As if Neymar actually performing in real life rather than just in YouTube montages wasn't already a great enough start to the World Cup finals, now Matchday 2 has provided us with 3 games back to back and each of them as exciting as this EFFING COOL LIGHTNING STORM.
9-to-5ers would've been likely to miss the officials deprive former Barcelona, Spurs and Football Manager 2009 legend, Giovanni Dos Santos scoring two legitimate goals in the first half. But irony and justice were in tandem as Dos Santos broke through for a third time, this time onside, only to see his effort saved by Charles Itandje of Cameroon, before Oribe Peralta scored the rebound with the blessings of the Goal Line Technology™, despite making the net bulge like Marcelo's own-goal, before he. Although goals were at the minimum for a non 'bore draw,' controversy and drama were at a high, making this a perfect warm up for the night's main event, a replay of the 2010 World Cup Final; Netherlands vs Spain, including both Nigel de Jong and Xabi Alonso, stars of the infamous De Jong Kung-Fu kick.
If Tiki-taka died when Real Madrid counter-attacked themselves to a borderline rout against Bayern Munich earlier this year, then Netherlands last night arrived at it's funeral and danced joyfully on it's grave, after only initially being invited to 'say a few words.' When Alonso Alonso'd home a penalty to put Spain, winner of the last three major international tournaments, one-nil to the good, the odds on the Dutch to come back and win so emphatically would've sent Ray Whinstone into a fit of insanity, before bellowing; "Have a bang on that."
But come-back-and-win-so-emphatically, they did. Shades of 'Total Football' crept into the stadium in Salvador as first, Robin van Persie soared through the air for what looked like about 3 minutes, whilst looping a header over Iker Casillas to score possibly the most aesthically pleasing goal of the tournament thus far, tainted only by the high-five on the touchline with manager, Louis van Gaal as the pair (probably) screamed; "Yaaaaay! Manchester United!" and hence making me cringe until all I could see was the top of my cheeks and the bottom of my eyebrows.
But what developed was far from cringeworthy, Robben, De Vrij, Van Persie again and Robben again, in that order, completed a score line which reminded me of England's 5-1 victory over Germany back in 2001, (which I'm sure is still available on DVD to this very day), except without John Motson or Emile Heskey. It could've been more than five on this occasion though, Van Persie sent the crossbar into rattle-mode with a ridiculous right foot volley, and Robben connected so sweet with a left footed volley later on in the game that it must've left sugar or some kind of sherbet on Casillas' over-worked goalie gloves. 5-1 did do Netherlands enough justice however, playing quick, exciting, direct yet skilful football, everything which International football apparently isn't.
Entertainment between the 8 o'clock and 11 o'clock fixture was provided by previews of England vs Italy, and best of all, footage of Roy Hodgson walking around Manaus in a pair of Air Max. You didn't notice? Twitter did.
To conclude such a pleasing day of Workd Cup antics was a Tim Cahill's forehead inspired, Australia, who took on the official Football Hipster's Dark Horse Choice of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Chile. The team of young Socceroos, or Joeys if you prefer, were torn apart early on with Alexis Sanchez forcing one over the line aided by yet more confirmation with the Goal Line Technology, before he slid an assist in the direction of Valdivia. But Cahill, who I feel should wear his captains armband around his head, predictably, headered Australia back into the match to set up a fairly even contest. Cahill went close to equalising later on, again deeming his feet surplus to requirements and heading an effort close. Technology on the Goal Line again tried to steal the show, an excellent goal line clearance by Wilkinson went through thorough checking, before it was confirmed that it was in fact a goal line clearance, and not an attempt in vain to prevent Vargas from increasing Chile's lead.
But succeeding in trying to get the ball over the line in the Australian goal eventually occurred once more, as Jean Beausejour drilled a left footed strike into the bottom corner from the vicinity of the box. The Wigan player's goal couldn't detract attention from Alexis Sanchez however, who was enthralling on the ball and covered as much ground as the lightning emoji on Twitter, last night.
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