From the Back Pages, June 14: Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben run riot as Louis van Gaal’s side thrash the champions

Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben each scored twice as the Netherlands thrashed Spain 5-1 in Salvador in their opening match of Group B in an astonishing contest. (The Independent)
From the back pagesFrom the back pages
From the back pages

This was the second game of the World Cup and for the second game all the talk after the final whistle was about the referees. The main difference between this game and the opener between Croatia and Brazil less than 24 hours before, however, was that the decisions, in the end, did not influence the result. The victory carried Mexico into second place in Group A, level on points with Brazil, and also, probably, spared Fifa’s blushes. Peralta’s goal came just after the hour mark, capping an impressive performance from a Mexican side that dominated from the start. (The Guardian)

Franz Beckenbauer, one of the giants of world football, has been suspended from “taking part in any football-related activity, at any level” for 90 days by Fifa for refusing to co-operate with its inquiry into the controversial awarding of its biggest tournament to Qatar. (The Times)

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Roy Hodgson has revealed that England striker Danny Welbeck will be fit to face Italy in England’s World Cup opener on Saturday. (Daily Mail)

Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed the signing of Chelsea defender David Luiz for a world record £50m deal. (The Mirror)

SPAIN legend Xavi has revealed his time at Barcelona could be up, opening the door to a sensational switch to Manchester United with Netherlands boss Louis Van Gaal. (The Express)

There is nothing like a bit of sibling rivalry to make you go that extra mile, something Joe Root would have used as motivation on Friday in becoming the youngest Englishman to make a double hundred at Lord’s. Root’s younger brother, Billy, 21, made 200 for Nottinghamshire seconds against Derbyshire seconds on Wednesday, so when 23-year-old Joe began the day on 102 he was determined not to be outdone. With a determined effort from England’s tail to stay with him, he reached the milestone to claim the greater deed, at least until some wag suggested the standard of the bowling was probably the same. (The Telegraph)

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