was about as
expected as a Kobe beef in a Big Mac.
But before their world came crashing down around them, Spain struck first with a Xabi Alonso penalty after the referee gifted Diego Costa
with a (now customary in this tournament) soft penalty in the 27th
minute. Spain then settled in as they looked to protect their lead and
continue a streak of not conceding a single goal that carried all
through the knockout stage four years ago.
But just as Spain seemed to be in
control, Manchester United striker Van Persie found himself alone with
the goalkeeper in front of him and the ball floating down from the
heavens, so he glided through the air like a low hanging Superman and
lobbed a header over Iker Casillas for the 44th minute equalizer.
Van Persie celebrated by running to manager Louis van Gaal, who will
join him at Man United next season. And with the momentum in Holland's
favor, Arjen Robben vanquished the ghost of his failed one v one in the 2010 final that has haunted him for the last four years by putting the Oranje up 2-1 in the 53rd minute on the reigning champions with Bergkamp-esque control and a solid finish.
Taking further advantage of the Spaniards' wobble, the Dutch added another goal in the 64th minute when 22-year-old defender Stefan de Vrij
knocked in the first of his international career at the post. They
refused to let up as Casillas came way out to try and clear the ball
from a charging Van Persie, but the Dutch captain won out and put it in
the empty net to give the Netherlands a 4-1 lead in the 73rd minute. And
finally, Robben took advantage of a wandering Casillas again by making
it 5-1 in the 80th minute.
At this point, it should
probably be noted that Spain did lose 1-0 to a Swiss team less talented
than this Netherlands side to start the 2010 World Cup. Still,
Netherlands defender Bruno Martins Indi summed up just about everyone's reaction to this with one facial expression...
Netherlands striker Robin van Persie has
urged his Oranje teammates to stay focused on their World Cup campaign
following their stunning 5-1 drubbing of holders Spain.
The 30-year-old Manchester United star scored twice as Holland
humiliated the reigning world and European champions in the Group B
opener in Salvador on Friday.
He equalised for the Dutch with a superb diving header just 90 seconds
before the break after Spain’s Xabi Alonso had converted a first-half
penalty.
Van Persie then added his second and Holland’s fourth when he beat
Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas to a loose ball and tapped the ball into
an empty net with 72 minutes gone.
The Dutch ran riot in the second-half claiming four goals without reply
as Arjen Robben also netted twice, while defender Stefan de Vrij headed
home to make amends for conceding the converted Alonso penalty after
fouling Diego Costa.
Holland now faces Australia next Wednesday in Porto Alegre, but Van
Persie says they must build on their win and forget any dreams of
reaching a second consecutive World Cup final.
“We’ve beaten the best team in the world for the last six years and if
you look at how much we wanted it and how well we played, it’s a massive
compliment to the team,” said the Dutch man-of-the-match.
“We have to take it all in and enjoy it, but then focus on Australia,
this was an incredible evening for the whole of Holland, but it’s only
three points.”
Van Persie has a history of being part of Dutch squads who dazzle in the group stages at major tournaments, only to bow out in the knockout stages.
Van Persie has a history of being part of Dutch squads who dazzle in the group stages at major tournaments, only to bow out in the knockout stages.
Having made his international debut in 2005, Van Persie was part of
Marco van Basten’s Dutch squad which was beaten by Portugal in the last
16 of the 2006 World Cup.
He was also in the squad when the Netherlands humbled both Italy and
France at Euro 2008 to dominate their group, only to bow out in the
quarter-finals 3-1 against Russia.
The Dutch avenged their 2010 World Cup final defeat to Spain in
empathetic style, but memories of the Euro 2012 group stage exit are
still fresh having lost all three games to Germany, Portugal and
Denmark.
Van Persie said the squad needs to work together to improve if they are
to become the first European side to win the World Cup in South
America.
The Dutch were the last team to reach a World Cup final in South America having lost to Argentina 3-1 after extra time in 1978.
“I’ve been here before, this is my fifth tournament and I don’t want us
to be too excited, because this is just one game and three points,” Van
Persie said.
“We have to improve and we have to stick together.”
Meanwhile, the Spanish camp were short of excuses.
“We didn’t react well to Van Persie’s second goal — they were euphoric
and they hammered us,” said Spain coach Vicente del Bosque.
“We did everything wrong in the second half, it was a debacle,” added Spain’s veteran midfielder Xavi.
It was a personal humiliation for goalkeeper Casillas, 33, one of the
stars of the team that so brilliantly won the 2008 and 2012 European
Championships and 2010 World Cup.
“I have to ask forgiveness for the match we played in general and me in particular,” he said after. “I was not good enough.”
Louis van Gaal believes his Netherlands side can still improve on their
historic 5-1 drubbing of Spain in their World Cup opener on Friday.
Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben both scored twice as Holland avenged
their 2010 World Cup final defeat by routing the holders in emphatic
style.
Spain suffered their heaviest World Cup defeat and their worst loss since being drubbed 6-2 by Scotland in 1963.
“That wasn’t what you expect from your first World Cup match, I had
expected the manner of the goals, but not that many,” admitted the Dutch
coach.
“It’s everything to do with strategy and the willingness of the players to convert their chances with conviction.”
The future Manchester United manager was adamant when asked if his side can improve on their stunning display.
“Yes, without a shadow of a doubt, you could see that in the last 20
minutes when we started to play the ball around,” said Van Gaal.
“This result gives the players confidence and I expect us to play better.”
Veteran midfielder Xabi Alonso gave the Spanish a first-half lead when
he netted a contentious penalty before the Dutch fought back.
Van Persie’s diving header 90 seconds from the break put the Dutch
level before the Manchester United star added his side’s fourth.
Robben showed his class with two well-taken goals while Ajax defender
Stefan de Vrij chipped in with another as the Spanish defence collapsed.
But Van Gaal urged caution despite the sensational result.
“We have experienced enough players to make sure we don’t lose
ourselves in euphoria and we also have technical staff to make sure that
doesn’t happen,” said the 62-year-old.
“We were so sure the way Spain would attack, but it worked out better than expected.
“I, we, the Dutch staff made sure our team was fit, we knew with this heat and humidity, you need to be fit.
“You can’t play hard, attacking football for the whole 90 minutes in
those conditions, so we made sure we played compact football and used
our centre forwards.
“If you sprint forward on the counter, things can happen, you can get goals — as we saw.”
Van Gaal said he does not expect his side to claim another haul of
goals in their next game against Australia in Porto Alegre on Wednesday.
“The Australians can play defensively and that will make it an entirely different match,” he said.
Van Gaal will take over as manager at Old Trafford after the World Cup
and he admitted being touched when United star Van Persie sprinted
towards him after his equaliser.
“A player doesn’t have to do that, he can go to his fellow players,
it’s just appreciation, but it was wonderful and it was emotional,”
admitted Van Gaal.
Robin van Persie is going to be aiming to stay in manager Louis van Gaal's good graces next season at Manchester United. His exploits at the end of the first half of the Netherlands' World Cup opener against Spain certainly accomplished that.
Van Persie's diving, looping header from just inside the Spain box brought the Dutch level in the 44th minute of the 2010 World Cup final rematch, and he immediately went to go celebrate with his international -- and soon to be club -- manager van Gaal after the highlight-reel goal. Daley Blind's long cross from the left set it up, and van Persie ran right Spain center back Sergio Ramos to turn in the top goal of the tournament so far.
Oh Internet, you never let us down. In the hours after Netherlands blitzed Spain 5-1 in an opening round Group B game, a new 2014 FIFA World Cup sensation was born: Robin van Persie memes.
The Dutch striker’s sensational diving header goal was being widely Photoshopped into a variety of scenes, from movie posters to pro wrestling to the jet streams
Too early to call this the best World Cup ever? Yep, but four games in and we’re loving it.
Now just watch England and Italy come along and snap us out of our reverie.
Eleven goals in three games — and Mexico had two perfectly good ones ruled out in their 1-0 win over Cameroon — was highlighted by Netherlands demolition of Spain 5-1, especially a goal by flying Dutchman Robin van Persie.
The memes came thick and fast, focusing on the incredible aerial exploits of RVP.
Funsters dressed him as Superman and Peter Pan, and had him soaring above Rio’s most famous landscape.
Marco Monteverde writes from Salvador that despite a scoreline that has shocked the football world, Netherlands’ 5-1 thrashing should not been seen as a total surprise, according to Dutch coach Louis van Gaal.
Spain’s reign as world champions is on life support after being hammered by the rampant Dutch in the World Cup Group B opener at Arena Fonte Nova.
Netherlands gained revenge for their 1-0 World Cup final loss to La Roja four years ago, coming from a goal down to tear apart the ageing Spaniards.
“With strikers like Van Persie, Robben and (Wesley) Sneijder … things like this can happen,” van Gaal said.
But the magnitude of the result stunned Netherlands defender Bruno Martins Indi.
“Normally if you win it’s 1-0 or something like that. It’s different to win 5-1 against them,” he said.
“It’s not easy to make it happen against them. They’ve got amazing players.”
But it was van Persie who was “amazing” in his man-of-the match performance.
The same could not be said for his Spanish counterpart Iker Casillas, who had a performance to forget.
The veteran goalkeeper, who spent most of the La Liga season on the bench for Real Madrid, was at fault for at least two of the Dutch’s goals. Socceroos legend John Aloisi told Fox Sports News after the match that Spain should consider dropping the skipper - because a lack of game time has left him bereft of confidence.
For Spain, their match on the same day against Chile looms in Rio as a do-or-die affair.
“This is a very delicate moment for us, and all of us have to find a way to solve it,’’ Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque said.
Del Bosque would not blame solely Casillas for the defeat.
“I won’t blame individuals, but we must improve. We cannot go under,” he said.
For Spain, their match on the same day against Chile looms in Rio as a do-or-die affair.
“This is a very delicate moment for us, and all of us have to find a way to solve it,’’ Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque said.
Del Bosque would not blame solely Casillas for the defeat.
“I won’t blame individuals, but we must improve. We cannot go under,” he said.
Cahill’s performance in the brave 3-1 defeat won him rave reviews from across the world. He has now scored four goals — more than Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi combined at World Cup finals.
Cahill almost had a fifth but was rightly ruled offside when he put the ball in the net for he thought was an equaliser in the second half.
“It is all about defining moments,” Cahill said. “This is a stage to do it. When you are called upon, you have to show up.
“At the start, we showed a bit of fear, and then when we stepped up and started getting in their faces and rolling them a little bit. When they showed a bit of aggression, we have to show it back. We did that.
“We will learn from this and we will go into the next game very positive. We believe in our football, we believe in our structure.
“Last week they were questioning whether we could create chances. Tonight we created quite a lot.”
All the best Robin van Persie header memes and jokes after his fantastic goal against Spain as the Netherlands thrashed the current World Cup holders 5-1.
PLUS! THERE’S MORE:
And the Manchester United striker is the centre of attention following his spectacular diving header equaliser.
.
Robin van Persie is going to be aiming to stay in manager Louis van Gaal's good graces next season at Manchester United. His exploits at the end of the first half of the Netherlands' World Cup opener against Spain certainly accomplished that.
Van Persie's diving, looping header from just inside the Spain box brought the Dutch level in the 44th minute of the 2010 World Cup final rematch, and he immediately went to go celebrate with his international -- and soon to be club -- manager van Gaal after the highlight-reel goal. Daley Blind's long cross from the left set it up, and van Persie ran right Spain center back Sergio Ramos to turn in the top goal of the tournament so far.
Oh Internet, you never let us down. In the hours after Netherlands blitzed Spain 5-1 in an opening round Group B game, a new 2014 FIFA World Cup sensation was born: Robin van Persie memes.
The Dutch striker’s sensational diving header goal was being widely Photoshopped into a variety of scenes, from movie posters to pro wrestling to the jet streams
Too early to call this the best World Cup ever? Yep, but four games in and we’re loving it.
Now just watch England and Italy come along and snap us out of our reverie.
Eleven goals in three games — and Mexico had two perfectly good ones ruled out in their 1-0 win over Cameroon — was highlighted by Netherlands demolition of Spain 5-1, especially a goal by flying Dutchman Robin van Persie.
The memes came thick and fast, focusing on the incredible aerial exploits of RVP.
Funsters dressed him as Superman and Peter Pan, and had him soaring above Rio’s most famous landscape.
Marco Monteverde writes from Salvador that despite a scoreline that has shocked the football world, Netherlands’ 5-1 thrashing should not been seen as a total surprise, according to Dutch coach Louis van Gaal.
Spain’s reign as world champions is on life support after being hammered by the rampant Dutch in the World Cup Group B opener at Arena Fonte Nova.
Netherlands gained revenge for their 1-0 World Cup final loss to La Roja four years ago, coming from a goal down to tear apart the ageing Spaniards.
“With strikers like Van Persie, Robben and (Wesley) Sneijder … things like this can happen,” van Gaal said.
But the magnitude of the result stunned Netherlands defender Bruno Martins Indi.
“Normally if you win it’s 1-0 or something like that. It’s different to win 5-1 against them,” he said.
“It’s not easy to make it happen against them. They’ve got amazing players.”
But it was van Persie who was “amazing” in his man-of-the match performance.
The same could not be said for his Spanish counterpart Iker Casillas, who had a performance to forget.
The veteran goalkeeper, who spent most of the La Liga season on the bench for Real Madrid, was at fault for at least two of the Dutch’s goals. Socceroos legend John Aloisi told Fox Sports News after the match that Spain should consider dropping the skipper - because a lack of game time has left him bereft of confidence.
For Spain, their match on the same day against Chile looms in Rio as a do-or-die affair.
“This is a very delicate moment for us, and all of us have to find a way to solve it,’’ Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque said.
Del Bosque would not blame solely Casillas for the defeat.
“I won’t blame individuals, but we must improve. We cannot go under,” he said.
For Spain, their match on the same day against Chile looms in Rio as a do-or-die affair.
“This is a very delicate moment for us, and all of us have to find a way to solve it,’’ Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque said.
Del Bosque would not blame solely Casillas for the defeat.
“I won’t blame individuals, but we must improve. We cannot go under,” he said.
Flying goalscoring machine
Tim Cahill has joined a list of greats to have scored a goal at three World Cups, but was just the third to it on Saturday.Cahill’s performance in the brave 3-1 defeat won him rave reviews from across the world. He has now scored four goals — more than Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi combined at World Cup finals.
Cahill almost had a fifth but was rightly ruled offside when he put the ball in the net for he thought was an equaliser in the second half.
“It is all about defining moments,” Cahill said. “This is a stage to do it. When you are called upon, you have to show up.
“At the start, we showed a bit of fear, and then when we stepped up and started getting in their faces and rolling them a little bit. When they showed a bit of aggression, we have to show it back. We did that.
“We will learn from this and we will go into the next game very positive. We believe in our football, we believe in our structure.
“Last week they were questioning whether we could create chances. Tonight we created quite a lot.”
All the best Robin van Persie header memes and jokes after his fantastic goal against Spain as the Netherlands thrashed the current World Cup holders 5-1.
PLUS! THERE’S MORE:
- The best Netherlands 5-1 Spain jokes from Group B opener
- The best Iker Casillas jokes as Spain concede 5 vs Holland
And the Manchester United striker is the centre of attention following his spectacular diving header equaliser.
.
