Holland take third-place play-off honours from Brazil

Robin van Persie scored the early penalty

It didn't take long for Brazil to implode on Saturday night as the Dutch run out comfortable winners of the 3rd/4th place play-off match

Holland won the World Cup third-place play-off in resounding fashion as Brazil's World Cup came to a disappointing end in Brasilia.

Robin van Persie scored from an early penalty to give Netherlands the lead at before Daley Blind added another and an injury-time strike from Georginio Wijnaldum wrapped up the victory for Louis van Gaal's side.

In the build-up to the match, Netherlands showed every sign they didn't even want to feature in it. The players barely looked bothered in training sessions and head coach Van Gaal, perhaps with one eye on his now role at Manchester United, hit out at the third-place format and called it irrelevant.

By contrast, Brazil captain Thiago Silva said the host nation were playing for "honour and dignity" in Brasilia in front of their own supporters following their humiliating 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany.

But if on-looking Brazilians in the Estadio Nacional thought the pre-match comments meant they had an advantage, their hopes were crushed within 16 minutes.

With less than 180 seconds on the clock, Thiago Silva brought down Arjen Robben, played clean through on goal by Van Persie, on the edge of his own penalty area and Algerian referee Djamel Haimoudi pointed to the penalty spot.

The foul appeared to happen outside the box but in a 'two wrongs down make a right scenario', Silva was only awarded a yellow card despite being the last man.

Dutch captain Van Persie buried the penalty in the top-right corner, giving Julio Cesar no chance, and Brazil supporters will already have been dreading a repeat of the Germany defeat.

Those fears were increased 13 minutes later when Blind fired a shot into the top corner after David Luiz failed to clear Jonathan de Guzman's cross.

On this occasion, Brazil did not capitulate and showed some resurgence as the first half wore on. Oscar had an effort saved by Jasper Cillessen from 20 yards while David Luiz was inches away from turning in a free-kick delivered by his former Chelsea team-mate.

Luiz Felipe Scolari's job may well have been on the line tonight and he made sure his side upped their game in the second half. Brazil showed all the attacking intent after the interval but it took 15 minutes for their first real chance to arrive as Ramires drove a shot wide from 20 yards.

The Selecao felt aggrieved at not being awarded a penalty after 69 minutes when Oscar went to ground after a lunge from Blind but the Brazilian was booked for diving.

That moment threw the game wide open and substitute Hulk tried to pull a goal back with his first sight of goal but snatched at the opportunity, his shot flying high and wide of the near post.

Brazil dug deep but it was the Netherlands who made the biggest impression in the closing stages. Robben felt he should have won a penalty when he was nudged over by Fernandinho inside the Brazil penalty area, leaving Van Gaal furious on the touchline when the referee waved play on.

Brazil's World Cup campaign was headed for a disappointing end but to rub salt in the wound, they conceded a third in injury time. Dutch substitute Daryl Janmaat raced down the right wing and picked out Wijnaldum to pull a low shot into the bottom corner from six yards out.

Some boos were heard around the stadium at the full-time whistle but many home supporters were still in good spirits as their players left the pitch for the final time at the 2014 World Cup and the Netherlands received bronze medals