Louis van Gaal watch: Flexible Holland stun Spain as Manchester United forward Robin van Persie shows bond with Dutch boss

By Charlie Scott

Published: 16:07 EST, 13 June 2014 | Updated: 18:05 EST, 13 June 2014


Manchester United fans will have watched with glee as their future coach Louis van Gaal – helped by the quite brilliant Robin van Persie - masterminded Holland’s 5-1 thumping of the reigning world and European champions Spain.

Sir Alex Ferguson, particularly in his final season at United, inspired players to raise their individual levels of performance far beyond what was expected. Van Gaal did the same in Salvador.

Below, Sportsmail takes a look at Van Gaal’s decision-making and body language during the game.

Here's to you, boss: Louis van Gaal celebrates with Robin van Persie (right)

Here's to you, boss: Louis van Gaal celebrates with Robin van Persie (right)

Jubilant: The Holland boss cheers in delight as the Holland players applaud Van Persie's goal

Jubilant: The Holland boss cheers in delight as the Holland players applaud Van Persie's goal

 
 

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Tactics

The former Barcelona coach’s plans for this World Cup were dealt a blow when Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman, Holland’s only true box-to-box midfielder, was ruled out because of a knee injury.

He plumped for a defensive formation against the reigning champions, with five defenders and two holding midfielders starting the match in Brazil.

Eredivisie quartet Stefan de Vrij, Bruno Martins Indi, Daryl Janmaat and Daley Blind joined Aston Villa veteran Ron Vlaar at the back, with the no-nonsense pairing of Jonathan de Guzman and Nigel de Jong playing in front of them.

He sacrificed creativity for stability and boy did it pay off. Holland switched from their traditional 4-3-3 to a 5-3-2-/5-2-2-1, with Arjen Robben playing off Robin van Persie and Wesley Sneijder positioned slightly ahead of de Guzman and de Jong in midfield.

By doing this van Gaal showed a flexibility that will impress United fans, and the willingness of his full-backs to push on and put crosses in to the box – which led to Holland’s first two goals – was notable.

Singing along: The 62-year-old takes part in the Dutch national anthem

Singing along: The 62-year-old takes part in the Dutch national anthem

Use of Van Persie

The United forward was fantastic as Holland tore through Spain’s defence and brought Iker Casillas’ World Cup minutes without conceding run to a brutal close.

Supported by Robben and Sneijder in attack van Persie was given licence to roam, which dragged Spain’s defence out of position and created space for his attack-minded teammates to run into.

If van Gaal can get Juan Mata and Wayne Rooney playing off van Persie to the same  level that Robben and Sneijder reached against Spain then United fans are in for a treat.

Before the battle: Spain defender Sergio Ramos smiles was the Dutchman walks past

Before the battle: Spain defender Sergio Ramos smiles was the Dutchman walks past

The Dutch captain burst to life in the 44th minute, pulling away from Sergio Ramos to meet Daley Blind’s marvellous crossfield pass from the left and lob a header over Casillas to make it 1-1. He then proceeded to sprint over to van Gaal and give him an emphatic high-five before being mobbed by the bench.

Van Persie thumped a venomous volley on to the crossbar in the 60th minute after being teed up by Blind once again, before adding Holland’s fourth in the 73rd minute, beating Casillas to a loose pass and then prodding the ball over the line.

A brilliant all-round performance by the forward emphasised how comfortable he feels playing for van Gaal – in such stark contrast to the manner in which he finished the season

He was all smiles when making way for Jeremain Lens 10 minutes before the end, exchanging a high-five with Robben before passing him the captain’s armband. He even ran back on to the pitch to celebrate when the Bayern Munich winger added a fine individual goal to make it 5-1 a minute or so later.

Up for it: Van Gaal (left) gestures toward Spain's head coach Vicente Del Bosque

Up for it: Van Gaal (left) gestures toward Spain's head coach Vicente Del Bosque

Touchline body language

Van Gaal hugged each of his players in the tunnel before the game, and his confidence in them was reflected in their performance.

He spent the first 44 minutes rooted to the bench, before van Persie’s brilliant header drew Holland level. The striker sprinted over to the touchline to celebrate with his manager – van Gaal waiting by the halfway line to high-five his star man.

In the second half he was understandably more relaxed, as Holland sliced through Spain at will, adding four goals to inflict Spain’s heaviest defeat in more than half a century.

In charge: Wesley Sneijder listens to his manager's instructions during the game

In charge: Wesley Sneijder listens to his manager's instructions during the game

The Dutch coach went wild as each goal struck the back of the net and when the referee Nicola Rizzoli blew the final whistle he looked drained as he shook the hands of his staff and players, having overseen one of the finest World Cup victories in history.

After Bert van Marwijk’s Holland side lost the 2010 World Cup final to Spain in extra-time, van Gaal said: ‘I don't think Netherlands put in an attractive display. They lost in a very ugly way. They have some fantastic players. Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben. Spain don't have attackers like that. But this was not the way to play.’

Van Gaal’s Holland mixed grit and guile to torment Spain in Salvador.

 

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I could see rooney leaving manu he.wont get picked on reputation that means nothing to lvg

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The reason other teams fans are ripping yawnitd fans to shreds on is simple. Don't make ludicrous claims that you're gonna be back in the mix next season after ONE game, that was HOLLAND and not yawnitd. You have the manager, van persie and a team of donkeys. Nothing is going to happen next season other than you struggling to stay in the top half of the table.

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The reason other teams fans are ripping yawnitd fans to shreds on is simple. Don't make ludicrous claims that you're gonna be back in the mix next season after ONE game, that was HOLLAND and not yawnitd. You have the manager, van persie and a team of donkeys. Nothing is going to happen next season other than you struggling to stay in the top half of the table.

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He just needs to put Rooney on the subs bench now

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So dis-united are going to sign the entire Dutch team ?

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all the ABU's out in force....UNITED are always top news.....little city and others of no interest to most of the neutrals....like us or not United will always be box office .....and perhaps all the bitters on here may just be worried for next season..... 2 mins in the big time a couple of trophies and you think you've made it???

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Did you want some ketchup for that chip on your shoulder Peter?

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Agree Dave but nothing can beat KAKA. Unreal offered him £500K a week and then when he said NO, insulted him saying he's not a top player still has me laffing my socks off. Anyway Bellamy rolled up even more funnier.

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Slobbering might be a better word.

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Lol at all the giddy rags. A 5 year old could successfully manage players of the calibre of Sneijder and Robben. Might be a bit different trying to get carthorses like Jones and Smalling to knock the ball around aesthetically.......

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City fan from Exeter...L O L

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giddy rags....this from a farmer in devon....loyal match going blue are you??? you city plastics make me laugh........out the woodwork...bet none of your friends knew you even supported city until 3-4 years ago!!!!

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Bet there were discarded gooey Kleenex tissues outside every council flat/house in south landan, but what these delerious rags don't understand is that hoofchester are not holland, and not every team in the prem roll over and play dead like the Spanish team did, it's ludicrous to hail LVG anything but mediocre after yesterday, 1-0 down he had no answers to the Spanish set up,they just kept hoofing the ball up to Rvp and get lucky, then it was the Spanish who just kept making mistake after mistake, I'm saddened and sickened that after one very very lucky game this fossil is hailed as world class, playing 5 at the back suggests to me a boring negative manager, neway, good luck with watching the same dross as last season GGMU

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A perfect example of someone who thinks he knows everything about football but actually knows nothing. 'Saddened and sickened'? Get over yourself.

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you got to love these bitters...been in the big time 2 mins and it's all pure football and whats funny is you actually think you're really up there with the elite teams.....ha ha ha your little nike £12M a year shirt deal.....little club who deserve their 30,000 or so fans!!

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One win does not a world cup make. The match against Chile will be a different kettle of fish judging by the way they played last night. YNWA

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YAWN

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