Netherlands beat Brazil for third place in World Cup

With two quick goals, excellent defending from Ron Vlaar, and a third goal to seal the deal, the Netherlands took a third place finish in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, beating host country Brazil 3-0. The Brazilians took fourth place in the tournament, having lost two matches in a row. Fans booed when the final whistle was blown. Brazil had not lost a match in their country in the 12 years before the tournament. The first goal came when Robin van Persie nailed a penalty into the top of the goal in the third minute after Arjen Robben was taken down by Thiago Silva at the top of the penalty area. Robben was at full speed when he took a pass from Van Persie, with Silva attempting to catch up. The two made contact, Robben went down, and the referee gave Silva a yellow card. Daley Blind put a rebound past Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar in the 17th minute after a cross from Georginio Wijnaldum was headed straight to Blind by Brazil defender David Luiz. Blind’s father, Danny Blind, an assistant coach to Oranje, celebrated the goal with colleague Patrick Kluivert as head coach Louis van Gaal applauded his team. Despite maintaining possession for 57 percent of the game, winning four corners, and taking 11 shots (five on goal), Brazil were not able to get many solid scoring opportunities. Dutch defender Ron Vlaar seemed to be in the middle of every Brazilian offensive play, logging three interceptions, and at least one tackle. Fellow defenders Bruno Martins Indi and Dirk Kuyt had three and two interceptions each. Oranje teamed up for 17 clearances to get the ball out of danger. In total, Brazil sent the ball into the penalty area nine times. In total, Brazil sent the ball into the penalty area nine times, but Dutch goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen was only called upon for two saves. In the first minute of stoppage time, a soft touch from Arjen Robben connected on the right side of the box to Daryl Janmaat, who then sent a cross to Wijnaldum running past the penalty spot. Wijnaldum shot the ball on the ground just under Cesar’s left hand, sealing the Oranje victory. Janmaat was substituted in during the 70th minute after Blind injured his leg in a hard collision with Brazil midfielder Oscar. The last substitution of the match was goalkeeper Michel Vorm, who was put in just after the third goal for Cillessen, giving him the chance to enjoy a few moments on the pitch before the final whistle. The Dutch team is due to fly back to Amsterdam's Schiphol airport early next week.