AMSTERDAM – Netherlands revived bitter Spanish memories from last year’s World Cup finals when they beat a second-string La Roja 2-0 in a friendly on Tuesday to become the first team to inflict two defeats on coach Vicente del Bosque.
Rather than reliving their World Cup final triumph against the Dutch from 2010, Spain were overrun in the opening 20 minutes at the Amsterdam Arena, falling behind to goals from Stefan de Vrij in the 13th minute and Davy Klaassen three minutes later.
The superiority of the home side recalled their 5-1 thrashing of the Spanish in the group stage in Brazil last year, a defeat which signalled the end of Spain’s glittering six-year run when they won the 2008 and 2012 European Championships and the 2010 World Cup.
Del Bosque, who had not lost twice to the same side since taking over in 2008, did field a largely experimental lineup, with Malaga forward Juanmi and Sevilla midfielder Vitolo making their international debuts.
However, he will have been concerned that the presence of the likes of experienced campaigners Cesc Fabregas and Santi Cazorla in his midfield did not prevent Netherlands from running away with the match in the early stages.
“It seems impossible that we didn’t score,” Del Bosque told a news conference.
“The first 20 minutes set us back,” he added. “Later, we managed to control the game, we dominated and created chances but were just missing the goal.”
De Vrij netted the opener from a Wesley Sneijder centre and Klaassen followed up his own saved shot to rifle the rebound past Spain goalkeeper David De Gea.
Pedro and Juanmi came close to pulling a goal back before the break and Bruno Martins Indi almost made it 3-0 to Netherlands with a free header in the 54th minute.
Vitolo, who replaced Pedro at halftime, fluffed his shot when well placed in the 68th minute and Spain had the better of the final stages but failed to breach the home defence.
After reverses to France in September and Germany in November, it was the first time Spain have lost three friendlies in a row since 2001.
Spain and Netherlands have both stuttered in qualifying for Euro 2016, the Dutch in particular struggling at the halfway stage in Group A.
England’s Townsend earns late draw against Italy
In Turin, England substitute Andros Townsend fired home a superb late goal to earn a 1-1 draw against Italy in a fiercely contested international friendly on Tuesday.
Townsend struck in the 79th minute by rifling an unstoppable shot past goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon from 20 metres to give England a deserved result at the Juvetus stadium.
Italy had taken the lead on the half-hour through Graziano Pelle’s deft header after defender Giorgio Chiellini waltzed around Phil Jones and provided a precise cross from the left.
It was Pelle’s second goal in his three appearances for the “azzurri” although the striker has failed to score a Premier League goal for his club Southampton since December.
“It didn’t seem like a friendly,” Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci told Rai TV. “It was a high-paced match. We let the win slide through our fingers but Townsend scored a fantastic goal.”
Antonio Conte’s side dominated the first half by pressing when England had possession and quickly attacking with crisp, short passes once they won the ball.
Marco Parolo had the first effort on goal after 10 minutes with a rising shot from 30 metres that England goalkeeper Joe Hart deflected over the bar.
England were not given time to catch their breath as the Italians kept on attacking and defender Phil Jagielka had to be alert seven minutes later to foil Brazilian-born Eder who would otherwise have had an easy tap-in.
A Wayne Rooney volley from the edge of the area almost put England ahead against the run of play but his shot clipped the crossbar after deflecting off Roberto Soriano before the home side took the lead through Pelle’s header.
Four minutes after the break Eder, whose late goal had salvaged a 2-2 draw away to Bulgaria in Italy’s Euro 2016 qualifier on Saturday, almost put the hosts 2-0 ahead but his shot was brilliantly parried with one hand by Hart.
Italy could not sustain the pressure, though, and Roy Hodgson’s side began to take control with Rooney testing Buffon with a fierce strike after 72 minutes.
Townsend, who came off the bench nine minutes earlier for Fabian Delph, then popped up with his third goal in seven appearances for for England, whose run of seven straight wins since last year’s World Cup was brought to an end.
The result left both teams undefeated since the finals in Brazil where Italy beat England 2-1 in a group match but neither side managed to qualify for the knockout stages. – Nampa-Reuters
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