Futbol. Dios mio. Futbol.
If anyone thought it would be a calmer day after the wildness of Brazil-Chile, they were totally wrong. The Netherlands and Mexico battled for 96 minutes, and, while it looked like El Tri would defy history and advance, the victory was snatched away in added time.
Goals:
Netherlands: Sneijder 88’, Huntelaar 94’
Mexico: Dos Santos 48’
Lineups:
Netherlands: Cilessen, Verhaegh, Blind, Vlaar, De Vrij, Wijnaldum, Robben, Sneijder, De Jong, Van Persie, Kuijt Mexico: Ochoa, Salcido, Guardado, Moreno, Rodriguez, Aguilar, Layun, Marquez, Herrera, Dos Santos, Peralta
It was nearly 100 degrees in Fortaleza, and it seemed the Dutch were feeling the heat early on. Nigel De Jong was subbed off after just nine minutes and replaced by Bruno Martins Indi. Meanwhile, Mexico’s players were flying at the Oranje defense. Herrera, Layun, Peralta, and Dos Santos all looked dangerous, but the goals wouldn’t come.
There was a dodgy moment in added time when Arjen Robben was brought down by Hector Moreno. Moreno ended up having to be stretchered off with an injury to his left leg. Debate ensued about whether or not there should have been a penalty, whether or not it was a double foul, etc, etc… The second half started the way the first had; with Mexico on the attack. Giovani Dos Santos scored in the forty-eighth minute with a rocket of a shot from thirty yards out.
For the next thirty minutes, Mexico clung to their narrow lead. Ochoa made three of the massive saves he’s become known for during this World Cup, and I, for one, started to believe that maybe El Tri would pull off this win they were so desperate for.
Wesley Sneijder grabbed the equalizer for the Netherlands with just two minutes left in regular time.
It was devastating, but I have to admit it was a beautiful goal. Jans Huntelaar got his head to Robben’s corner and sent the ball toward the edge of the box where Sneijder was waiting to smash it into the back of the net.
The winning goal- Huntelaar from the penalty spot- is the source of tremendous controversy. The penalty was awarded after Robben went down under a challenge from Rafa Marquez. I’ll leave it for you all to judge:
The outcome? A last-minute winner for the Netherlands and heartbreak for Mexico.
My heart is a little broken for them, I must say. It’s a tough way to go out.
I’ll end with this gif of Miguel Herrera, who will surely be missed in the technical area:
Adios, Miguel. Adios, El Tri.
– Katie Ann
Of Headbands and Heartbreak
watishistacorrespondents
Have you seen this? Kind of funny (not as funny as the Simpsons artists drawing the 2010 Spanish National Team – hilarious – but funny): http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/17/world-cup-celebrity-look-alikes-doppelgangers_n_5500095.html?utm_hp_ref=sports&ncid=txtlnkushpmg00000021
Those are all terrifyingly bad
Also, I am SO angry at the Dutch. Yes, Sneijder’s shot was fantastic but the foul that Robben pulled off was B.S. Total B.S. Even though I am sad they won, I am glad that all the favorites (almost all) have fumbled and it could be many different teams’ trophy at this time. Very exciting.
THIS WAS SUCH BS! I really hope Costa Rica are the ones to knock them out.
Wouldn’t that be AMAZING? I would love that so much.
It would be one of the most exciting things to happen in World Cup history. Costa Rica have had such an incredible run – I just want it to keep going!
I will totally jump on that bandwagon!
I’m with y’all.
Me 2, Me 2!!!!
I may have been rooting for Netherlands, but only because I played there. And I don’t like Mexico. So yeah… Sneijder’s shot was fabulous. But Robben showed he’s a diving twat, like he usually does. *sigh*
I wanted a Netherlands win but not like that
I wasn’t rooting for neither team, but during this game I started rooting for Mexico because I didn’t like how Netherlands was playing. I really thought it would go to them, but they started playing defense way too soon. A one goal difference can be changed way too quickly. It sucks, but that’s football.
I’m Dutch, but Mexico’s style of play is much more attractive to watch. It is a shame El Tri had to leave the tournament this way… I’ll especially miss the glorious saves of Ochoa.
An argument defending the penalty: in the first half, Robben was taken down in he box, so maybe the ref had that in the back of his mind when he awarded the penalty. Robben’s dive in added time alone was definitely not enough to claim a penalty
This is one of the things that frustrates me about penalties in soccer: why is it allowable for a referee to call a penalty/foul on supposed accumulative incidents? Especially in the waning moments of a game! I would prefer a clean slate approach: if a penalty is called it should be for that incident only and not because the ref is remembering actions that happened earlier.
Sneijder’s shot was amazing and there is no denying it, but the faker Robben, ugh, i wonder what karma has in store for him. I never liked him much cause he is such a drama queen, when he is in the flying mode he is lethal though.