Following his pivotal role in the astonishing destruction of the Spanish, would it not be fair for us to elevate Arjen Robben into the group of current elite players containing Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo?
The Dutch master was in sublime form tormenting the world champions on Friday evening, his touch and incredible pace leaving the heads of Ramos and co spinning as he found the back of the net twice in the unbelievable 5-1 rout.
Robben is a player many opposing fans like to single out for wolf whistles, largely thanks to his tendency to collapse in a heap at the minimalist of touches, but when he is on form he is almost unplayable, a truly gifted talent fully deserving of the highest of praise.
The whippet like speed of the 30-year-old is his biggest attribute, watching his runs from the half way line must have sent shivers down the spine of the Spaniards who were continually forced on the back foot as Robben sped by them with the greatest of ease.
We have all this movie before, Robben is fantastic at beating opponents on the right before cutting inside and unleashing powerful shots with his left foot which predominately end up as goals, attempting to stop him has left many a coach scratching their heads with puzzled bewilderment.
Despite looking ten years older, due to a receding hairline which do him no favours, it is difficult to pinpoint any other player in the modern era who possesses such abundance of pace and it is this quality which gives the Netherlands a terrific weapon in their arsenal this summer.
After a glittering career plying his trade for some of the biggest clubs around, the former PSV Eindhoven, Chelsea and Real Madrid man is probably at the peak of his powers with Bayern Munich the thankful beneficiaries of his talents and on the basis of his display versus the Spanish Brazil 2014 may well prove to be a tournament in which he outshines all others.
With over a century of appearances behind him Robben has garnered a real wealth of experience behind him but his finest moments may be yet to come, victory over Australia should secure a place in the last 16 for the Netherlands and a probable encounter with Chile or Croatia.
Win that and suddenly the Dutch dream of emulating their run to the final four years ago becomes a real possibility.
Robben is a regular face in commercials for Adidas whose motto of ‘Everything is possible’ may well fit in with the philosophy of this under rated but already mightily impressive Dutch side who in the balding wing wizard have someone whose skills could take them all the way to a first ever triumph in the greatest competition on earth.
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