Dutch Favors?

[Tetsuo]

A Holland win over Romania and a Italy-France draw of 1-1 or greater would send Italy through. A Italy-France 0-0 tie and Romania loss and Romania would advance.

So Italy can still go through with a draw of 1-1 or greater!

yes it could be. the second place battle is so hot now :D

[Klask]

Um, the French are also involved here. Stop trolling, for once. Besides, 2004 Sweden and Denmark pretty much proved how teams pull games.

Nah it just proved how some fans start moaning and coming up with conspiracy theories when their NT's are unable to take care of business without depending on other nations.

[Crimen y Castigo]

A Holland win over Romania and a Italy-France draw of 1-1 or greater would send Italy through. A Italy-France 0-0 tie and Romania loss and Romania would advance.

So Italy can still go through with a draw of 1-1 or greater!

Man, Tuesday is going to be a freaking nightmare trying to keep track of all that shit while watching two matches simultaneously. Arrggh.

[KaNgArOoS]

When was this? A friendly? The Czechs were favorites? lol

I know the Czechs were not favorite but I don't think anyone sees them getting knocked out.

[glennaldo_sf]

Why should Holland be afraid of France or Italy in the semis?
Why should anyone of them beat Spain in the quarters?

LOL, you do know Spain's history right?

The quarterfinals is like the Bermuda triangle for them. They never make it out alive.

[VFish]

Just a reminder, Romania beat Holland in qualifying... twice!

[blueguitar322]

Just a reminder, Romania beat Holland in qualifying... twice!Holland was 0-1-1 vs. Romania; a draw at Rotterdam and lost 1-0 away.

[KaNgArOoS]

No! We beat them once in a hurricane like codition and tied them 0-0. Why do I keep hearing that we beat them twice? Belarus beat them in the last game which is why they lost twice in the group.

Although the Holland we saw then is not the Holland we see now.

[KaNgArOoS]

Ahhh I just don't know if I can wait till Tuesday however. This is epic as it all comes down to the last game. Two games at once is going to be madness.:D

[inswinger]

A Holland win over Romania and a Italy-France draw of 1-1 or greater would send Italy through. A Italy-France 0-0 tie and Romania loss and Romania would advance.

So Italy can still go through with a draw of 1-1 or greater!

Sorry, I don't compute. Suppose Holland beats Romania by 1 or 2 goals. In this scenario, the group ends up like this.
----pts. GD
NED 9 +7 (or +8)
ROM 2 -1 (or -2)
FRA 2 -3
ITA 2 -3

Explanation: The first tiebreaker is head-to-head record, but all three ROM, FRA, and ITA would have drawn against each other. So the 2nd tiebreaker (I think) is Goal Difference. Romania, as long as it doesn't lose by at least 3 goals, would finish in 2nd spot. I'm not sure what would distinguish between France and Italy in this case, as they would have not only the same GD but also total goals scored.

In effect, unless Holland trounces Romania by 4, 5, 6 goals or more, Italy and France can't count on a draw. Even in this very unlikely situation, it's very unclear who would advance.

[VFish]

No! We beat them once in a hurricane like codition and tied them 0-0. Why do I keep hearing that we beat them twice? Belarus beat them in the last game which is why they lost twice in the group.

Although the Holland we saw then is not the Holland we see now.My bad, perhaps I recall that draw at home as a loss? :confused:

Anyway, you’re correct about this being a different Dutch team. I hope the form, tactics, and team cohesion hold the entire tournament. This is great fun!

[Borussia]

Of course, the Dutch won't play with 100 % effort in their last group game ... but that doesn't mean that they are going to make it easy for Romania!

I think they didn't forget how the qualified Czechs helped them out in Portugal 2004 by defeating Germany 2:1 ... so you can expect them to show fair play as well!

Romania surely will have to fight hard and play very well in order to get the win.

[NickyViola]

Sorry, I don't compute. Suppose Holland beats Romania by 1 or 2 goals. In this scenario, the group ends up like this.
----pts. GD
NED 9 +7 (or +8)
ROM 2 -1 (or -2)
FRA 2 -3
ITA 2 -3

Explanation: The first tiebreaker is head-to-head record, but all three ROM, FRA, and ITA would have drawn against each other. So the 2nd tiebreaker (I think) is Goal Difference. Romania, as long as it doesn't lose by at least 3 goals, would finish in 2nd spot. I'm not sure what would distinguish between France and Italy in this case, as they would have not only the same GD but also total goals scored.

In effect, unless Holland trounces Romania by 4, 5, 6 goals or more, Italy and France can't count on a draw. Even in this very unlikely situation, it's very unclear who would advance.

You're mistaken. The first GD tiebreaker is only between those teams involved. Then comes Goals Scored but again, only between the 3 teams involved. THEN comes GD against the entire group and then Goals Scored against the entire group.

[tomwilhelm]

Change players, don't change tactics. Let your backups and subs play the same game as the starters: intelligent, attacking football. That way when they sub in (or even start after an injury or card accumulation) in subsequent rounds, they are ready to play van Basten's system and contribute to the ultimate goal of winning the championship.

[1shot1kill]

Well it's 3 AM here, not a good time to figure out who will go through in what situation, but this is what I found on the Euro 2008 Wikipedia page.



The Netherlands have qualified for the quarter finals as Group C winners.
Romania will advance if

they beat the Netherlands,
or they draw with the Netherlands, while Italy and France draw,
or they lose to the Netherlands by a margin of 3 goals or less, but not 0–3, while Italy and France play a 0–0 draw.


Italy will advance if

they beat France, while Romania fail to beat the Netherlands,
or they play a score draw with France, while the Netherlands beat Romania,
or they play a 0–0 draw with France, while the Netherlands beat Romania 3–0, or by a margin of more than 3 goals.


France will advance if

they beat Italy, while Romania fail to beat the Netherlands.

[inswinger]

You're mistaken. The first GD tiebreaker is only between those teams involved. Then comes Goals Scored but again, only between the 3 teams involved. THEN comes GD against the entire group and then Goals Scored against the entire group.

Edit: thanks, 1shot1kill, for the simple, bulleted possible outcomes

[EstebanLugo]

If I was Holland, i would be SERIOUSLY considering losing on purpose against Romania. Not killing BOTH France and Italy while you have the chance can come back to haunt you...

[inswinger]

If I was Holland, i would be SERIOUSLY considering losing on purpose against Romania. Not killing BOTH France and Italy while you have the chance can come back to haunt you...

That's assuming:
1. that France and Italy are capable of reaching the semis.
2. that France and Italy are capable of exacting revenge on Holland in the semis.
3. that Holland matches up better against, say, Spain or Sweden.
4. that helping Romania advance to the quarters won't potentially benefit Spain, Sweden, or whoever wins group D.

It's pretty obvious what approach Holland will take: rest any players that are on yellows or need a break, play to win with the remaining players, and avoid cards and injuries, if possible.

[ddivecch]

I’m not convinced that the Dutch will roll over against Romania. If Romania beats the Dutch it’s possible that the two teams could meet in the semis. Considering Romania would have beaten Holland and tied both France and Italy I don’t think it would be a stretch to suggest that Romania could find a way to get past the Spaniards in the quarters. Would the Dutch want to face a Romanian squad who beat them in the group stage and once in qualifying? By rolling over and allowing the Romanians to win on Tuesday it would surely give the Romanians tons of confidence if the two teams were to meet down the road in the semis. I’m strictly talking about Holland rolling over. Based on the possible scenarios I would think the Dutch would field a second string squad who try to get a result as opposed to allowing the Romanians to get an easy victory.

[EstebanLugo]

A Romania with high morale might be a threat, but a France or an Italy in semis are almost lethal.