FIFA World Cup 2014: Netherlands thrash Brazil 3-0; finish 3rd in the tournament
Brasilia, July 13 (IANS) The Netherlands took third place at the FIFA World Cup thanks to a 3-0 victory over hosts Brazil here at the Estadio Nacional Saturday.
Louis van Gaal's side kept a clean sheet for the third match in a row, reports Xinhua.
Captain Robin van Persie put his team ahead only three minutes into the game. Arjen Robben dashed into the box from his right and the winger was pulled down by Brazil skipper Thiago Silva. The referee pointed to the spot and Van Persie stepped up to find the top corner.
In the 17th minute, David Luiz, who replaced banned Silva to captain Brazil in their disastrous 1-7 defeat to Germany, nodded a header straight to Daley Blind to strike it calmly into the roof of the net.
Georginio Wijnaldum made it 3-0 in stoppage time of the second half.
This victory ensured that the Dutch left the World Cup undefeated, as their elimination at the hands of Argentina happened on penalties. This game was the last game for van Gaal as their coach, as he will now move to take over as manager at Manchester United.