Holland vs France Euro Group C [R]

[pablo85]

Impressive... but I still don't fancy Netherlands to go all the way through.

Italy and France have taken the role of occasionally choking these last few tournaments and do either really well or really bad, and to be honest I feel they both only saw each other as the real threat in this game, hence the fact that Romania are currently second in the group.

For me, Holland was able to take advantage of that well because they are a team to withold when underestimated, but I think once they face the elimination round when no one is taking anyone lightly, it will be a different story. And I'm sorry but what the ******** is wrong with Van der Sar? Some of his saves in this tournament have been straight out of a comic-book, he's begging for someone to score on him he really is. And let's also remind ourselves that Holland was lucky to get a 3-0 against Italy, considering Italy had quite a few chances including a ball cleared right off the line, and I'm sorry but a clearance off the line rarely comes from any form of skill, but rather good luck. Put this Dutch defense against Spain and personally, I do think they'll get shredded apart. But we'll see. I sense way too much over-confidence from the Dutch because of the margin of these score-lines, when in fact both games play-wise were very very even.

oh i see you are potuguese. :rolleyes:

[squidward123]

oh i see you are potuguese. :rolleyes:

what does that have to do with it? He wasn't insulting anyone. He was just giving his opinion.

[AFCA]

Impressive... but I still don't fancy Netherlands to go all the way through.

Italy and France have taken the role of occasionally choking these last few tournaments and do either really well or really bad, and to be honest I feel they both only saw each other as the real threat in this game, hence the fact that Romania are currently second in the group.

For me, Holland was able to take advantage of that well because they are a team to withold when underestimated, but I think once they face the elimination round when no one is taking anyone lightly, it will be a different story. And I'm sorry but what the ******** is wrong with Van der Sar? Some of his saves in this tournament have been straight out of a comic-book, he's begging for someone to score on him he really is. And let's also remind ourselves that Holland was lucky to get a 3-0 against Italy, considering Italy had quite a few chances including a ball cleared right off the line, and I'm sorry but a clearance off the line rarely comes from any form of skill, but rather good luck. Put this Dutch defense against Spain and personally, I do think they'll get shredded apart. But we'll see. I sense way too much over-confidence from the Dutch because of the margin of these score-lines, when in fact both games play-wise were very very even.

We tried dominating football and it didn't work ;)

Scoring goals is better. And nobody is overconfident. But I believe that NL has shown to be damned hard to beat. Spain trounced Russia... so what? Russian defense looked like a bunch of amateurs.

We'll see what happens. I still don't think we'll win the championship. But after these two games, I think it's possible.

I was 8 in 1988 an still have very vivid memories of it. And I think his country could use a few heroes.

[pablo85]

Before the tournament some people said: They will finish last, they will be crushed by Italy and France.

After the first game some people said, it was luck. if the first goal wasn't allowed...if toni scored...if the defender of italy didn't do that...if donadoni made good tactics...it would be an other game. Against France you will be crushed.

Now France is beaten, the people who critisize Netherlands have become a little bit smaller, but still there are people who say: It was luck, if France scored the equalizer...if France got that penalty...if Domenech put that and that player instead of...if Holland didn't score that goal...than it would be an other game.

And even now there are people, who say, okay they won against France and Italy, but they are old. When they play Spain they will get killed with that defense.

We will see, we don't care what people say, we will talk with our feet, not with some words.

PS Avereinses. Van Der Sar bad?? After saying something like that, I immediately know not to take that whole reply seriously.

[pablo85]

what does that have to do with it? He wasn't insulting anyone. He was just giving his opinion.

we still aren't friends after 2006.

[AFCA]

At Ajax, many years ago, Van der Sar was always treated to 'keeper van de eeuw' chants (if you wanna know what it means, try babelfish :D)... But we were wrong. It's now 2008 and he's proving to be 'keeper van nog een eeuw' :D

That man is incredible.

[squidward123]

we still aren't friends after 2006.

do you mean you two personally or the two countries?

anyway, I did not see anything out of line in the way that he presented his views.

Holland may or may not get doubted all the way...I think it's a good thing if they are doubted. They remind me of germany in 06...every consecutive opponent was supposed to be "the big test" but each were beaten till an epic game with Italy. It will keep holland on their toes and stop them from becoming possibly complacent as germany may have been this year after the first game.

[Amsteldam]

Holy sh*t people, talk about total PWNAGE!!!!

I never seen Oranje play this well, ever!!!
Not even in the 70's!

I have no clue whats going on, but I'm loving it!

[squidward123]

come on let's not exaggerate.

74 world cup side was more dominant during a 90 mins

[VCFan]

Holy sh*t people, talk about total PWNAGE!!!!

I never seen Oranje play this well, ever!!!
Not even in the 70's!

I have no clue whats going on, but I'm loving it!

I think most football connoisseurs are loving it too. The Dutch have really livened up this Euro 2008.

If / when Italy get eliminated, I truly wouldn't mind seeing the Dutch rewarded for the spectacle they've given us.

[Tetsuo]

the dutch are now clear favorites for euro 2008. i love their style. after Romania, Holland will be the team i support. but i think Holland won't manage to win this tournament. they reached top form too early. i would love them to win but i believe they will be eliminated in the semis after an unlucky game.

and another thing if either Italy or France get through to the next round then they will reach the final. people will say i'm crazy but i saw countless times a pathetic France or Italy team in the group stages (2006 the most recent example) and then a totally different situation in the knock-out stages. if italy for example meets holland again in the semis they won't make the same mistake (and i also believe thy wil get their proverbial luck back) it's just my opinion...

[VCFan]

the dutch are now clear favorites for euro 2008. i love their style. after Romania, Holland will be the team i support. but i think Holland won't manage to win this tournament. they reached top form too early. i would love them to win but i believe they will be eliminated in the semis after an unlucky game.

and another thing if either Italy or France get through to the next round then they will reach the final. people will say i'm crazy but i saw countless times a pathetic France or Italy team in the group stages (2006 the most recent example) and then a totally different situation in the knock-out stages. if italy for example meets holland again in the semis they won't make the same mistake (and i also believe thy wil get their proverbial luck back) it's just my opinion...

That's very decent of you to say. Needless to say, I hope you're right, but I'm fairly sure that Italy and France won't be getting out of this group.

[Bernabeu]

I never seen Oranje play this well, ever!!!
Not even in the 70's!

To be honest, I don't think they are playing that well in that sense, and I have seen better games and teams of Holland, which is always very good.

I'd say it's been two great games but similar to the one played by Spain against Russia, meaning high scores but kind of unfair, and based on fast and accurate counterattacks more than on a perfect dominance.

While the Dutch attack is excellent, their midfield and defense are at a lower level than usual. A big difference is that Holland is not playing their traditional 4-3-3 but a 4-2-3-1 with only two central midfielders and without open wingers. I don't think that De Jong and Engelaar or any of the defenders are at the level that traditionally Holland has had for many years. But it works and that's what counts.

So far I still believe that the 88 group was better, and the 1974 as well. Also the 1996 one was superb. But they didn't smash France and Italy in a row. I would say that, perhaps, Holland this time is being very practical, rather than the wonderful but prone to unfair defeats that has always been for playing too fair, open and a bit naïve the crucial games.

[pablo85]

To be honest, I don't think they are playing that well in that sense, and I have seen better games and teams of Holland, which is always very good.

I'd say it's been two great games but similar to the one played by Spain against Russia, meaning high scores but kind of unfair, and based on fast and accurate counterattacks more than on a perfect dominance.

While the Dutch attack is excellent, their midfield and defense are at a lower level than usual. A big difference is that Holland is not playing their traditional 4-3-3 but a 4-2-3-1 with only two central midfielders and without open wingers. I don't think that De Jong and Engelaar or any of the defenders are at the level that traditionally Holland has had for many years. But it works and that's what counts.

So far I still believe that the 88 group was better, and the 1974 as well. Also the 1996 one was superb. But they didn't smash France and Italy in a row. I would say that, perhaps, Holland this time is being very practical, rather than the wonderful but prone to unfair defeats that has always been for playing too fair, open and a bit naïve the crucial games.

1996 was shit, I think you mean 1998/2000.
but you know, it doesn't care if you're the best or not, because the best team does not always win the cup.
Fact is that you hav to win your matches, the dutch team always wanted to play very good and beautiful, the win came second. Now the win is NR1.

[Bernabeu]

1996 was shit, I think you mean 1998/2000.
but you know, it doesn't care if you're the best or not, because the best team does not always win the cup.
Fact is that you hav to win your matches, the dutch team always wanted to play very good and beautiful, the win came second. Now the win is NR1.

------------Van der Sar
--Reiziger---Blind---Stam---Bogarde--
R.De Boer---Seedorf---Davids----Cocu
-------Bergkamp----Kluivert---------

With Witschge and Winter in the bench plus Overmars and Frank de Boer around (were they injured?). I honestly think that that was a superb team in 1996, not exactly shit. The defense and midfield (7 or 8 players) were better than today's.

[1shot1kill]

And I'm sorry but what the ******** is wrong with Van der Sar? Some of his saves in this tournament have been straight out of a comic-book, he's begging for someone to score on him he really is.

I quit reading your post after this bit, Van der Sar has had the best performance of all keepers this tournament so far and has made some amazing saves that even some of the best keepers in the world would not have been able to make and that's a 37 year old guy that is still getting better at his profession. If there had been another keeper in his place Holland would have had at least 4 more goals against.

Well I see you support Portugal, must be a pain to have more people taking bets on in what minute Ronaldo will start to cry than the game result. So you then feel to come and insult 1 of the best players in the EC 2008 so far, just because you are afraid that in the end Portugal may end up falling short on the Dutch this time without having Figo around being a dirty player trying to get players from the other team to receive unneeded red cards.

[Fan123]

What I do not get is why people think that Spain somehow could beat Holland if they meet. Seriously? Yes, Dutch defense is not great, but neither is the Spanish defense. Against Russia, they looked great because Russia can't do anything. But Holland looked lethal against France AND Italy, how could anyone compare a win against Russia to TWO wins against World Cup finalists is beyond me.

Fernando Torres and David Villa will rip Holland's defense apart? What about RVN, RVP, Robben, and Sneijder? These 4 players will have a field day with that Spanish defense.

So both teams' defense is less than good. It's the offense that matters then, and Holland definitely have a better offense than Spain.

[96Squig]

Wow. This was one of the best football games I ever saw (maybe biased on location, but everyone in the pub last night agreed).

[Johannes]

Van der Sar has had the best performance of all keepers this tournament so far and has made some amazing saves that even some of the best keepers in the world would not have been able to make

I think VDS IS the best keeper in the world at this point! With Gomes (Brasil) a decent second.

[Bernabeu]

What I do not get is why people think that Spain somehow could beat Holland if they meet. Seriously?

Says who? Not us, believe me.