Final, 3-0 Netherlands: It’s all over in Brasilia. The Netherlands finishes in third place at the 2014 World Cup after downing Brazil.
The Dutch are holding their heads high following their comprehensive victory in the third-place game. They scored two early goals and added one late in a performance in which the departing van Gaal and the country itself will take great pride.
It was chaos at the back for Brazil against the Netherlands. The team lacked shape and defenders committed basic errors, which the Dutch ruthlessly punished. Brazil didn’t fare much better going forward, as its attacking play lacked purpose, ingenuity and overall quality.
Brazilian soccer is left hanging its head in shame after the national team’s spectacular twin failures in the most important games of the tournament.
Referee Djamel Haimoudi was the only one to fare worse than Brazil. Haimoudi made numerous mistakes on big calls throughout the game. Had Haimoudi performed this poorly in a game that had more at stake, it would be a scandal in the soccer world.
The Netherlands will leave Brazil with the feeling of a “job well done.” The Dutch showed that a young team with a little star power can unite and overachieve when everyone pulls in the same direction. Van Gaal truly is a “Dutch Master” and deserves the nonstop adulation that is flowing his way.
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Meanwhile, Brazil’s national team is in crisis, and the numbers make for grim reading. The team lacked quality and wasn’t mentally strong enough to cope with the momentous occasions when it met truly great opponents at the 2014 World Cup.
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Brazil now must decide what kind of soccer nation it will be and what is the best path to that destination. Because it no longer is a superpower, nor is it fit to bear the standard of “the beautiful game.”
That’s all for now, and thanks for joining us. Let’s discuss this one on Twitter @NESNsoccer and Facebook. Be sure to keep an eye out for some news, fan reactions, analysis and opinion that is on the way on NESN.com.
90th minute +3, 3-0 Netherlands: The Netherlands replaces goalkeeper Cillessen with his backup, Michel Vorm.
It’s a symbolic gesture by Van Gaal, who now has played all 23 players at this World Cup.
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90th minute, 3-0 Netherlands: Wijnaldum makes a late run into Brazil’s penalty area and scores the Netherlands’ third goal of the game.
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Robben passed to Janmaat on the right wing, and the Dutch fullback crossed into the area. Wijnaldum arrived first and beat Cesar with his shot.
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90th minute, 2-0 Netherlands: Clasie is down injured, and the Netherlands replaces him with Joel Veltman.
There will be at least five minutes of added time in the second half.
86th minute, 2-0 Netherlands: Kuyt heads Robben’s corner kick over the crossbar.
82nd minute, 2-0 Netherlands: Robben wants another penalty kick after Fernandinho barged into him from behind, but the referee declines his request.
78th minute, 2-0 Netherlands: Oscar balloons his shot high and wide.
Brazil is playing much better in the second half but is still lacking the quality in the final third that is necessary to test Cillessen.
75th minute, 2-0 Netherlands: Hulk shoots wide from 15 yards out.
73rd minute, 2-0 Netherlands: Hulk replaces Ramires, as Brazil makes its final substitution.
70th minute, 2-0 Netherlands: Blind can’t continue. Janmaat replaces the injured Dutch fullback.
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68th minute, 2-0 Netherlands: Oscar is cautioned for diving inside the Netherlands’ penalty area.
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Blind made contact with Oscar, but the referee decided to punish the Brazilian attacker.
Now Blind is down with an apparent injury.
63rd minute, 2-0 Netherlands: Luiz shoots a free kick on goal, but it goes straight to the awaiting Cillessen.
60th minute, 2-0 Netherlands: Ramires drags his shot wide from 18 yards out.
57th minute, 2-0 Netherlands: Hernanes replaces Paulinho, as Brazil makes another personnel change in the midfield.
54th minute, 2-0 Netherlands: Fernandinho is cautioned for a hard foul on van Persie.
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The Brazil midfielder only was on the field for eight minutes before he was booked.
50th minute, 2-0 Netherlands: Robben almost has a shot on goal, but Silva blocks it before it reaches the target.
50th minute, 2-0 Netherlands: There has been some end-to-end action in the opening minutes of the second half, but none of it has led to any clear scoring chances.
46th minute, 2-0 Netherlands: The second half is underway.
Brazil made one substitution at halftime, replacing Luis Gustavo with Fernandinho.
Halftime, 2-0 Netherlands: The first half is over. The Dutch lead by two.
The fans voiced their displeasure after the referee ended the first half, booing Brazil’s players and staff for a lifeless performance and two-goal deficit.
Brazil is playing with a lack of organization, focus and quality, which suggests that its players haven’t recovered from the psychological effects of their semifinal drubbing.
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Brazil also only shot once on goal in the first half.
The Dutch aren’t playing much better than they have throughout the tournament. They simply have finished the chances they created or the ones Brazil created for them.
Robben has been particularly active. The Dutch forward is causing problems with his passing and speed.
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45th minute, 2-0 Netherlands: Oscar hits a free kick into the Netherlands’ wall. The rebound falls to Maxwell, who boots it well over the crossbar and into the stands.
There will be at least two minutes of added time in the first half.
41st minute, 2-0 Netherlands: Van Persie shoots from 20 yards out, but Cesar easily saves it.
38th minute, 2-0 Netherlands: Oscar delivers another free kick into the Netherlands’ penalty area, but Luiz and Paulinho miss by inches once again.
36th minute, 2-0 Netherlands: De Guzman is cautioned for tripping Oscar.
34th minute, 2-0 Netherlands: Luiz and Paulinho nearly connect with Oscar’s free kick, but Wijnaldum heads it out for a corner kick.
33rd minute, 2-0 Netherlands: As the game hits a lull, the fans busy themselves with an early wave.
Brazilian fans haven’t turned on their team despite the two-goal deficit.
22nd minute, 2-0 Netherlands: Oscar uses his toe to shoot from the edge of the Netherlands penalty area, but Cillessen saves it easily.
17th minute, 2-0 Netherlands: The 2014 World Cup has seen some historic highs and lows for Brazil and the Netherlands.
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16th minute, 2-0 Netherlands: The Dutch double their pleasure, as Blind scores.
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Robben found de Guzman, who crossed into Brazil’s penalty area from the right side. Luiz’s clearing header fell to Blind at the penalty spot, and the Netherlands fullback beat the on-rushing Cesar with his right-footed shot.
15th minute, 1-0 Netherlands: Brazil is searching for the tying goal, pushing its defensive line as possible and working the ball into the wide areas in an effort to stretch the Dutch defense.
Seventh minute, 1-0 Netherlands: Robben is cautioned for an apparent foul on Paulinho.
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Sixth minute, 1-0 Netherlands: Van Persie’s goal has stunned the crowd and sunk Brazil into an early hole.
It goes without saying that Brazil must respond to this early adversity more positively than it did against Germany.
Third minute, 1-0 Netherlands: The visitors have the lead after van Persie blasts his spot-kick past Cesar.
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Second minute, 0-0: Silva drags down Robben, and the referee awards a penalty kick to the Netherlands.
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It was a clear goal-scoring opportunity, but the referee only shows Silva a yellow card.
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First minute, 0-0: The 2014 World Cup third-place game between Brazil and the Netherlands is underway.
Kickoff: The national anthems have been sung, and the game will begin in a few minutes.
Pregame: We know who will be playing in the 2014 World Cup third-place game.
Silva returns from suspension to captain Brazil and anchor its back line. Maxwell replaces Marcelo at left back, while Maicon and David Luiz retain their spots in the starting 11.
Brazil will sport a new-look attack, as Ramires, Jo and Willian start ahead of Bernard, Fred and Hulk up front.
Netherlands playmaker Wesley Sneijder suffered an injury during pregame warm-ups. Jonathan de Guzman replaces Sneijder in the attacking midfield.
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Meanwhile, Neymar has rejoined Brazil’s team for its last game of the tournament. The injured forward won’t play, but he will watch the game from Brazil’s bench.
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3:30 p.m.: Here are the lineups:
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3 p.m. ET: Brazil and the Netherlands might not be very keen on playing the 2014 FIFA World Cup third-place game, but both teams have to win it.
Brazil and the Netherlands face off at Estadio Nacional in Brasilia. More so than the title of “third place,” the teams are playing for pride, redemption and their own legacy.
Brazil’s 64-year dream of winning the World Cup on home soil came to a crushing end Tuesday, when Germany blasted the host nation 7-1 in the semifinals. The humiliating loss was the darkest moment in Brazilian soccer’s storied history, and the team is looking to end the tournament on a brighter note.
Less was expected of the Netherlands coming into the 2014 World Cup, but it won plenty of admiration from the soccer world with strong performances in Brazil. The Netherlands’ 2014 World Cup ride halted in the semifinal when it played Argentina to a goalless draw but lost in the penalty-kick shootout.
This game will mark the end of Louis van Gaal’s tenure as the Netherlands’ head coach. Van Gaal will become Manchester United’s manager after the tournament.
The future of Brazil head coach Luis Felipe Scolari is less clear. Many are calling on Scolari to resign immediately, but the Brazilian federation will discuss his fate after the games are done.
The 2014 World Cup third-place game kicks off at 4 p.m. ET. Stay right here for all the action from Estadio Nacional.
