Netherlands' Robin van Persie heads the ball to score during Friday's World Cup 5-1 victory over Spain at the Arena Ponte Nova in Salvador, Brazil, on Friday. Christophe Ena / AP

Van Persie urges squad to stay focused after romp over Spain

Netherlands striker Robin van Persie is urging his Oranje teammates to stay focused on their World Cup campaign following their stunning 5-1 drubbing of defending champion Spain on Friday.

The 30-year-old Manchester United star scored twice as the Netherlands humiliated the reigning world and European champion in the Group B opener in Salvador.

He tied the score with a superb diving header just 90 seconds before the break after Spain's Xabi Alonso had converted a first-half penalty.

Van Persie then added his second goal and Holland's fourth when he beat Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas to a loose ball and tapped a shot into the empty net with 72 minutes gone.

The Dutch ran riot in the second half, notching four goals without reply as Arjen Robben also netted twice, while defender Stefan de Vrij headed home to make amends for conceding the converted Alonso penalty after fouling Diego Costa.

Holland now faces Australia on Wednesday in Porto Alegro, but van Persie said the squad must build on its win and forget any dreams of reaching a second consecutive World Cup final.

"We've beaten the best team in the world for the last six years and if you look at how much we wanted it and how well we played, it's a massive compliment to the team," he said.

"We have to take it all in and enjoy it, but then focus on Australia. This was an incredible evening for the whole of Holland, but it's only three points."

Van Persie has a history of being part of Dutch squads that dazzle in the group stages at major tournaments, only to bow out in the knockout stages.

Having made his international debut in 2005, van Persie was part of Marco van Basten's Dutch squad that was beaten by Portugal in the last 16 of the 2006 World Cup.

He was also on the team when the Netherlands hum-bled Italy and France at Euro 2008 to dominate its group, only to bow out 3-1 against Russia in the quarterfinals .

The Dutch avenged their loss to Spain in the 2010 World Cup final in empathic style, but memories of the Euro 2012 group stage exit are still fresh, having lost all three games to Germany, Portugal and Denmark.

Van Persie said the squad needs to work together to improve if it is to become the first European side to win the World Cup in South America.

The Dutch were the last team to reach a World Cup final in south America, losing to Argentina 3-1 after extra-time in 1978.

"I've been here before, this is my fifth tournament and I don't want us to be too excited, because this is just one game and three points," he said. "We have to improve and we have to stick together."

It was Spain's worst defeat in more than half a century, coming 51 years after a 6-2 loss to Scotland in 1963.

"We didn't react well to Van Persie's second goal - they were euphoric and they hammered us," said Spain coach Vicente del Bosque.

Even van Persie was shocked by the scale of the defeat.

"It could have been six, seven or eight goals, in my opinion," the Manchester United star said.

The walloping eclipsed more refereeing controversies on the second day of competition.

FIFA officials earlier defended Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura after he awarded Brazil a bitterly contested penalty in their opening game victory over Croatia.

Referees chief Massimo Busacca insisted Nishimura had been justified in awarding the spot kick after an alleged foul by Dejan Lovren on Brazilian striker Fred.

"He had a very good position," said Busacca, referring to a photo of the incident which appeared to show Lovren's hands making contact with Fred.

"When he saw the hands doing something he makes it (the decision)."

But no sooner had referees chief Busacca sprung to Nishimura's defense then the standard of officiating was again under scrutiny as Mexico took on Cameroon.

Mexico's Oribe Peralta scored the only goal of a rain-soaked Group A game in Natal, securing a precious three points for Miguel Herrera's side.

But the main talking point after the game was Colombian referee Wilmar Roldan, who waved off what looked like two valid Mexico goals in the first half.

"The referee has taken two goals off us but we go away with three points and in top spirits," Mexico coach Miguel Herrera said.

(China Daily 06/15/2014 page11)