Walking alone with slumped shoulders, a bowed head and weary eyes, Xavi exited Arena Fonte Nova wearing the look of a man who knew exactly how profound Friday's 5-1 defeat by Netherlands could prove.

哈维(Xavi)低垂着双肩，耷拉着脑袋，颓然走出新水源体育场（Arena Fonte），目光里尽显疲态。6月13日卫冕冠军西班牙队1-5惨败给了荷兰队，哈维的脸上写满了深深的创伤。

None of the assembled journalists even attempted to pose a question; there was no point. He was staring at the floor, seemingly oblivious to outside influences.

聚集在此的记者甚至都不打算提问，实际上也没啥可问的。哈维的双眼死死的盯着地面，似乎全然没有感受到外界的存在。

Others stopped to talk but not Xavi, nor Andres Iniesta. Two of the greatest midfielders the game has ever seen now down and despondent, humbled and humiliated, fatigued and forlorn.

停下脚步进行采访的记者还是有的，但没有人采访哈维与伊涅斯塔。这两位足球史上最为伟大的中场球员，现在却垂头丧气，意志消沉，身心俱疲，颜面扫地，不得不吞下失利的苦果，留下一抹孤单凄凉的背影，形单影只。

For Spain's defeat by the Dutch was not normal. La Roja lost their opening match four years ago before recovering to become the first side to win a Fifa World Cup having done so.

西班牙惨败荷兰的方式让人难以理解。四年前，西班牙队也开局不利，但最终重振旗鼓，勇夺世界杯的冠军。

But this was different.

但两者有所不同。

Switzerland in 2010 scored a goal and closed ranks - it can happen.Netherlands in 2014 subjected one of the finest teams of all time to an absolute savaging - that does not happen.

2010年，瑞士1-0领先，然后众志成城，守住胜果——这种事可能会发生。2014年，荷兰摧枯拉朽击溃足球史上最好的队伍之一——这种事不应该发生。

Spain have suffered two heavier defeats in their competitive history, but the most recent came in 1950, and neither are likely to have been as unexpected or potentially damaging as the one the World Cup favourites were subjected to in Salvador.

西班牙队史上有过更为惨重的两次失利，但最近的一次还是发生在64年前的1950年。而且论意外程度，论潜在破坏力，那两次失利都不及此次惨败：在萨尔多瓦，在橙色浪潮的汹涌冲击下，世界杯夺冠热门斗牛士军团土崩瓦解，一败涂地。

They did not trail at any stage of an unbeaten qualifying campaign in which their defence was breached on just three occasions, had lost only eight of 85 matches under coach Vicente del Bosque, averaged 60 caps per man and have not conceded in 10 knockout matches spanning the last three major tournaments, all of which they lifted.

西班牙队预选赛中保持着不败金身，只有三场比赛失球；文森特·德尔·博斯克（Vincent del Bosque）执掌教鞭以来一共出赛85场，只有8场失利；球员大多身经百战，人均为国出赛60场；球队在最近三大赛事的淘汰赛中更是无一败绩。但现在所有的辉煌都已烟消云散。

Recall Del Bosque's news conference on Thursday when he bullishly rejected a suggestion that his is a "veteran squad", arguing: "We are mature, at our best". He appeared irritated at the subject being raised, perhaps aware deep down that there is actually an element of truth in it.

回想下博斯克6月12是出席发布会时的情景吧。当时有人暗示他麾下的这支西班牙队“年龄老化”，博斯克辩称：“这是成熟，而不是老化，我们现在处于最佳状态。”从表面上看，博斯克听到有人提出这一问题时怒火中烧；但实际上，他可能已经意识到记者所言并非危言耸听。

His post-match verdict told a rather different story. "I feel sick," said the 63-year-old - and ifSpainare indeed at their best then, on current evidence, they are also in trouble.

他的赛后结论与之前截然相反。“我觉得恶心，”这位63岁的主帅如是说。如果说这就是所谓的最佳状态，那么根据目前情况来看，西班牙队已然身陷泥潭。

西班牙门神伊克尔·卡西利亚斯身披国家队战袍出战155场，是本届世界杯中代表国家队出赛次数最多的球员。

    Del Bosque described Netherlands' physical approach in the 2010 final as "brutal", but the only brutality on show in Salvador was a Dutch display that tore Spain to shreds.

博斯克声称2010年世界杯时荷兰的踢法极其野蛮，但是在萨尔瓦多，荷兰队的“野蛮”就是露出獠牙利齿，把西班牙队撕成了碎片。

Troubled against Italy in last year's Confederations Cup semi-final and dispatched by hosts Brazilin the final, there were indications that the Spanish might be losing their way.

2013年联合会杯半决赛对阵意大利时，西班牙队已然陷入苦战，决赛时更是被巴西队干净利落的斩于马下。这可能就意味着西班牙渐渐步入迷途。

Xavi claimed before the match that Spain would "win or die" by their famous tiki-taka style of play and although Friday indicated the latter was more plausible, it is surely unfair to pass judgement over an approach that has generated such success on the basis of one match.

哈维赛前宣称西班牙依旧将坚持其著名的短传渗透打法，或赢得比赛，或就此凋零，而周五惨遭荷兰血洗似乎真的意味着“凋零”。不过，仅仅根据一场比赛就对曾取得过巨大成功的打法下结论显然是不公平的。

From speaking to a number of Spanish journalists, the overwhelming feeling is that the philosophy is tried and trusted, has become a part of the national identity and is here to stay.

根据众多西班牙记者的说法，人们强烈的感受到这套体系经过了千锤百炼，已然融入了国民特性，并将持续发光发热。

What is clear, however, is that Del Bosque's existing crop are possibly losing the ability and hunger to execute their methods to the level that has brought them many accolades and admirers over the past six years.

不过，有一点已经很明确了：博斯克麾下众将士的能力与渴望都在渐渐消逝，在绿茵场上无法再向以前一样挥洒自如，尽管他们高超的技艺曾在过去六年里为球队博得了无数的赞美与荣耀。

2014世界杯：范佩西（Robin van Persie）鱼跃冲顶，攻进一球

Seven of the 14 players who featured against Netherlands endured a disappointing season with Barcelona, while there was just one representative from La Liga champions Atletico Madrid.

在西荷大战中披挂上阵的14名球员里，有7人在巴塞罗那队饱受了一个赛季的煎熬，而来自西甲新科冠军马德里竞技队的球员只有一人。

Moreover, none of Real Madrid's key attacking players are Spanish, and seven of the squad are aged 30 or over. Could this be the beginning of the end for the protagonists, if not the project?

而且皇家马德里队的锋线尖刀没有一个西班牙人，球队中有7人已经年逾30。虽然不能百分百确定，但这很可能就预示着曾经的黄金一代即将走下神坛。

So long the standard bearer for club and country but now the oldest at 34, Xavi was uncharacteristically lax in possession and a rare miscontrol led to the second Dutch goal.

哈维长期以来都是俱乐部与国家队的灵魂人物，但现在他已经34岁了，是球队中年纪最大的球员。他的控球能力已不比往昔，荷兰队的第二粒进球就与他一次罕见的控球失误息息相关。

Spain enjoyed 63.8% of the ball and made 618 passes to Netherlands' 339, yet managed only four shots on target to 10 for their opponents and lost 124 balls to 114.

西荷大战中西班牙的控球时间高达63.8%，传球次数达到618次，而荷兰只有339次。但是全场西班牙只有4脚射正，而荷兰则有10脚射正；丢球数西班牙124次，多余荷兰的114次。

All over the pitch there was cause for concern: keeper Iker Casillas made some important saves but otherwise had a torrid evening, right-back Cesar Azpilicueta was run ragged by Daley Blind, centre-backs Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique could not contain Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben, and striker Diego Costa was unspectacular in the 62 minutes he was given.

纵观全场，人们的担心不无道理：门将伊克尔·卡西利亚斯（Iker Casillas）确实做出了一些重要扑救，但在荷兰队的狂轰滥炸面前也只能苦苦支撑；右后卫塞萨尔·阿斯皮利奎塔（Cesar Azpilicueta）在达利·布林德（Daley Blind）面前疲于奔命；中后卫塞尔希奥·拉莫斯（Sergio Ramos）与杰拉德·皮克（Gerard Pique）根本限制不了范佩西与罗本（Robben）；前锋迭戈·科斯塔（Diego Costa）则在62分钟黯然下场。

When Van Persie scored his second goal to make it 4-1, the television cameras cut to the Spanish dugout as they watched a replay on the big screens. The players and staff were visibly shell-shocked, likewise their supporters dotted throughout a gobsmacked stadium.

范佩西攻入个人第二粒进球，比分变为4-1之际，电视镜头转到了西班牙队休息区，队员们正死死盯着大屏幕上的回放。他们看上去呆若木鸡，而散布在球场各个角落里的西班牙球迷同样目瞪口呆。

The contrast could not have been more vivid as the Dutch catapulted off their bench in wild celebration, the orange-clad spectators giddy with unforeseen delight.

而与西班牙队形成鲜明对比的就是：荷兰队的替补球员则从长凳上一跃而起，狂野的庆祝球队的胜利。看台上橙色的海洋也彻底沸腾了，这种欣喜他们始料未及。

Expectations around Netherlands were low: they fell at the group stage of Euro 2012, are the eighth-youngest squad in Brazil, had concerns over their defence and were relying majorly on the 'Golden Triangle' of Van Persie, Wesley Snijder - both of whom have had fitness issues - and Robben.

对荷兰队的期望其实非常低：2012年欧洲杯小组赛即遭淘汰的橙衣军团非常年轻，其平均年龄在本届巴西世界杯上所有球队中排名倒数第八。球队的防守端存在诸多弊病，而攻击线则非常依赖范佩西，斯内德（Wesley Snijder）与罗本组成的黄金三叉戟。其中，范佩西与斯内德都有伤在身。

Valentijn Driessen, chief football writer for Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, explained that the estimated 2,500 fans who have travelled to Brazilare markedly down on the 4000-5000 usually present when Netherlands compete in a major competition. Hopes were not high.

《荷兰电讯报》(De Telegraaf)首席足球撰稿人瓦伦丁(Valentijn Driessen)说，前往巴西现场观看西荷大战的荷兰球迷据估计只有2 000人，而荷兰参加重大比赛时现场的球迷人数一般有4 000-5 000人。这就说明人们对荷兰的期望并不高。

The loss of Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman to injury saw coach Louis van Gaal controversially scrap the traditional4-3-3formation in favour of a supposedly defensive-minded 5-3-2.

由于罗马中场凯文·斯特鲁曼（Kevin Strootman）因伤缺席，主帅路易斯·范加尔（Luis van Gaal）舍弃传统的4-3-3阵型，祭出更偏向于防守的5-3-2阵型，此举颇受争议。

But during an open training session in Rio on Tuesday, full-backs Blind and Daryl Janmaat were essentially operating as wingers and the pair played a key role as Netherlands went on to produce an attacking masterclass that conjured memories of the 'Total Football' they pioneered in the 1970s.

但周二在里约热内卢举行的公开训练课上，后卫布林德（Blind）与扬马特（Daryl Janmaat ）也是攻击线不可或缺的边路箭头人物。这场进攻训练课神奇的再现了二十世纪七十年代荷兰率先采用的“全攻全守”战术。

2014世界杯：罗本为荷兰队攻入第五粒进球。

"Credit to the Dutch," said former Arsenal andFrancestriker Thierry Henry, a BBC pundit for the World Cup. "They took it fromSpain. You have to own it, they went out there and they had no fear. I was questioning if they would be fazed but they weren't. I'm speechless.

BBC世界杯评论员，曾为阿森纳与法国队效力，司职前锋的蒂埃里·亨利（Thierry Henry）说道：“感谢荷兰。他们完成了对西班牙的复仇。你必须承认，他们走出了先前的阴影，无所畏惧。此前我还有疑问，荷兰在西班牙面前是否会心生怯意。但事实证明我错了，我无言以对。”

"Tonight the Dutch got their style back."

“曾经的那股橙色旋风今夜又回来了。”

FormerEnglandcaptain Alan Shearer added: "Some of the performances - Robben, Van Persie and Blind - were absolutely brilliant. I have never seen thatSpaindefence pulled around as much as they were tonight."

前英格兰队队长阿兰·希勒（Alan Shearer）则说道：“罗本，范佩西与布林德的表现尤为惊艳。我从来没有看见，西班牙的后防线像今晚一样被撕扯的七零八落。”

If it continues, Manchester United followers will be beside themselves with excitement at the thought of Van Gaal taking over as manager later this summer.

如果一切继续，曼联队的追随者一想到路易斯·范加尔将于夏季末以主帅的身份接管曼联，可能会兴奋的不能自已。

The 62-year-old was never fazed bySpain's greater experience - they named 16 survivors from 2010 compared to six forNetherlandsand had 1,375 caps to 645 - and he is sure to take great satisfaction at helping develop a new generation of Dutch talent.

尽管西班牙阵中有16名参加过2010年世界杯的老将，而荷兰只有6人；尽管西班牙队的球员已经为国出战1375场，而荷兰队只有645场；现年62岁的路易斯·范加尔也丝毫不惧西班牙更为丰富的经验。看着荷兰的新生代在自己手中冉冉升起，路易斯·范加尔一定非常满足。

This was only a group game, nothing has been won or lost and both coaches will preach calm, but it was impossible to escape the notion - and you could sense it inside a buzzing arena - that we may have been witnessing a changing of the guard in world football.

这只是一场小组赛，并不是什么生死之战，双方教练赛后都呼吁不要大惊小怪，但有一种看法已经悄然而出——在嘈杂的球场里你也许已经感受到了——那就是足球世界里的王位正在发生更替。