Louis Van Gaal left the Netherlands with third place, as Brazil paid for another nightmare start in this 3-0 result.
Louis Van Gaal left the Netherlands with third place, as Brazil paid for another nightmare start in this 3-0 result.
The play-off for third place saw the hosts eager to wash away some of the shame from their 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany. Thiago Silva returned from suspension and Neymar was able to watch with his teammates after fracturing a vertebra, but Fred, Hulk, Bernard and Marcelo were dropped. Nigel De Jong was not risked, but Wesley Sneijder pulled out during the warm-up with a hamstring problem and was replaced by Jonathan De Guzman.
It was the worst possible start for Brazil, as within 85 seconds Thiago Silva hauled back Arjen Robben right on the edge of the box. The referee awarded the penalty and was lenient to give the captain a yellow card, though it also looked as if the foul occurred just outside the area.
Robin Van Persie stepped up and converted high past Julio Cesar to give Holland the very early lead.
David Luiz had a shocker against Germany and confirmed his poor form by gifting a second goal to the Dutch. The newly-signed PSG defender aimed a woeful clearance straight at Daley Blind, who had plenty of time and space to fire under the bar from 12 yards.
That was the 13th goal conceded by Brazil in this World Cup – more than any side since Belgium shipped 15 in 1986. The worst defensive record for hosts was Switzerland with 11 in 1954.
Jasper Cillessen smothered an Oscar snapshot, then an Oscar free kick flashed across the six-yard box inches away from the toes of both Paulinho and David Luiz, as Luiz Gustavo got a touch that sent it beyond his teammates.
After the break Holland took a free kick quickly and Thiago Silva had to charge down Robben’s shot, while Ramires flashed an angled drive just wide.
Oscar went down in the box after a clash of knees with Blind, but the Brazilian was very harshly booked for simulation. Bizarrely, that was the first yellow card for diving in this World Cup and it looked more like a penalty, as Blind was stretchered off with a nasty bruise.
Hulk came off the bench and ballooned a promising move off target, Robben had penalty appeals waved away for a Fernandinho nudge in the back and Dirk Kuyt’s header was deflected wide from a Robben corner.
Just as Brazil thought the game had finished ‘only’ 2-0, Daryl Janmaat burst down the right and rolled across for the totally unmarked Georginio Wijnaldum to tap in from eight yards.
The victory was so crushing that Van Gaal was able to throw on Michel Vorm, meaning every single player in the Dutch squad had some playing time in this World Cup. No team had ever done that before. Holland risked a fourth goal, but Janmaat's first touch was poor.
Brazil 0-3 Netherlands
Scorers: Van Persie pen 3 (N), Blind 17 (N), Wijnaldum 92 (N)
Brazil: Julio Cesar; Maicon, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Maxwell; Paulinho (Hernanes 57), Luiz Gustavo (Fernandinho 46); Ramires (Hulk 73), Oscar, Willian; Jo
Netherlands: Cillessen (Vorm 93); De Vrij, Vlaar, Martins Indi; Kuyt, Wijnaldum, Clasie (Veltman 90), Blind (Janmaat 70); De Guzman; Van Persie, Robben
Ref: Haimoudi (ALG)