Group B

Netherlands (3-2) Australia

Dutch Look Likely to Add to Group B Lead (UPDATE: And They Did)

By Andrew Palczewski   |


here

Dutch fans celebrate at the 2014 World Cup.
Australian fans on Copacabana beach.
Top: Tony Gentile | Reuters; Bottom: Pilar Olivares | Reuters

UPDATE: As expected, the Dutch were able to notch another win, taking down Australia 3-2. With a win or draw by Chile against Spain, the Netherlands will be into the World Cup Round of 16.

Previous post:

Via VOANews.com:

Three days ago, when the Netherlands and Australia last met in a competition, Australia not only came away with a 6-1 victory, but a championship trophy as well.

That competition? The Men’s World Field Hockey Championships.

But the World Cup is a different story. The Netherlands looks to add to the three points it earned in crushing Spain on Friday, as it takes on Australia, the lowest-ranked team in the tournament. Odds are the Dutch will prevail, but the only way to know for sure is to check out the match at 12 PM ET (4 PM UTC).

For play-by-play, minute-by-minute coverage of every ball touch, throw-in, direct kick, indirect kick, yellow card, red card, corner kick, goal kick and every other possible football feat in every World Cup match, tap into VOA’s multilingual, multinational analysis.

Click here to follow the action live, or follow along on Facebook, or on Twitter with #WorldCupVOA.

And for even more exclusive VOA coverage with a special focus on Africa’s national teams, check out VOA’s Francophone blog.

Up In the Sky... It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's...

The Flying Dutchman!

By Andrew Palczewski   |
The Flying Dutchman at work.

Robin van Persie, the Flying Dutchman. (AP | Christophe Ena)

Robin van Persie was just trying to help the Netherlands defeat Spain in their opening Group B match on June 13 – he surely wasn’t looking to become an Internet sensation.

But van Persie managed to do both: his spectacular header didn’t just contribute to the Netherlands’ 5-1 rout of Spain, but inspired thousands of internet memes and earned him the nickname “The Flying Dutchman.”

In the days following his impressive performance, fans around the world have Photoshopped van Persie’s famous shot into various positions and locations…

…from World Cup-related shots…

Take that, Spain! Van Persie over Brazil.

…to pop culture references…

Van Persie leading Peter Pan. Van Persie as Mario. Van Persie, the wrestler.

…to locations around the world…

Van Persie at the Taj Mahal. Van Persie surfing. Van Persie in the skies.

…it’s even inspired a flipbook…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btWXBpcQ138

…and a hashtag – #Persieing!

 

Chile vs. Australia in a Trans-Pacific Faceoff

By Andrew Palczewski   |
here

Chile vs. Australia.

Chile’s Jorge Valdivia (front) celebrates his goal against Australia with his teammates during their 2014 World Cup Group B soccer match at the Pantanal arena. Eric Gaillard | Reuters

For play-by-play, minute-by-minute coverage of every ball touch, throw-in, direct kick, indirect kick, yellow card, red card, corner kick, goal kick and every other possible football feat in every World Cup match, tap into VOA’s unparalleled multilingual, multinational analysis.

On one side of the Pacific Ocean, Australia. On the other, Chile. Today at 6 PM ET (10 PM UTC), the two teams face off in Brazil.

Click here to follow the action live.

And for even more exclusive VOA coverage with a special focus on Africa’s national teams, check out VOA’s Francophone blog.

Spain-Netherlands Cold Revenge

¿Como Se Dice Humiliation?

By Mike Eckel   |

From 2010:

APTOPIX South Africa Soccer WCup Final Netherlands Spain

From 2014:

Robin van Persie

There are alot of people in Madrid, Barcelona and much of the Iberian peninsula (heck, much of the football world for that matter) scratching their heads over how a defending World Cup champion with a powerhouse roster can be so abjectly routed and humiliated.

The Dutch did just that today to Spain.

¿Como se dice The Return of Total Football?