Dutch Favors?

[FNU]

When you win your first trophy, then you can talk about being better than anyone. Right now, Romania is just another underdog.

[Tetsuo]

When you win your first trophy, then you can talk about being better than anyone. Right now, Romania is just another underdog.

nope football is all about the present, and IF we beat holland we will be the better team. we'll deserve 2nd place.

[QueenRubine]

I have trust in my Orange-team... Don't know if they will win the game against Romania but I trust they will give it's all. Ofcourse some main-players will get some rest but trust me .. the B-players will even play harder, give a statement. I'm sure!

[FNU]

Just for fun, here's my conspiracy theory:

France will score, making it 1-0. Holland and Romania will be at 0-0 at that point, or Holland 1-0. Marco Van Basten gets the message from an assistant and tells his boys to "slow down". Romania scores, 1-1. Italy ties it up, 1-1. Marco gets the message and gives the signal again, Romania win 2-1. :D

[Boink]

I wonder what Donadoni would do if the situation was reversed. Would he take the opportunity to kick Netherlands and France out of the tournament? Or would he try to continue his winning streak? Hmmmm......

[Tetsuo]

Just for fun, here's my conspiracy theory:

France will score, making it 1-0. Holland and Romania will be at 0-0 at that point, or Holland 1-0. Marco Van Basten gets the message from an assistant and tells his boys to "slow down". Romania scores, 1-1. Italy ties it up, 1-1. Marco gets the message and gives the signal again, Romania win 2-1. :D

the dutch will play to win with us. the only thing that will make things easier for us is the fact that dutch players will try to avoid getting injured or booked. your ideas are typical for the latin mentality that both of our poeople have (italians and romanians). you call this "psicottate". we call this "blat". but i think the dutch have a mentality that doesn't allow them to do such a thing. besides their reserves have something to prove.

[VCFan]

My guess is that the referees decisions againt Italy even out quite nicely, remember Italy-Australia ? Sorry, had to mention that..

I was just kidding, in case you didn't figure out that my post was tongue-in-cheek. Complaining about refereeing is just futile because the game is done.

[NickyViola]

I can't imagine a neutral not thinking Grosso was legitimately fouled in the area on one of the stupidest challenges ever seen in a World Cup. As someone who has played a lot of soccer I really cannot imagine ever doing what Neill did.

[FNU]

I wonder what Donadoni would do if the situation was reversed. Would he take the opportunity to kick Netherlands and France out of the tournament? Or would he try to continue his winning streak? Hmmmm......
Without a doubt give it to Romania. The Dutch momentum is good enough to take a loss and rest everyone.

[FNU]

I was just kidding, in case you didn't figure out that my post was tongue-in-cheek. Complaining about refereeing is just futile because the game is done.
Big big difference here, even the ref. admits mistake. It's time for instant replay, these tournaments are too delicate to do without.

Ref Ovrebo admits Toni error Saturday 14 June, 2008
Referee Tom Henning Ovrebo has admitted he “made a mistake” in disallowing Luca Toni’s goal against Romania.

The Italy striker put the back in the net on the stroke of half-time when the scoreline was still blank, but it was ruled out despite Paul Constantin Codrea keeping him in play.

“There is nothing to discuss. I made a mistake on Toni’s goal and I said the same to the UEFA Commission,” confessed the Norwegian.

The comments come at the right time to calm the fiery atmosphere around the Azzurri camp.

FIGC President Giancarlo Abete had asked for a public apology from UEFA, the same way they came out to officially back Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s controversial Dutch goal.

So far UEFA have refused to make a statement on the Toni incident in a game that ended 1-1.

Reports from unnamed sources within UEFA suggested the official line would be that it was disallowed for Alessandro Del Piero’s offside position.

This was a tenuous explanation, as not only was Del Piero arguably not in an active position, he was also level with Codrea.

After Ovrebo’s admission, it is now unlikely that theory will be expressed by UEFA.

[FNU]

Buffon: "I fear another fix" Saturday 14 June, 2008
Gianluigi Buffon warns he “couldn’t stand another fix like four years ago” as suspicion surrounds Holland-Romania.

The Italian media is in fervour after discovering a Romanian victory in the final game would ensure their qualification, knocking out both 2006 World Cup Finalists.

“I trust in the sporting nature of the Dutch and hope Marco Van Basten remembers he is a good friend of Italy and Roberto Donadoni,” noted the goalkeeper.

“I couldn’t stand to go out with another fix like four years ago when Denmark and Sweden drew 2-2.”

The Azzurri went out of Euro 2004 after the two Scandinavian sides finished with the only scoreline that would guarantee progress for both sides.

Even if Italy beat France in the last Group C encounter, it could all be in vain if an already qualified Holland lose.

“After the match with Romania we went straight to the airport for our return to Vienna,” wrote Buffon in his blog.

“Having landed in the Austrian capital, we learned of the four goals Holland had put past France.

“Clearly that is not a positive result for us, because now Van Basten’s side are already assured first place even with a defeat to Romania. That means we could beat France 8-0 and it wouldn’t matter.

“So we hope all goes well. In these next four days we will prepare as best we can for the game with France.”




You're ignorant to think it doesn't happen ToonUSA.

[NickyViola]

Is it even a fix? It happens in the last week of Serie A all the time. Not sure that Italians can take the moral high ground here.

[FNU]

Just another side note: If Platini (French National, part Italian) suspects the game was given, he's going to get the final word on the Dutch. The refs make mistakes, and it goes both ways. Marco is smart enough to know this, hopefully.

[FNU]

Is it even a fix? It happens in the last week of Serie A all the time. Not sure that Italians can take the moral high ground here.
Well, if you play to lose, isn't that against the norm and rational of the game? Wouldn't that be a "fix"?

[Tetsuo]

FNU: why do you think we need holland to roll over for us in order to qualify? i'm pretty confident we can beat a relaxed dutch team. Romania IS NOT Malta! anything can happen but we have a big chance of winning. :)

[Boink]

It doesn't matter if we lose with 2-0 or even 8-0. If we lose, the Italians will assume it was a fix anyway, no matter how much effort the players put in their game.

[FNU]

FNU: why do you think we need holland to roll over for us in order to qualify? i'm pretty confident we can beat a relaxed dutch team. Romania IS NOT Malta! anything can happen but we have a big chance of winning. :)
It's not a question of Romania needing it, it's a question of who Holland rather face in the future. Romania has nothing to do with this (unless they know of how the Dutch will play), they will play their game and try to win. Nothing against Romania, like I said, I knew they would advance one way or another. ;)

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showpost.php?p=14682846&postcount=34

[FNU]

It doesn't matter if we lose with 2-0 or even 8-0. If we lose, the Italians will assume it was a fix anyway, no matter how much effort the players put in their game.
Not true. It's easy to tell if a team is trying or not.

[Tetsuo]

Not true. It's easy to tell if a team is trying or not.
so if after a very disputed game in which holland has great chances romania wins 2-1 will you recognise that we qualified justly?

[FNU]

so if after a very disputed game in which holland has great chances romania wins 2-1 will you recognise that we qualified justly?
I'll tell you after I watch the game. If Holland are sending every shot over the net from 30yrd out, even with a 100 chances it doesn't mean they "tried". A lot of circumstances come into play, it's not easy to solve a crime. Everything must be examined in order to make the best evaluation. The biggest factor right now is the quality of the Dutch bench. I know Huntelaar is a goal monster, so Holland shouldn't have trouble on that end.