“Everybody dives, but nobody admits to it – especially not in the World Cup,” explained Ruud van Nistelrooy. Arjen Robben had done just that throughout Holland’s last-16 tie with Mexico, treating Brazil’s ‘Big Castle’ stadium like a giant trampoline.
“I have to apologise. In the first half I took a dive,” the Dutch winger admitted afterwards. According to Mexico coach Miguel Herrera, Robben blatantly dived three times and should have been sent off in the first hour. Yet the winger wasn’t even cautioned – and with numerical parity, the Dutch scored a late equaliser through Wesley Sneijder, followed by an even later winner.
The deciding goal was a penalty; no prizes for guessing who controversially won it.