Three days in to this World Cup and already the champions have a weaker grip on their trophy. Spain lost the first game four years ago, too, but defeat by Switzerland in South Africa cannot compare psychologically to these stunning events in north-east Brazil.
Spain’s worst defeat since a 1963 reverse to Scotland, this was more than a setback. This was a humiliating, humbling capitulation, a defeat that asks as much about the mental fortitude of Vicente del Bosque’s team as it does their hapless defending.
Some defeats in sport represent more than the loss of a solitary contest and this was one of them. This was a 7&6 in Ryder Cup singles, an Ashes defeat by an innings, a round one knockout in Vegas. Some teams would not recover from this. It remains to be seen if Spain can.
Holland were brilliant. So hungry as to be ravenous and driven relentlessly forwards by the mesmeric talents of Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben.
The upshot was one of the World Cup’s most startling results. We all remember Argentina’s loss to Cameroon in 1990, France succumbing to Senegal in Seoul 12 years later. In the very same way, we will remember this.
Taken in isolation, the result was staggering enough. Spain 1 Holland 5. Say it slowly to make sure it’s real.
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