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World Cup Roundup: Neymar inspires Brazil
Brazil's poster-boy striker Neymar fulfilled a nation's expectations to score twice in a 4-1 destruction of Cameroon on Monday while the Netherlands again showed their potential to win the World Cup with a third straight win.
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The 22-year-old Neymar, his team's box-office attraction and main hope for goals, again rose to the occasion with two precise low shots in the first half either side of Cameroon's goal.
-PHOTOS: Neymar powers Brazil into World Cup last 16
- Neymar scores 100th goal of World Cup in Brazil's 100th game
His first, fittingly, was the 100th of a high-scoring tournament in what was Brazil's 100th World Cup game. It also made Neymar top scorer with four so far.
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Dutch delight
Earlier, the Netherlands continued their outstanding start with a third win, 2-0 against Chile, showing power and pace.
-PHOTOS: Impressive Dutch maintain unbeaten first round record
The 2010 runners-up have lost three World Cup finals, earning them a reputation as perennial nearly-men, but may have a chance to rectify that in Brazil with one of the strongest-looking sides. They have scored 10 times in the group phase.
Against Chile, who qualified for the last 16 as runners-up in Group B, they left it relatively late.
Substitute Leroy Fer scored with his first touch of the tournament, thumping home a close-range header in the 77th minute. Then another replacement, Memphis Depay, made it two in stoppage time after Arjen Robben broke down the left.
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Finally, Spain win
Goals from David Villa, Fernando Torres and Juan Mata helped deposed champions Spain sign off on a winning note with a 3-0 win over Australia in Curitiba.
-PHOTOS: Deposed champions Spain make short work of Australia
The win helped Spain finish third in Group B, behind the Netherlands and Chile.
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Mexico crush Croatia
Veteran Mexico captain Rafael Marquez helped set up a last-16 clash against the Netherlands by finishing second in Group A with a 3-1 win over 10-man Croatia, who exited the World Cup.
-PHOTOS: Mexico crush Croatia to set up Dutch date
Mexico needed just to avoid defeat in Recife to take their place in the knockout phase, but three goals in 10 second-half minutes killed off Croatia's hopes.