Holland: History in the Making?

2008-09-10T06:59:50-04:00

2008-06-13T17:35:15-04:00

2008-09-10T06:38:34-04:00

2008-06-15T21:24:42-04:00

tzeBob

No City 437766

A rather odd thing happened between the qualifying campaign and the EC. Van Basten actually consulted his top 8 players (Seedorf was one of them at the time) and asked them for their input. Based on that meeting they changed the system to 4231. The whole thing is unusual in sports even more so coming from one as headstrong as van Basten. I think one of the side effects such a move has is that these same core players now feel a sense of ownership and responsibility to the manner in which the team executes. Soccer aside it is a rather unique and interesting approach to team management. 1985072

2008-06-14T20:47:31-04:00

mikex

No City 437949

it's incredible that schweinsteiger only get's one play out... and be ready for quarters! 1981772

2008-06-14T14:58:34-04:00

HeinG

Rochester 438778

Sorry Mr. Kingma ... but Oenkerk has a staightforward translation: numbskullchurch. 1980806

2008-06-14T13:40:39-04:00

Grant Kenion

Waynesburg 38176

Is Holland that quick or is France just old? Ribbery (sp?) Often seemed to have no help from teammates near the Dutch goal, and although he is tough, quick, and a good passe/dribbler, his foot is hardly awe-inspiring. Kudos to Holland for well coached youth and skill, France needs desperately to change all the pieces but Ribbery. 1980396

2008-06-14T13:26:30-04:00

amrael

Alexander City 439862

Hehe, I also wondered a lot about that. It may be the way you say. 1980319

2008-06-14T13:22:16-04:00

JDO

nowhere 206263

amrael - I was thinking if C doesn't produce a winner, then all 3 teams move on to D. But maybe you're right. 1980331

2008-06-14T13:18:48-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/439/601/thumb/NL11.jpg 21 TN

Millen

Church Hill 440041

l am a boulahrouz fan, when l heard he had to leave the team, l was very disappointed en sad, after calling him into the team after the injury of ryan babel, l knew straight away boulahrouz would show Vanbasten his defending skill, what a great player. The Dutch have so many great players with many skills, defending is something they don't like, especially the french attacking so hard, but the defence was able to keep it closed (henry's goal was offside indeed). Not any team can beat the Dutch when they can keep up to this level!!!! 1980294

2008-06-14T13:12:11-04:00

riex

No City 440524

I'm Dutch and I'm amazed by the way they play. But what strikes me the most is that soccer can be one great party and that beauty of the game makes (almost) everybody on this world happy. 1980289

2008-06-14T12:43:58-04:00

amrael

Alexander City 439862

c) number of goals scored in the matches among the teams in question (if more than two teams finish equal on points); France 0 Romania 0 Romania 1 Italy 1 If we have France 0 Italy 0 France would be the only one with no goals scored among them. 1980231

2008-06-14T12:39:43-04:00

JDO

nowhere 206263

Thanks amrael. I see that the penalties that could occur between Turkey and the Czech Republic would actually be in accordance with the rules (7.08). I thought UEFA just kind of made that up on the spot. Also, I'm not sure why you say article C would leave off France? 1980216

<a href="/blogs/post/204657" target="_blank">(If you want to see the latest Euro Blog post from Saturday evening, click here.)</a> Five thoughts from the Netherlands’ 4-1 thrashing of World Cup ’06 runner-up France in Bern: • Something absolutely thrilling is happening in Euro 2008. Think about it: In the span of five days the Dutch outscored the two participants in the 2006 World Cup final by the absurd margin of 7-1. Seven to one! Four years after Greece rode cynical, negative soccer all the way to the European championship, this majestic Holland team is leading a parade of entertaining teams (including Portugal, Spain and Croatia) on a mission of sorts: to show that attacking soccer can be rewarded after all. I know it’s only two games, but Marco van Basten’s side is giving itself a chance to go down as one of the most memorable teams in soccer history, the kind that people can remember decades down the road and have a smile come to their faces. • Who needs the prevent defense? Van Basten completely out-coached France’s overly cautious Raymond Domenech. When Holland was clinging to a 1-0 lead, most coaches would have put in defensive-minded subs. Not Van Basten, who threw on an attacker (Arjen Robben) for a <strike>defender</strike> defensive player (Orlando Engelaar) and an attacker (Robin van Persie) for an attacker (Dirk Kuyt). The result: goals by both Robben and Van Persie. As for Domenech, all you need to know is that his two defensive midfielders (Claude Makélélé and Jérémy Toulalan) were still on the field at the final whistle. Guess which French player had the ball fall to him in the box for a near-perfect chance in the final minutes? That’s right: Makélélé, who muffed it. • Holland just does stuff that makes your jaw drop. Let me count the moments: Ruud van Nistelrooy’s remarkable move to save a ball out of bounds, pirouetting over the ball at speed and splitting two French defenders for the no-look pass that sprung Robben on the break for Goal No. 2. (Who said RVN doesn’t have ball skills?) Wesley Sneijder’s individual brilliance, turning and firing a sick bender from distance past Gregory Coupet for Goal No. 4. And Robben’s physics-defying shot for Goal No. 3, overwhelming Lilian Thuram and Coupet from an impossibly-acute angle just 12 seconds after the kickoff following France’s only goal. I quit trying to convert American soccer-haters years ago—why bother? There’s not nearly as many of them as people think—but if you’re new to the sport and open-minded about learning more, this Dutch outfit is the real thing, the ideal team to follow and admire.   • Not to jump the gun, but my prediction of a Portugal-Holland final is still looking pretty good. Now watch the Germans go eliminate Portugal in the quarters. • France and Italy now have to hope Holland comes to play against Romania. The Dutch, who’ve already won Group C, will have almost no incentive to win in the final group game (other than to keep the good vibe going). But if Romania (2 points) beats Holland then it won’t matter what happens when France meets Italy (at the same time) in a rematch of the World Cup final. Both teams would be out of the tournament. Welcome to life in the Group of Death. Then again, after seeing the past two games I just can’t envision Marco van Basten and his team ever taking the foot off the gas. It’s not in their make-up. Through-balls: How can the referees call dubious penalties for off-the-ball physical play in the box but refuse to blow the whistle when Holland’s Andre Ooijer hits Thierry Henry’s shot with his outstretched hand early in the second half? Let’s put things in perspective, though: Holland deserved this victory, and Henry misfired on a lob he should have finished five minutes later ... The entire French left side was miserable. Florent Malouda and Patrice Evra just didn’t show up for this game ... What was Domenech thinking bringing on inexperienced forward Bafetimbi Gomis (only his fourth cap) in the 60th minute instead of sniper Karim Benzema, who has far outshone Gomis as a finisher in Ligue 1? Baffling ... You know, France didn’t play all that badly today. Much better than against Romania. Franck Ribéry was dangerous and Henry did have a sterling finish at speed for the lone goal, but for all the chances that Les Bleus created they sure didn’t finish very well. It might help to have someone who’s capable of popping off a menacing header in the box. Can Holland find a way to keep this up, or is it destined to follow the equally memorable 2006 Argentines into knockout-round disappointment?  Post your comments below, and we’ll be back tomorrow with a Blog update ... 1334 http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/194/315/thumb/wahl_grant.jpg 11 MD

Grant Wahl

Baltimore 194615