Netherlands vs Italy - Monday 9th June [r]

[Johannes]

Thats true, if we had to lose a player its best its a forward.

I agree, now Bouhlarouz is back I feel a little bit better about our defense...just a little..

[AFCA]

Boulahrouz is replacing Babel. Not to disregard Babels huge development, but we need boula more than we'll ever need babel.

I'm a happy boi.

[Amsteldam]

Boulahrouz is replacing Babel. Not to disregard Babels huge development, but we need boula more than we'll ever need babel.
I'm a happy boi.
Yeah but will Boula start ahead of Mathijsen??? Or the other way around??? :eek:

Please dont say " The other way around ". :eek: :o

[Manbehind]

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[DutchCane]

Did anyone watch the Wales match?

[feyenoord_for_life]

Yah. we played with a lot of confidence, but our passing game was really off. too sick to do player ratings, but robben in particular stood out. sneijder played strong and van der vaart has done nothing extrodinary in the last few friendlies to earn a spot say over kuijt. no serious chances defensively given to wales

nevertheless, confidence within the squad is very strong. however it has to be said, i dont think we still know who will be our back 4. I think Melchiot offers far more on the right (as shown today) then Ooijer. Id rather Ooijer play at CB in place of Mathijsen

[DutchCane]

Yah. we played with a lot of confidence, but our passing game was really off. too sick to do player ratings, but robben in particular stood out. sneijder played strong and van der vaart has done nothing extrodinary in the last few friendlies to earn a spot say over kuijt. no serious chances defensively given to wales

nevertheless, confidence within the squad is very strong. however it has to be said, i dont think we still know who will be our back 4. I think Melchiot offers far more on the right (as shown today) then Ooijer. Id rather Ooijer play at CB in place of Mathijsen

I agree. I also think DeCler is better than Gio on the left. I thought van der Vaart was so so. Kuyt indeed looked very good when he came in. Overall I thought we had a good performance but defensively I'd like us to get a bit tighter. What is your thought on the two holding mids?

[Amsteldam]

I agree. I also think DeCler is better than Gio on the left. I thought van der Vaart was so so. Kuyt indeed looked very good when he came in. Overall I thought we had a good performance but defensively I'd like us to get a bit tighter. What is your thought on the two holding mids?
I think Hengelaar has earned a start against Italy

[DonMancini]

Gah every team in this group is looking in-form right now :(

This will be war, and I'm afraid.

[Campioni_2006]

This will be war, and I'm afraid.

But why? :p

[DonMancini]

But why? :p

Pessimism, haha. I'm pretty confident but ready for the worst, as really anyone could make it out of this group :p And we historically start off slowly. Let's just say my head thinks we'll most likely make it through, but my heart is afraid.

[Campioni_2006]

Pessimism, haha. I'm pretty confident but ready for the worst, as really anyone could make it out of this group :p And we historically start off slowly. Let's just say my head thinks we'll most likely make it through, but my heart is afraid.

Not to worry. Before the WC I was as cocky as hell and we ended up winning. Just be confident. If we win, you'll look like a genius. If we lose, you will have to go into hiding for a few months. :D

[rat2k5]

No one in this group scares me. Italy have a stronger team than 2006. They will beat Holland by 2. Remember the last time Italy played Holland in Amsterdam in 2006? Italy dominated that game to win 3 to 1. The Dutch have problems in the back and they can be exploited with constant pressure.

[johan neeskens]

I'm sorry Johan Segundo ;) but I really don't like seeing vNistelrooy as a centre forward... I guess with vBasten saying Ruud's his no.1 (not a very smart thing to say after the last WC where he 'had full confidence in Ruud', and we all know how that ended) chances are Huntelaar won't get a starting position during the group stage..

Chances are? Van Basten last week has literally said that Huntelaar won't start and that Ruud will.

I don't get this weird foreign obsession with KJ Huntelaar. I'm a Twente season ticketholder and I've seen him play my club four times this season - I wasn't impressed. He has a tendency to disappear in important games, he didn't score once in the all-deciding play offs for the Dutch CL qualifying spot, for example. And you'd seriously play him instead of a man who's topscorer in the two biggest European leagues? Very weird that.

[johan neeskens]

Boulahrouz is replacing Babel. Not to disregard Babels huge development, but we need boula more than we'll ever need babel.

I'm a happy boi.

Same here. Matthijsen will undoubtedly blunder his way through the game v Italy which means Bouhla time in the second game.

[AFCA]

I dreamt about NL - Italy last night.

If, as I believe, it was in fact a divine form of betting advice, the game will bear a remarkable resemblance to the Netherlands – Ivory Coast game of 2006. Not only had Italy fielded 11 African immigrants, as the late St. Paul once tried to get across, they actually had Rai-Uno style boobjobs done, hindering them in their play.

Oranje-blanje-bleu, though vastly outnumbered titty-wise, defended like lions and repelled the waves of Italian attacks. Sneijder (aka Lionheart) fired home from a freekick in pretty much the same way and at the same time that v Persie did in the 2006 game against Ivory Coast.

Just before halftime, v Nistelrooy (odly depicted as Lionhearts horse) capitalizes on a screwball backpass from the Italian defense.

After half time, the Italians increase the pressure and score at least once. Near the end of my dream, I recollect seeing the Italians get a penalty kick. After that I remember Edwin vd Sar flying around the stadium on the Adidas ball, pretty much like the Baron von Monchausen flew around on a canonball.

I don’t know what this means.

All in all, we either tie or beat the Italians, this much is clear to me.

[Amsteldam]

Pessimism, haha. I'm pretty confident but ready for the worst, as really anyone could make it out of this group :p And we historically start off slowly. Let's just say my head thinks we'll most likely make it through, but my heart is afraid.
I think all 4 countries are a little nervous, Holland doesnt fear anyone though.
But we are a little nervous (perhaps call it a respectful fear??).

I think thats only normal

[Campioni_2006]

Cannavaro is all but out of Euro '08.

[redbulls1002]

Cannavaro IS out according to Soccernet the Italian Football Federation has announced he is out of Euro2008 and has been replaced by Fiorentina defender Alessandro Gamberini for the Tournament.

[Sempre]

Interesting.

Even a month ago Italy-Holland looked like a boring game. The
Dutch were mired in that 4-3-3 and were not inspiring; and Italy
looked its solid and savvy self.

But the Dutch are on the upswing and with Cannavaro's absence
Italy cannot play its counter-attacking, cagey game; they just don't
have the backline to do so. It means Italy will have to attack and
suddenly I see this game being quite difficult to call. Group C is open.
I suppose that's the beauty of the Euro. You can hardly call it.