Holland top Group B after Leroy Fer header helps break Chile’s resolve
Louis Van Gaal put his match-winning double substitution down to
luck but his smile betrayed the fact he thought otherwise. A second-half
header from Norwich City’s Leroy Fer two minutes after coming on
ensured Holland topped the group with maximum points in front of Chile
and booked a theoretically easier passage to the semi-finals. They now
face Mexico while Chile get Brazil in the last 16.
The decisive corner had been won by another substitute, Memphis Depay, and it was Fer who was left in the space created by a Ron Vlaar run to score with a muscular, stooping header. Depay, expected to start instead of the suspended Robin Van Persie but left on the bench in favour of underwhelming Jeremain Lens, added a second at the end from a rapier-like Arjen Robben run and cross.
Perhaps it was inevitable that a meeting between two of the sides who had so epitomised the World Cup’s gung-ho spirit would begin as a tetchy, tactical affair.
Victory left Holland, who ultimately dealt with Chile with expert precision, standing imperiously atop Group B despite enjoying only 36% possession.
Chile, backed by their rousing and rowdy red sea of fans, knew they needed to win because of Holland’s superior goal difference. They initially impressed with their constant motion and energy, swarming and buzzing all over the Dutch but failing to find a way through.
Chile’s Argentinian coach, Jorge Sampaoli, embodied their approach. Afterwards he bemoaned the fact that only one side wanted to attack having spent 90 minutes skipping around the technical area.
His side’s best first-half chance fell to Felipe Gutiérrez, playing in the hole behind the strikers. Finding himself unmarked from a Marcelo Díaz free-kick with his back towards goal, he flicked the ball over the bar with his head.
Alexis Sánchez was a threat throughout, his contribution epitomised by a moment in the second half when he wriggled past Lens on the byline and stung the hands of Jasper Cillessen from a tight angle. But Holland smothered Chile’s effervescent attacking threat, restricting them to just a handful of chances. By the end, they had gone flat.
After again taking aim at Fifa over the standard of refereeing in Holland’s previous games, Van Gaal explained his tactics. Throughout, the hardworking former Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt played as an extra left-back in a defensive 5-3-2 formation that has been the subject of disquiet among parts of the Dutch media. “I believe you have to create a strategy to win,” Van Gaal said. “The proof is in the pudding. If it had not worked you would have chopped off my head. I know that.”
There was one Dutch player who remained an attacking threat throughout.Robben, captain for the day in place of Van Persie, is in the form of his life.
Midway through the first half, he shrugged off Gonzalo Jara near the half-way line and surged deep into the Chile penalty area. He dragged his shot wide of Claudio Bravo’s left-hand post but it was ample reminder that he was capable of piercing defences at any time.
It now seems extraordinary that José Mourinho sold Robben seven years ago to Real Madrid because he felt his influence too peripheral. “This is a fantastic job, a fantastic performance, but it shouldn’t end here,” said the Bayern Munich player.
At the back the Oranje wall held firm. Aston Villa’s Vlaar and Feyenoord’s Stefan de Vrij impressed, while Nigel de Jong provided a resolute shield.
Sampaoli bemoaned Holland’s negative tactics. “We had the idea of winning. That’s why we gave our all but could not find a solution to a team that only defended and aspired only to have long- range strikes.”
Van Gaal had little sympathy, as he deadbatted questions over whether this was the best moment of his career. “If you look at my CV, you’ll see that I win a lot of matches. That’s not new.”
Tens of thousands of Chilean fans created a crackling atmosphere from the moment they belted out their national anthem. But when Depay added the second deep into added time, they were silenced for the first time and only the bright block of Dutch fans could be heard.
In the absence of Van Persie, Holland fielded a starting lineup without a “van” on the team sheet for the first time in almost 20 years. They missed him as the focal point of their attack until Van Gaal’s changes. But, inspired by their magnetic manager and Robben’s drive, they are motoring through to the knockout stage regardless.
The decisive corner had been won by another substitute, Memphis Depay, and it was Fer who was left in the space created by a Ron Vlaar run to score with a muscular, stooping header. Depay, expected to start instead of the suspended Robin Van Persie but left on the bench in favour of underwhelming Jeremain Lens, added a second at the end from a rapier-like Arjen Robben run and cross.
Perhaps it was inevitable that a meeting between two of the sides who had so epitomised the World Cup’s gung-ho spirit would begin as a tetchy, tactical affair.
Victory left Holland, who ultimately dealt with Chile with expert precision, standing imperiously atop Group B despite enjoying only 36% possession.
Chile, backed by their rousing and rowdy red sea of fans, knew they needed to win because of Holland’s superior goal difference. They initially impressed with their constant motion and energy, swarming and buzzing all over the Dutch but failing to find a way through.
Chile’s Argentinian coach, Jorge Sampaoli, embodied their approach. Afterwards he bemoaned the fact that only one side wanted to attack having spent 90 minutes skipping around the technical area.
His side’s best first-half chance fell to Felipe Gutiérrez, playing in the hole behind the strikers. Finding himself unmarked from a Marcelo Díaz free-kick with his back towards goal, he flicked the ball over the bar with his head.
Alexis Sánchez was a threat throughout, his contribution epitomised by a moment in the second half when he wriggled past Lens on the byline and stung the hands of Jasper Cillessen from a tight angle. But Holland smothered Chile’s effervescent attacking threat, restricting them to just a handful of chances. By the end, they had gone flat.
After again taking aim at Fifa over the standard of refereeing in Holland’s previous games, Van Gaal explained his tactics. Throughout, the hardworking former Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt played as an extra left-back in a defensive 5-3-2 formation that has been the subject of disquiet among parts of the Dutch media. “I believe you have to create a strategy to win,” Van Gaal said. “The proof is in the pudding. If it had not worked you would have chopped off my head. I know that.”
There was one Dutch player who remained an attacking threat throughout.Robben, captain for the day in place of Van Persie, is in the form of his life.
Midway through the first half, he shrugged off Gonzalo Jara near the half-way line and surged deep into the Chile penalty area. He dragged his shot wide of Claudio Bravo’s left-hand post but it was ample reminder that he was capable of piercing defences at any time.
It now seems extraordinary that José Mourinho sold Robben seven years ago to Real Madrid because he felt his influence too peripheral. “This is a fantastic job, a fantastic performance, but it shouldn’t end here,” said the Bayern Munich player.
At the back the Oranje wall held firm. Aston Villa’s Vlaar and Feyenoord’s Stefan de Vrij impressed, while Nigel de Jong provided a resolute shield.
Sampaoli bemoaned Holland’s negative tactics. “We had the idea of winning. That’s why we gave our all but could not find a solution to a team that only defended and aspired only to have long- range strikes.”
Van Gaal had little sympathy, as he deadbatted questions over whether this was the best moment of his career. “If you look at my CV, you’ll see that I win a lot of matches. That’s not new.”
Tens of thousands of Chilean fans created a crackling atmosphere from the moment they belted out their national anthem. But when Depay added the second deep into added time, they were silenced for the first time and only the bright block of Dutch fans could be heard.
In the absence of Van Persie, Holland fielded a starting lineup without a “van” on the team sheet for the first time in almost 20 years. They missed him as the focal point of their attack until Van Gaal’s changes. But, inspired by their magnetic manager and Robben’s drive, they are motoring through to the knockout stage regardless.
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