Spain had enjoyed a dominant period in international football as their golden generation delivered, winning two European Championships and one World Cup, but like all great eras they have eventually come to an end. Courtesy of a Xabi Alonso penalty, Spain were 1-0 up against the Dutch but when David Silva missed a glaring chance, the game changed entirely, and almost instantly, a Daley Blind cross hung in the air for an eternity, inviting Robin Van Persie to lose his markers and lob his header over Iker Casillas, sending Holland in at half time level, when they could have been out of it. In the second half the Spanish defence capitulated and two goals from Robben, a de Vrij header and another Van Persie goal made it an emphatic five. Van Persies first goal will go down as one of the best headed goals of all time. The dive for the header started the trend of Persieing that became popular across Holland, with fans taking photos of themselves in the Van Persies pose that led to the Spanish demise.
