Oh, the joy and the agony of covering the group in which my favorite team plays. Right now it’s mostly the agony, but on I go…
Spain: Alonso 27’ (PK)
Netherlands: Van Persie 44’, 72’. Robben ‘53, ‘80. De Vrij 64’
Lineups
Spain: Casillas, Ramos, Azpilicueta, Alba, Pique, Silva, Busquets, Alonso, Iniesta, Xavi, Costa
Netherlands: Cillessen, Janmaat, Blind, Vlaar, De Vrij, Martins Indi, De Jong, De Guzman, Sneijder, Robben, Van Persie
The game began as most of Spain’s games do: lots of possession, lots of passing, and a couple minor defensive bobbles (which were foreshadowing things to come today, of course, but I digress) The presence of Diego Costa, who was booed by the home crowd every time he touched the ball, did result in a few more long passes over the top than is typical, but the team’s overall style of play was much the same.
It seemed, at first, like it was going to work in their favor. Costa made a great run into the box in the twenty-sixth minute, and went down (and the Internet promptly exploded over whether he dove or his leg was kicked out from under him by Stefan De Vrij). The referee awarded a penalty, and Xabi, our ginger-bearded wonder, crushed it.
But right before the end of the first half, the Netherlands equalized thanks to a massive, meme-inspiring header by Robin Van Persie.
And in the second half? Unfortunately for my red-and-yellow heart, everything that could go wrong for Spain went wrong. The Netherlands scored four more goals in a span of twenty-eight minutes.
I will emerge from my pit of despair long enough to admit that the second of these goals was huge for Stefan De Vrij, who is only twenty-two years old, and who seemed utterly shocked that the ball ended up at his feet and then in the back up the net. It was kind of adorable.
Then camera man decided to spend the last twenty minutes or so gut-punching me with a montage of Spain’s sadness.
Right
In
The
Feels
Those of you who are Oranje fans, congratulations on the win. I’m going to sit, cry, and try to take solace in shirtless Xabi:
Nah, I’m just kidding (except shirtless!Xabi is totally my solace). I’m going to shake it off and ready for the next one, and I hope my team will, too. This is football and we go on.
-Katie Ann
Of Headbands and Heartbreak
watishistacorrespondents
Of Headbands and Heartbreak... 
I can’t stand to see Iker unhappy. As much as I’m sad about the result because I want Spain to do well, seeing Iker look so defeated is the absolute worst thing about this. I just keep reminding myself that they lost their first match in ’10 and that worked out pretty darn well.
Oh, god, I just want to hug him. Marcelo, too. The stricken look is no good on our boys.
I could not believe it as i was watching the game but Spain could not even score unless it was a penalty. And don’t get me started on the defence!!! It is like a whole team still though they are in the practice and not in the real game.
I hope this gives them a swift kick in the a$$ for the rest of the tournament (they did start South Africa with a loss 2).
No one got any points in the poll, i checked, we all though Spain will either win or draw!
Are you talking about the WC picks on Yahoo/Eurosport? I did those too. Was doing pretty well (even got the score right for Brazil vs Croatia) but this game totally threw me off.
yeah it threw everyone off, totally 😦
I cried. Just a little, but yeah, I teared up. In front of other people. There are losses, and then there are 5-1 losses with the sole goal coming as a result of a questionable foul.
We’ve had issues with the defense at Real, but I didn’t think they’d carry through to the NT! There was a Ramos-and-Pique sized hole in front of Iker. And Iker… oof, I don’t even know what to say about those two flubs. As for offense… well, how much of an offense was that? Oh yeah, there’s that sitter Torres missed.
Have they gotten complacent? Were the team strategy and flow thrown off by the addition of Costa (you know I really, really want to blame it all on this lame excuse, but why the hell was his thug ass started in the very first game anyway)? Are we all expecting too much from a team that is now going into transition, with the older guys coming to the end of their prime and the young/new ones just being broken in? Meh, I know that last one is a cop out too… I mean, look at the Dutch team.
Anyhow, I need to stop whinging because it’s just too exhausting (for me and everyone else bothering to listen to or read me lolz). But I still believe, despite the -4 GD, and I hope that that was the shock the team needs to ignite. Viva la Roja!
PS… I’m knicking your shirtless Xabi pic. I need some solace too. 😉
Alexi Lalas, who I normally wouldn’t quote on anything, made the point that it had to happen to Spain eventually (though maybe not quiiiiite this badly), and it’s better that it happens now than at any other point. As long as they turn it around, y’know? Otherwise Xabi will need to be shirtless a lot more.
I’m not supporting Spain for the cup, but God I HATE seeing my captain crushed. And Sunshine as well – the other day with the own goal for Brazil.
It was just horrible to see Iker hang his head in despair. I cringed along with you when he made mistakes. Whatever happens, he’s still my captain and yeah, it just hurts to see him like this.
Excellent match write up – I enjoyed reading it!
Failure is a good teacher. I hope this shakes them out of their complacency and gives them that all-important “fire in the belly.”
Gotta say, that flying header of RVP was a thing of beauty.
woof! this was a doozy of a game. iker was dreadful, but even so i hate to see him looking so bereft. diego costa was a shambles up front (good positioning and possession, but what terrible, terrible finishing!). and the moment with del bosque consoling his team at the end was simply heartwrenching. hopefully they’ll pull themselves together and make it out of the group stage.
but that van persie header was sublime – what a goal!
I am not much of the Spain NT, their tiki-taka is boring watch, so I liked the result, especially because NED won with Mourinho style strong defence + counter attacks.
But sure it was sad to see Xabi and Iker devastated after the game 😦