DUTCH PLACE ON THIRD POSSITION

The Netherlands has been awarded the bronze medal at this year’s FIFA World Cup after sinking host nation Brazil 3-0 in their third-place play-off in Brasilia on Saturday evening. This was what happened..

The Dutch were up as early as the 2^nd minute when captain Robin van Persie buried an early penalty, before defender Daley Blind smashed home 15 minutes later to double the Oranje’s advantage.

An eye witness says, another late-on as the Netherlands recorded a comfortable victory over the Selecao, who finish their World Cup campaign empty-handed.
Still wounded from their 7-1 drubbing at the hands of Germany in their midweek semi-final encounter, Brazil got off to the worst-possible start when captain Thiago Silva dragged back an onrushing Arjen Robben to concede a penalty in just the second minute of the game, although replays suggest the actual foul took place just outside the box. Nevertheless, a spot-kick was awarded as Dutch captain Robin van Persie blasted home to give his side the lead.

Their advantage was increased on 16 minutes when the Selecao failed to deal with a cross from the right, heading it straight to an unmarked Daley Blind who smashed the ball into the net for his first international goal.

Brazil had to wait until the 21^st minute for their first meaningful attempt on goal, as Oscar drilled in a strike from range, which goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen easily stopped with a dive to his right. Chances were created at both ends, yet cynical fouls around the Dutch box lead to a number of free-kicks for the hosts, with Oscar tasked with finding an opening for his side. His well-directed set piece delivery was fizzed in on 37 minutes, yet flashed across goal with no team mates in reach to find the back of the net, as Luis Felipe Scolari’s men entered the changeroom two goals down at the break.

The Dutch were content to sit on their lead in the second period, soaking up wave after wave of Brazilian attack and breaking on the counter as gaps opened up in the Selecao defence. Ramires came closest for the hosts in the 59^th minutes, dragging his shot from the right narrowly wide of Cillessen’s upright.

Goal mouth action was hard to come by for the hosts for the remainder of the game, despite their 57% ball possession and 11 attempts on the Dutch goal as the Oranje backline remained resilient. And Brazil’s misery was compounded deep into extra time as substitute Daryl Janmaat found space down the right, playing in a square ball for Georginio Wijnaldum to tuck home and condemn the hosts to fourth place in their home tournament at this year’s global showpiece. The defeat ended a horrible week for Brazil as they conceded a 14^th goal at this year’s World Cup – the worst defence of any team – while succumbing to a second successive defeat at home for the first time in 70 years.