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Did Robin Van Persie Have a Good World Cup for the Netherlands?
Published: July 12, 2014
In the Netherlands' opening match, against Spain, Van Gaal’s decision was immediately vindicated. Robben and Van Persie ran riot against their opponents, taking the formerly invincible tiki-taka machine apart like an old, broken car at the garage.
Van Persie, who played as Oranje’s deepest striker, with Robben playing in a free role around him, scored twice against Spain and bagged another during the Netherlands’ second group-stage match, against Australia. Not only did things go well for Oranje: The World Cup was off to a flying start for the Dutch captain as well.
But later, during the Netherlands’ round-of-16 match against Mexico, and during the quarter-final against Costa Rica, Van Persie’s performances dropped significantly. He failed to score or assist his teammates in his role as target man. Where had the world-class striker that scored so freely against reigning world champions Spain gone?
Worse still, Van Persie played an insignificant role during the semi-final against Argentina. Where Oranje desperately needed one of their star players to step up and showcase their individual brilliance, Van Persie remained quiet.
Sometimes, World Cup campaigns are defined by star players taking things into their own hands. In 1974, Johan Cruyff fulfilled that role for the Netherlands. Diego Maradona did it for Argentina in 1986.
But arguably, it’s unfair to ask for the same from this generation of footballers. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, two players generally regarded as the best footballers in the world, have not done it for their respective countr...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football
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