Netherlands say farewell with Wales win

Arjen Robben and Jeremain Lens made their mark at the Amsterdam ArenA as the Netherlands earned a 2-0 win against Wales in their traditional farewell game before heading out to Brazil for the FIFA World Cup finals.

Robben tidied up the loose ball after Wayne Hennessey saved from Robin van Persie just after the half-hour, and the FC Bayern München man turned provider after the break, teeing up Lens for the Netherlands' second on 76 minutes.

Louis van Gaal took the opportunity to experiment with a 4-4-2 formation, rather than the more familiar 3-5-2, though his task was made easier with Wales' star players Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey both absent.

Van Persie tested Hennessey inside two minutes and an angled Robben shot whistled just wide on ten minutes. The same player had another effort cleared before making the breakthrough on 32 minutes, tidying up with the Wales No1 grounded after saving from Van Persie. The Manchester United FC forward went close again before the break, when he was replaced – a cautionary measure due to concern over a groin problem.

Chances were harder to come by after half-time but Van Gaal's side made the best of one of the few that they carved out, Wesley Sneijder feeding the ball to Robben whose low pass allowed Lens to finish at the far post.

The Netherlands fly out to Brazil on Thursday. They meet Spain in their opening Group B game on 13 June.