Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/345566
45 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 13 JULY 2014 SPORTTODAY Netherlands 1. Jasper Cillessen 90+3', 3. Stefan de Vrij, 2. Ron Vlaar, 4. Bruno Martins Indi, 15. Dirk Kuyt, 20. Georginio Wijnaldum, 8. Jonathan de Guzman, 16. Jordy Clasie 90', 5. Daley Blind 70', 11. Arjen Rob- ben, 9. Robin van Persie Subs 22. Michel Vorm 90+3', 7. Daryl Janmaat 70', 10. Wesley Sneijder, 12. Paul Verhaegh, 13. Joel Velt- man 90', 14. Terence Kongolo, 17. Jeremain Lens, 19. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, 21. Memphis Depay, 23. Tim Krul Brazil 12. Julio Cesar, 23. Maicon, 4. David Luiz, 3. Thiago Silva, 14. Maxwell, 8. Paulinho 57', 17. Luiz Gustavo 46', 16. Ramires 73', 11. Oscar, 19. Willian, 21. Jo Subs 1. Jefferson, 2. Dani Alves, 5. Fernandinho 46', 6. Marcelo, 7. Hulk 73', 9. Fred, 13. Dante, 15. Henrique, 18. Hernanes 57', 20. Bernard, 22. Victor Dutch clinch third place with 3-0 win over miserable Brazil The Netherlands clinched third place in the 2014 World Cup with a 3-0 crushing of Brazil on Saturday, adding to the hosts' miserable finale to the tournament. Brazil ....................... 0 Netherlands .............. 3 AFTER their worst-ever World Cup defeat - a 7-1 drubbing against Germany in the semi-fi- nals - a still shell-shocked Brazil side could not salvage the coun- try's pride at Brasilia's Estadio Na- cional, conceding two goals inside 17 minutes. Robin Van Persie netted in the first with a penalt y after just three minutes, while defender Da- ley Blind scored the second less than a quarter of an hour later. Substitute Georginio Wijnaldum clinched the Netherlands' third during injury time. This is the first time that the Dutch have ended a World Cup in third place, having lost in the 1974, 1978 and 2010 finals and in their only other battle for third place, against Croatia in 1998. Brazil, by contrast, leave the tournament with their tails be- tween their legs, having failed to win a World Cup on home soil for a second time and with a cam- paign that will always be remem- bered for their semi-final humili- ation in Belo Horizonte. For a game that neither would have wanted to play, it was to be expected that both coaches would make a number of changes to their starting lineups. Brazil welcomed back captain Thiago Silva, who was sorely missed against Germany, but dropped left-back Marcelo and out-of-favour Fred, fielding Jo up front instead. Louis Van Gaal had to do with- out creative midfielder Wesley Sneijder, who picked up a last- minute injury, and Nigel de Jong, replacing the pair with Jonathan De Guzman and Jordy Clasie. Brazilian star Neymar joined his team-mates on the bench, despite being unable to play after fractur- ing a vertebra in the quarter-final game against Colombia. Despite there being little to play for, Luiz Felipe Scolari had insist- ed before the game that his play- ers should go out and "honour the national team jersey." But despite pockets of encour- agement from the stands, the hosts never looked like having a clear game plan and suffered a nightmare start to the game. As the Dutch made their first attacking manoeuvre, Arjen Rob- ben was served a wonderful deep ball from Van Persie and made a run for goal, only to be brought down by Thiago Silva. Algerian referee Djamel Haimoudi award- ed a penalt y and booked Thiago Silva, despite the fact that the Brazilian captain could have been shown a red card for denying the Dutch winger a clear opportunit y at goal. In any event, captain Van Persie put the Dutch in front after just three minutes of play with a well- taken penalt y kick to score his fourth goal of the tournament. Less than a quarter of an hour passed before the hosts had con- ceded a second. And yet again it was David Lu- iz, who had been singled out as one of the worst Brazilian play- ers against Germany, who made another error. This time it was his poor clearance that ended up delivering the ball on a plate to Blind, who had plent y of time to beat goalkeeper Julio Cesar with a comfortable finish from the cen- tre of the area. Still mindful of their semi-final drubbing, Brazil struggled to make an impact, although they came close in the 38th only for Paulinho and David Luiz to nar- rowly fail to connect with the ball following a f lick by Luis Gustavo. The end of the first half was greeted by jeers and boos from the crowd. Scolari replaced Luiz Gustavo with Manchester Cit y's Fernand- inho and also brought in Hernanes for Paulinho after the break, but it was the Dutch who continued to look the more threatening side, with Robben a constant thorn on Brazil 's right f lank. And despite plent y of good will, Brazil rarely looked like threaten- ing a well-organized Dutch side and ended up conceding a third goal during injury time. Brazil had come into the World Cup knowing that nothing less than a sixth title would satisf y the fans. Instead, they ended the cam- paign conceding a record number of goals - 14 - and their first con- secutive home defeats since 1940. For Van Gaal, it was a fitting fi- nal game at the helm of the Dutch national team. The master tacti- cian has already signed a contract with Manchester United and can join the English club claiming that - excluding the penalt y shoot-out against Argentina - his team left Brazil undefeated. The 2014 World Cup Get all the latest updates Robin van Persie of the Netherlands shoots on target. Photo by EPA/ROBERT GHEMENT