World Cup: Dutch beat Brazil 3-0 to claim third

The Netherlands beat Brazil 3-0 in the World Cup third-place play-off in Brasilia to finish the tournament unbeaten in regulation time.

Brazil’s goalkeeper Julio Cesar (R) fails to save Netherlands’ midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum’s (L) goal, which made the score 3-0. (AFP/Damien Meyer)

>>World Cup: Germany inflict historic 7-1 thrashing on Brazil

BRASILIA: Brazil ended their home World Cup to a cacophony of boos on Saturday as the defensive errors that crushed their bid for a sixth title resurfaced in a shoddy 3-0 loss to the Netherlands in the third-place play-off match.

Central defenders Thiago Silva and David Luiz were guilty of early mistakes as the Dutch scored twice in 16 minutes, sparking fears of a repeat of the 7-1 humiliation suffered in their record World Cup loss to Germany in the semi-finals on Tuesday.

That defeat was Brazil’s first competitive loss at home in 39 years and brought about calls for widespread changes, with coach Luiz Felipe Scolari greeted with heavy boos when his name was read out before the kickoff in Brasilia.

Brazil have now lost back-to-back home games for the first time since 1940, and they end the tournament having conceded 14 goals altogether, the most of any side at a World Cup since 1986 and the most ever for a host team.

Scolari made six changes to his team to face the Netherlands in a bid to restore some pride after Tuesday’s embarrassment but it was returning captain Thiago Silva, his loyal captain, who was to blame for the opening goal in the third minute.

The defender was fortunate to only receive a yellow card from Algerian referee Djamel Haimoudi for pulling back winger Arjen Robben who was put through on goal after 90 seconds.

The Brazil skipper was clearly the last man, although the offence appeared to occur just outside the penalty area.

With the home fans watching in disbelief, Van Persie stepped up to smash in the penalty as the home fans in the stadium and throughout the Brazilian capital fell into near silence.

They found their negative voices, though, shortly after as Thiago Silva’s defensive partner Luiz sent a header under no pressure to Daley Blind, who had time to take two touches near the penalty spot before firing home in the 16th minute.

It was the ninth goal Brazil had conceded in 95 traumatic minutes and the anger again came pouring down from the terraces, with boos ringing out as the once proud hosts were left embarrassed by the shambolic efforts of the beloved Selecao.

Scolari made changes at the interval as Brazil tried to find a way back into the game but they only found more misery as Oscar became the first player to be booked for diving at the tournament after trying to win a penalty with 20 minutes left.

The hosts did enjoy greater possession in the second period but the Dutch always threatened on the break and they completed the rout in stoppage time when Georginio Wijnaldum was left unmarked to turn in Daryl Janmaat’s cross.

Having gone nearly 40 years without a competitive home defeat, Brazil have now suffered two in five days.

Brazil’s players apologised to fans after their dire performance.

“I don’t think we deserved for it to end like this,” captain Thiago Silva said in a televised interview.

“We need to apologise to the fans, they booed us at the end, which is normal, they have feelings too. It’s very tough.”

Midfielder Oscar looked totally deflated after the defeat, which came just four days after Brazil were crushed 7-1 by Germany in the semi-finals.

“What can you say. We came here hoping to win third place but we didn’t, it wasn’t our day,” Oscar said. “We lost, there’s nothing to say.

“We lost a goal in two, three minutes and we were chasing the game.

“We are all very sad, the people are very sad, but we tried and we tried till the end.”

In contrast, Louis van Gaal’s Netherlands leave with the consolation of taking third place and end the competition unbeaten, with their semi-final exit against Argentina only coming after a penalty shoot-out.

Dutch forward Arjen Robben said: “It was a great end — you can get rid of a bit of the shock of not going to the final, but not completely. The disappointment stays, we’ve been so close. We deserved more.

“I’m finished, I’ve given everything. We’ve come so close.

“That’s why the third place is so deserved.

“I’m so proud of this team, compliments to them.”

Source AFP

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