Netherlands vs Australia
The days opening match saw Netherlands take on Australia in one of the most exciting contests so far. Australia was actually to able to start off the match on the front foot, controlling the play and creating chances. However, they weren't able to convert those chances and the Netherlands punished the Soccerroos in the 20th minute as Arjen Robben picked up the ball at midfield and took it all the way to score the games opening goal.
Australia countered quickly as they scored pretty much off the resulting kick off. Ryan McGowan played a long ball over the top that Tim Cahill was able to get on the end of and send a beautiful volley into the back of the net.
The teams were off to a cautious start in the second half and Australia got a break after eight minutes when Oliver Bozanic's cross hit Daryl Janmaat's hand for a penalty kick. Mile Jedinak stepped up and slammed the ball into the left hand corner to give Australia the 2-1 lead.
Once again, a lead was short lived as leftback Memphis Depay cut inside before finding Robin van Persie for the equalizer.
Australia had a number of chances, none better than Matthew Leckie's wasted one on one Jasper Cillessen. Almost immediately after Leckie wasted his chance, Depay once again cut inside, taking a swerving shot that fooled Matthew Ryan and rolled into Australia's goal.
Australia did their best to find a leveler but couldn't make the most of their pressure and the Oranje held on for a 3-2 win.
Takeaways:
Man of the Match: Arjen Robben
Robben was once again the most dangerous player on the pitch. He has the speed and dribbling ability to make the most of even the slightest chances. A player who normally plays on the wing for Bayern Munich, Robben has been devastating playing a more central role for the Netherlands.
Robin van Persie will miss the final group game for the Netherlands as he picked up his second yellow card. He'll be eligible to play in the first knockout game.
Memphis Depay was great at leftback after replacing Bruno Martins Indi in first half stoppage time.
This was Tim Cahill's last World Cup game as he picked up his second yellow and will miss Australia's final game against Spain.
Spain vs Chile
Spain's nightmare World Cup continued as they crashed out, becoming the first defending champion to drop their opening two games.
Spain started well as they had a majority of the possession once again. And once again they were caught on the counter attack. Eduardo Vargas finished a quick counter attack as he took Charles Aránguiz's pass and touched it around Iker Casillas and poked it in to the back of the net.
Spain continued to dominate possession but couldn't find a finishing product for the second game running. Things went from bad to worse when Aránguiz scored after Casillas' poor clearance of an Alexis Sánchez free kick just before halftime.
The second half was predictably one sided as Spain desperately tried to keep their World Cup hopes alive. Despite creating a number of chances, La Furia Roja couldn't convert any of them. Even a wide open look in front of goal for Sergio Busquets
As time ran out, Spain were officially eliminated from the World Cup, becoming the third of the last four champions to fail to make it out of the group stage.
Takeaways:
Man of the Match: Charles Aránguiz
While Vargas was the official man of the match, Aránguiz was the most creative and dangerous man on the night for Chile. He always looked promising on Chile's counter attacks and opened the scoring when he found Vargas with the decisive ball. His goal to double Chile's lead was a great piece of skill as he was able to quickly hit the ball with the outside of his foot and curl it into the near side.
Chile and the Netherlands will face off for the top spot in Group B as both sides look to avoid Brazil in the first knockout stage.
Arturo Vidal looked better than he did in the first game as he continues to improve following minor knee surgery. Chile will need him to play well when they reach the knockout phase.
This could have been the last game for many of Spain's stars as Vicente del Bosque could field a number for the younger players in the teams last game in Brazil.
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| Robben's fast break |
Australia countered quickly as they scored pretty much off the resulting kick off. Ryan McGowan played a long ball over the top that Tim Cahill was able to get on the end of and send a beautiful volley into the back of the net.
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| Cahill's cracker |
The teams were off to a cautious start in the second half and Australia got a break after eight minutes when Oliver Bozanic's cross hit Daryl Janmaat's hand for a penalty kick. Mile Jedinak stepped up and slammed the ball into the left hand corner to give Australia the 2-1 lead.
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| The questionable hand ball |
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| Jedinak's penalty |
Once again, a lead was short lived as leftback Memphis Depay cut inside before finding Robin van Persie for the equalizer.
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| van Persie levels |
Australia had a number of chances, none better than Matthew Leckie's wasted one on one Jasper Cillessen. Almost immediately after Leckie wasted his chance, Depay once again cut inside, taking a swerving shot that fooled Matthew Ryan and rolled into Australia's goal.
Australia did their best to find a leveler but couldn't make the most of their pressure and the Oranje held on for a 3-2 win.
Takeaways:
Man of the Match: Arjen Robben
Robben was once again the most dangerous player on the pitch. He has the speed and dribbling ability to make the most of even the slightest chances. A player who normally plays on the wing for Bayern Munich, Robben has been devastating playing a more central role for the Netherlands.
Robin van Persie will miss the final group game for the Netherlands as he picked up his second yellow card. He'll be eligible to play in the first knockout game.
Memphis Depay was great at leftback after replacing Bruno Martins Indi in first half stoppage time.
This was Tim Cahill's last World Cup game as he picked up his second yellow and will miss Australia's final game against Spain.
Spain vs Chile
Spain's nightmare World Cup continued as they crashed out, becoming the first defending champion to drop their opening two games.
Spain started well as they had a majority of the possession once again. And once again they were caught on the counter attack. Eduardo Vargas finished a quick counter attack as he took Charles Aránguiz's pass and touched it around Iker Casillas and poked it in to the back of the net.
Spain continued to dominate possession but couldn't find a finishing product for the second game running. Things went from bad to worse when Aránguiz scored after Casillas' poor clearance of an Alexis Sánchez free kick just before halftime.
The second half was predictably one sided as Spain desperately tried to keep their World Cup hopes alive. Despite creating a number of chances, La Furia Roja couldn't convert any of them. Even a wide open look in front of goal for Sergio Busquets
As time ran out, Spain were officially eliminated from the World Cup, becoming the third of the last four champions to fail to make it out of the group stage.
Takeaways:
Man of the Match: Charles Aránguiz
While Vargas was the official man of the match, Aránguiz was the most creative and dangerous man on the night for Chile. He always looked promising on Chile's counter attacks and opened the scoring when he found Vargas with the decisive ball. His goal to double Chile's lead was a great piece of skill as he was able to quickly hit the ball with the outside of his foot and curl it into the near side.
Chile and the Netherlands will face off for the top spot in Group B as both sides look to avoid Brazil in the first knockout stage.
Arturo Vidal looked better than he did in the first game as he continues to improve following minor knee surgery. Chile will need him to play well when they reach the knockout phase.
This could have been the last game for many of Spain's stars as Vicente del Bosque could field a number for the younger players in the teams last game in Brazil.
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