World Cup photos: Netherlands rout Spain 5-1

[caption id=“attachment_1570389” align=“alignleft” width=“940”]  Spain received a heavy hammering at the hands of Netherlands as they were crushed 5-1 by the Dutch. It was Spain who took the lead in the 27th minute. Diego Costa was brought down inside the box by De Vrij and the referee pointed towards the spot. It looked a dubious call. Getty[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_1570391” align=“alignleft” width=“940”]  The uber cool Xabi Alonso stepped up to take the penalty and calmly slotted it past goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen. Getty Images[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_1570393” align=“alignleft” width=“940”]  Robin van Persie then provided the moment of the match. He brought Netherlands on level terms with a spectacular flying header off a beautiful aerial diagonal ball from Daley Blind. This is surely a contender for goal of the tournament. Getty Images[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_1570395” align=“alignleft” width=“940”]  Robin van Persie went berserk in celebrations and gave a big hi five to coach Louis van Gaal who too seemed to enjoy the fantastic goal. Reuters[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_1570397” align=“alignleft” width=“940”]  Netherlands upped the ante in the second half and Robben provided them the lead in the 53rd minute. Another brilliant ball from Blind found Robben who controlled it brilliantly, eluded Gerard Pique and slotted it past Casillas. Getty Images[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_1570399” align=“alignleft” width=“940”]  Wave after wave of Netherlands attack saw them go 3-1 up when defender Stefan de Vrij headed in from Sneijder’s set-piece. Getty Images[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_1570401” align=“alignleft” width=“940”]  It got worse for Spain when the most experienced player, Iker Casillas, committed a big blunder. He mis-controlled a pass and Van Persie was quick to latch on to the mistake and helped it into the empty net. Getty Images[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_1570403” align=“alignleft” width=“940”]  Casillas had already endured a horrible time before the fourth Netherlands goal from van Persie. His mistake just made matters worse. Being the skipper and the most experienced player, he was expected to lead from the front not compound Spain’s misery. Getty Images[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_1570405” align=“alignleft” width=“940”]  The high-flying Robin van Persie was at his belligerent best and again set off in wild celebrations after making it 4-1. Reuters[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_1570407” align=“alignleft” width=“940”]  Apart from Van Persie there was another man who was silently killing the Spaniards. Robben made it 5-1 with a splendid solo goal as he hared forward, outpaced Ramos, controlled the ball before rounding off the keeper and hammering it into the net. Getty Images[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_1570409” align=“alignleft” width=“940”]  It was the Robin-Robben show as Spain were hammered, humbled and humiliated 5-1. Getty Images[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_1570411” align=“alignleft” width=“940”]  The Dutch inflicted one of the heaviest defeat on Spain. The last time Spain conceded five goals was way back in 1963. This is what Robin Van Persie said after the match, “We never stopped going, that’s what we told ourselves at half-time, just keep going, It could have been five, oh, yeah, it was five, but it could have been six, seven or eight goals, in my opinion.” Getty Images[/caption]