9 years ago: Flying Dutchman van Persie or One of the best goals of the World Cup

Robin van Persie has scored many beautiful goals in his career, but the one at the 2014 World Cup will be one of his absolute best. He literally flew into the header against Spain and this goal will be remembered by fans as the “Flying Dutchman”.

If there was one national team the Netherlands didn’t like, it was the Spanish one. A great era around players like Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben, Raphael van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder and Dirk Kuyt saw them reach the World Cup finals in 2010, where they wanted gold.

But it was Spain who took it from them, deciding the match deep into extra time when Andres Iniesta scored in the 116th minute.

Four years later, the Netherlands had the perfect chance for revenge. At the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Spain made it into the group and were due to face them in the very first match. It was a clash between the current world champion and runner-up, and La Roja had also dominated the EURO two years earlier.

That Iberian footballers could once again have the upper hand was hinted at in the first half when Xabi Alonso sent Spain into the lead in the 27th minute. But the game was certainly not as even as expected after that.

In fact, the Netherlands made their rivals utterly impotent and disgraced. And it was Robin van Persie who started it all with one of the goals of his life. However, Daley Blind also deserves praise for his millimetre pass from the middle of the pitch to the edge of the box.

Robin van Persie ran in, but was not caught by Sergio Ramos, and the Netherlands striker beat Iker Casillas with a beautiful leaping lob.

After the change of sides, the Netherlands quickly turned the game around when Arjen Robben scored in the 53rd minute. Stefan de Vrij added a third goal in the 64th minute and van Persie scored for the second time in the 72nd minute. In the 80th minute, Robben played with Spain’s defence to seal a final and humiliating 1:5 for the world champions.

Source: Youtube, FIFA