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The 2014 World Cup is only 2 games into the second round of group stage matches, and arguably, it has already been more entertaining than the entire 2010 edition.The match between Australia and the Netherlands at Porto Alegre was another exhilarating match where the Aussies, despite their abundant pluck and resilience could not get past the Dutch.
For the Netherlands, these are good times with Louis van Gaal’s side having scored 8 goals in 2 games, and staying well on course to finish top of the group.
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Here’s our look at how each player fared in this enthralling encounter.
Australia
Maty Ryan: 5/10
Made an excellent stop late on to deny de Jong. Could do nothing about the first two Dutch goals, where he was left horribly exposed by his defenders, although he will think he could have kept out Memphis Depay’s eventual winner.
Ryan McGowan: 5/10
McGowan had a mixed game on the Socceroos’ right hand side. While he started off by giving Robben acres of space for the opening goal, he quickly made amends by providing the cross for Cahill’s wonderful volley. Was later left dancing to Depay’s tune as the Dutch youngster had his measure.
Alex Wilkinson: 6/10
Wilkinson was quite, yet effective in tackling the menace of van Persie and Robben early on. After Bruno Martins Indi’s injury when the Dutch shifted to van Persie being the lone focal point of the attack, Wilkinson nullified that threat too. But, he had one lapse in concentration that led to van Persie’s equaliser for the Dutch.
Matthew Spiranovic: 6/10
Spiranovic led a spirited Aussie defense with no fear of the Dutch reputation. He made a couple of excellent tackles to deny Robben and van Persie, but he will rue one missed opportunity at the other end of the field, when he couldn’t get enough power on a half volley towards goal.
Jason Davidson: 5/10
Davidson had a quiet game. The threat of Robben meant he could not venture forward too much, but even defensively, he was found wanting on a couple of occasions.
Mile Jedinak: 7/10
Pulled the strings efficiently in midfield. Ensured that the likes of Wesley Sneijder and Jonathan de Guzman had quiet games in the Dutch midfield. He also dispatched the penalty with ease.
Matt McKay: 6/10
McKay was an able companion in midfield for Jedinak. He put in a tireless shift, and alongwith Jedinak ensured that the Dutch did not dominate the midfield.
Mathew Leckie: 7.5/10
Leckie had a fantastic game. He troubled Daley Blind a lot and ensured that the Dutch’s star man against Spain could do very little in attack.
Tommy Oar: 5.5/10
Quiet game. Perhaps his only meaningful action in the entire game was winning the penalty off Janmaat for Australia’s second goal.
Tim Cahill: 8/10
With him being suspended for Australia’s next game against Spain, Tim Cahill may well have played his last World Cup match for the Socceroos. And what a servant he has been for them! Today against the Dutch, he was a nightmare to handle. Strong in the air and effective with his link up play, Cahill was absolutely fantastic. Took his goal sumptuously as well.
Substitutes
Oliver Bozanic: 5.5/10
Bozanic put a couple of decent balls into the box, but thtat was pretty much it. As the game stretched in midfield, he was guilty of being muscled away too easily be de Jong and co.
Ben Halloran: 5/10
It was a surprise to many when Halloran came on, as he replaced the highly effective Cahill. Halloran could not live up to Cahill’s standards, as he made no meaningful contrbution to Australia’s cause.
Adam Taggart: N/A
Taggart had too little time to make any sort of impact.
Netherlands
Jasper Cillessen: 6/10
Cillessen could do absolutely nothing about the two Aussie goals, but he did his job when he was called upon otherwise. He looked assured with his distribution and his handling.
Ron Vlaar: 5/10
Vlaar was given a right run around by Cahill. Vlaar couldn’t beat Cahill in the air, and even when the ball was on the ground, he was found to be lacking pace. Vlaar needs to improve if the Dutch are to harbour ambitions of going all the way.
Stefan de Vrij: 6/10
de Vrij was the best of the Dutch defenders on show. But that is not giving him too much of a compliment, because overall, the Dutch were highly shabby in defense. de Vrij was the typical no-nonsense defender making some important clearances and interventions,
Bruno Martins Indi: 5.5/10?
Martins Indi played only the first half, and even within that half, was found lacking in certain aspects. Far too often, he lost his composure, and gave away free kicks in dangerous positions that might have caused the Dutch some problems.
Daryl Janmaat: 6/10
Janmaat didn’t play as well as we know he can. He was subdued in attack, and defensively as well, he looked slightly shaky as the game wore on. Could not do anything about conceding the penalty as the ball struck his arm.
Daley Blind: 5/10
After the euphoria surrounding his performance against Spain, Blind would have been brought back down to earth by this performance. It was an off day for the Ajax man, and the Netherlands will hope that this is the exception rather than the norm.
Nigel de Jong: 7.5/10
As the game wore on and stretched, de Jong’s tenacity ensured that they had control in midfield. He flew into one tackle after another, and made each of them convincingly. Could have had a goal as well, had it not been for a fine save from the goalkeeper.
Jonathan de Guzman: 4/10
de Guzman was largely anonymous. Defesively and offensively, the Swansea man contributed absolutely nothing to the Dutch cause.
Wesley Sneijder: 6/10
Sneijder tried his very best, and played some beautiful passes, but based on this performance, it might be fair to say that Sneijder’s best looks to be well past him now.
Arjen Robben: 8/10
Robben was once again the best Dutch attacker on show. He terrorized the Aussie defensw with his pace, and his goal set the tone for an enthralling contest.
Robin van Persie: 6/10
By his own high standards, van Persie had a poor game. He did get a goal for himself – it was exquisitely taken – but apart from that he offered precious little. In the process, he also picked up a yellow card that rules him out of the Netherlands’ next game aganst Chile.
Substitutes
Memphis Depay: 7.5/10
Depay was terrific once he came on. He showcased his full bag of tricks, and scored a really nice goal that eventually proved to be the winner.
Georginio Wijnaldum: 5/10
Wijnaldum played only 10 minutes, but in those 10 minutes, he gave away a couple of needless free kicks, that could have caused danger.
Jeremain Lens: N/A
Lens was brought on too late to make any kind of impact on proceedings.
