Two goals from Robin Van Persie and Arjen Robben inspired Holland to a thumping 5-1 win over Group B rivals Spain. The Dutch produced a devastating display of counter-attacking football in a wonderful second-half display to leave Spain utterly shell-shocked - who had initially opened the scoring. Spain took the lead when Diego Costa was fouled in the box by Stefan De Vrij after 26 minutes, giving Xabi Alonso the chance to score and the Real Madrid midfielder duly obliged by converting the resulting penalty past a sprawling Jasper Cillessen. Just before half-time, the Ajax goalkeeper was to thank after making a superb save to deny David Silva’s neat chip - preventing Spain from doubling their lead..

"I'm speechless. Beforehand we were talking about Louis van Gaal and Johan Cruyff bringing total football to Barcelona and the Spanish squad but tonight the Dutch got their style back. They wanted it a bit more. I'm shocked.
"That was the final we wanted to see four years ago. The man of the match was Daley Blind. He actually did what his boss was asking him to a tee." - Thierry Henry (Former France and Arsenal striker)...

Robben completed Spain's misery with 10 minutes left, collecting Sneijder's pass and then reducing Casillas and his defenders to a floundering mess as he made room for an emphatic finish. Holland might have scored two more had they been more clinical, and Spain's Fernando Torres made a woeful blunder from close range, but their statement was already well made.