By RYAN TOLMICH
They say success is the best revenge, but even the most passionate of Netherlands supporters couldn’t have predicted the success their team would experience in Friday’s rematch with Spain.
The Dutch absolutely steamrolled the reigning world champions, battering their 2010 World Cup rivals by a lopsided scoreline of 5-1. Dutch superstars Robin van Perise and Arjen Robben each bagged braces for the 2010 runner-ups, but it was the manner in which Robben dismantled the Spanish defenses that left the biggest impression.
Robben opened his account early in the second half by undressing Spain’s Gerard Pique before teeing the ball up with his widely-recognized left foot. Robben’s second made the Spanish defense look even more hopeless than his opener, as the Bayern Munich star toyed with Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas before unleashing into the net’s upper righthand corner.
Robben’s destruction of the Spain defense was enough to earn him SBI World Cup Man of the Match honors, beating out teammates van Perise and Daley Blind, who picked up two assists in the Dutch rout.
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What did you think of Robben’s performance? Who stood out the most to you in the Netherlands’ thrashing of Spain?
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