The Flying Dutchman

World Cup 2014, Brazil. Spain vs Netherlands, group stage.

Having won their last three major tournaments, Spain were the clear favourites and looked to be cruising. Xabi Alonso scored first (penalty) and everything seemed to be as it should.

But lets go back a little.

Robin Van Persie :

“There was so much tension in the squad. Their nerves had taken over. On the day of our first match against Spain, the team was about to collapse because of mental pressure.’’

But Louis van Gaal had a trick up his sleave that would prove to be gold.?

His genius idea was to invite all the wives and kids to the team hotel. It did the trick, making the players feel more relaxed. Stress free and ready for anything, the pressure just flew away (spoiler!)

Ok. Back to the game. Spain 1 - Netherlands 0.

But then... In search of an equaliser, Daley Blind floated a stunning long range pass over the Spanish defence for striker Robin Van Persie to chase. Suddenly, the world stood still, millions of mouths dropped open in awe.

Everyone expected him to strike. But nobody expected him to leap into the air and fly straight into the ball with his head. In a split second, Van Persie decided his head would reach the ball first and that his body would have to quickly follow.

It did. And what a flight it was.

As Van Persie remembered:

“After I scored, the stadium exploded, the bench exploded, but so did my head. I did something which I had never done before. I kept looking at the ball while I was flying, until I landed with a massive bang with my face forward on the ground.’’

Iker Casillas was left stranded, looking on as the ball obediently and gracefully hit the the net. The Netherlands would end up winning that game against Spain 1-5 and put themsleves back onto the world footballing stage.?

This whopper of a header from Van Persie has been expertly transformed into na NFTGif and added to our Genesis Collection.

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