For many the heavy loss to Netherlands at the World Cup marked the end of the Spain side we once knew. The stylistic, awe-inspiring team who swept all before them was gone, vindicated by them crashing out at the group stage after just two matches. But with a re-encounter against their World Cup slayers on the horizon, this may be an opportune moment to exact some retribution.
Holland sought revenge for Spain’s extra-time World Cup win in South Africa, and that manifested itself in the 5-1 drubbing in Brazil. That savage beating was the wake-up call Vicente Del Bosque and the Spanish nation needed.
Spain were past their best, and needed a fresh squad and a fresher style of play. The retirement of Xavi Hernandez, David Villa and Xabi Alonso has allowed newer faces to enter the fold. Players such as Ignacio Camacho, Mikel San Jose, Juan Bernat, Munir El Haddadi, Nolito and Kiko Casilla have all made their full international debuts since the World Cup.
Isco and Alvaro Morata didn’t face the ignominy of defeat against the Dutch and looked promising in Spain’s recent win over Ukraine, although in truth the team as a whole didn’t look too convincing in victory as Spain held a slender 1-0 lead for an hour after Morata put them in front.
Despite the changes, things have not been plain sailing for La Roja in recent months. They have lost friendlies to France and Germany and play second fiddle to Slovakia in Euro 2016 Group C. As a result, Del Bosque’s side have dropped out of the top 10 of the FIFA world rankings for the first time since 2007, a year before the Euro 2008 win that set the wheels of success in motion.
But while Spain don’t look the ruthless side they once were, Holland have fallen even further off their loftier perch. Oranje scraped a 1-1 draw at home to Turkey with a stoppage time Klass-Jan Huntelaar goal, which sadly enough is one of their better results in recent times. They lost Louis Van Gaal to Manchester United and the beginning of Guus Hiddink's reign saw Holland lose four of their opening five matches, including defeats to Czech Republic and Iceland.
Every match, the man in charge knows he may not be in a job the next day should things go wrong. They sit third in Group A, six points off the top with five matches left and a real chance that they may not qualify automatically for the big tournament in France.
Two of the villains of the piece in Brazil, Arjen Robben and Robin Van Persie, who both grabbed braces against Spain, will be absent for the encounter on Tuesday. Their absence was certainly felt against Turkey, where the Dutch looked toothless throughout.
Things haven’t been so rosy for the Netherlands since their third place finish in Brazil, and if Del Bosque’s charges are looking for revenge then now would seem the time to do it. While Spain’s last encounter with the Netherlands marked the end of one Spain side, a win in this encounter could spark the beginning a new one with limitless potential.
