Van Gaal allowed Dutch squad a visit from wives, girlfriends before thrashing Spain

Netherlands boss Louis van Gall reportedly allowed his Dutch players to spend time with their wives and girlfriends before they defeated Spain 5-1 in their World Cup clash.

Van Gall had allowed Netherlands squad's wives, girlfriends and families to visit them at their team hotel in Salvador twice before they faced Spain in their World Cup opener.

According to the Mirror, the visit from loved ones seems to have done the trick as Netherlands led the World Cup defenders to their heaviest defeat since 1951.

Van Gaal reportedly revealed that he had sanctioned the visit from wives and girlfriends and said that his principle is the overall picture, the total person, 'the player'.

The Dutchman said that the player's brain and his psyche plays a part and the psyche is influenced by his environment.

So, Van Gaal added that he gave permission for the wives to visit the hotel so that the players could be happy.

However, Van Gaal said that that does not mean that it is the reason for their victory, adding that he had told his squad that he would make sure that there would be points in time where the wives and families would visit them.