Netherlands demolish defending World Cup champ Spain 5-1
Netherlands' Robin van Persie scores a goal during the group B World Cup soccer match between Spain and the Netherlands at the Arena Ponte Nova in Salvador, Brazil, Friday, June 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Netherlands' Robin van Persie celebrates with Netherlands' head coach Louis van Gaal after scoring a goal during the group B World Cup soccer match between Spain and the Netherlands at the Arena Ponte Nova in Salvador, Brazil, Friday, June 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Netherlands' Robin van Persie celebrates running past Spain's goalkeeper Iker Casillas after scoring during the group B World Cup soccer match between Spain and the Netherlands at the Arena Ponte Nova in Salvador, Brazil, Friday, June 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Netherlands' Bruno Martins Indi grabs hold of Spain's David Silva during the group B World Cup soccer match between Spain and the Netherlands at the Arena Ponte Nova in Salvador, Brazil, Friday, June 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Netherlands' Arjen Robben kicks the ball past Spain's Sergio Ramos to score his side's second goal during the second half of the group B World Cup soccer match between Spain and the Netherlands at the Arena Ponte Nova in Salvador, Brazil, Friday, June 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
Spain's Xabi Alonso scores a penalty kick during the group B World Cup soccer match between Spain and the Netherlands at the Arena Ponte Nova in Salvador, Brazil, Friday, June 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Netherlands' Robin van Persie heads the ball to score during the group B World Cup soccer match between Spain and the Netherlands at the Arena Ponte Nova in Salvador, Brazil, Friday, June 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Netherlands' Robin van Persie celebrates after his scoring his side's fourth goal during the second half of the group B World Cup soccer match between Spain and the Netherlands at the Arena Ponte Nova in Salvador, Brazil, Friday, June 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
SALVADOR, Brazil — The Netherlands tore Spain apart in a dominant second half performance to thrash the defending World Cup champion 5-1 on Friday and gain a measure of revenge for its 2010 World Cup final loss to Vicente Del Bosque’s team.
Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben both scored twice and defender Stefan de Vrij grabbed his first international goal in a humiliating defeat for a Spain team that has won its last three major tournaments.
Spain tumbled to its second consecutive loss in the opening match of a World Cup and its heaviest defeat in the game’s showcase tournament since capitulating 6-1 to Brazil in 1950.
