Should the Netherlands "throw" thier game against Romania?

[rios]

Van Basten has to think of his reputation as a gentleman of the game, especially with his many friends in Italian football ... including Donadoni. So yes MVB will tell his boys to play. Now "play" doesn't necessarily mean going into every tackle like it's life and death ... there's no need for that. But they will try to score goals ... if nothing else just to keep the good form.

Having said that we've already seen Portugal lose today to an inferior team and they had no reason to throw that game. And Switzerland was much less motivated than Romania will be.

He also has to think about his reputation and that of his players. By using an understrength lineup, he relieves his starters all responsibilities, and it's an opportunity for his subs to show their quality without worrying too much about their own reputations.
These people have careers outside of international tournaments. That's also concerns of a NT DT.

I think everyone knows what will happen. Disbelief in this matter is only to avoid disapointment temporarily.

[Cris 09]

Should the Netherlands "throw" their game against Romania?

No, but they should rest all their star players, experiment with tacatics and formations and gve the newbies a chance at some valuable game time to gain experience.

[nlsanand]

Should the Netherlands "throw" their game against Romania?

No, but they should rest all their star players, experiment with tacatics and formations and gve the newbies a chance at some valuable game time to gain experience.

Yes exactly the right way to phrase it. No one throws a match, but maybe you take liberties you didn't before.

[z187 Portugal]

netherlands should throw the game

italy and france are teams known for starting slow and picking up the pace in the knockout rounds

mark my words, if either france or italy make it out of the group the dutch will regret it.

[JanBalk]

...mark my words, if either france or italy make it out of the group the dutch will regret it.
Or to put it differently "if either france or italy make it out of the group they will make the final"

[Optimus Prime]

Van Basten is a gentlemen of the game and would never intentionally tell his players to "throw" a game. Now I expect him to play it safe by putting together a side that is mostly reserves.

However even with a second string side Holland is still good and those young guys like Affelay will want to prove their worth so I don't expect Romania to be getting any favors.

Yeah, after my week of partying and mongering in Amsterdam, the first thing I think about is what a moral people they are...:D

[ComeOnEngalnd]

yeah they should, screw the french and italians. there teams are too old, time to make way for holland and romania in the quarters. :cool:

[VCFan]

yeah they should, screw the french and italians. there teams are too old, time to make way for holland and romania in the quarters. :cool:

And what are the English, invisible?

[Prawn Sandwich]

And what are the English, invisible?
So the English aren't allowed to voice an opinion on this subject?

[VCFan]

So the English aren't allowed to voice an opinion on this subject?

No, indeed, they're welcome to their footballing opinions. But I found his post to be rather tasteless and frankly, spiteful. I apologize, though, for responding in like measure.

[Amsteldam]

Well, Romania owned Holland during the qualifiers. So it isn't exactly throwing the game if Romania wins.
Romania owned us????? Puhlease!!!! :rolleyes:
We tied 0-0 at home, then we outplayed Romania for the majority of the return leg and lost 1-0 in the dying minutes. I hardly call that owning.

And if Holland do decide to "show up" for this match, you're quickly gonna find out what the term "owning" really means

Proost ;)

[Rainer24]

Netherlands have earned the privilege of fielding whatever lineup they choose in this final group match. They owe the French and the Italians nothing.

[Amsteldam]

Netherlands have earned the privilege of fielding whatever lineup they choose in this final group match. They owe the French and the Italians nothing.
Thats not the issue though, they will obviously field their B-team.

Question is will they purposely lose the match, IOW will they roll over and let Romania score at will

[Tetsuo]

Thats not the issue though, they will obviously field their B-team.

Question is will they purposely lose the match, IOW will they roll over and let Romania score at will

we don't need you to roll over. if we can't beat your B-team then it means we don't deserve to qualify. i'm sure Holland will play to win, but our team are no pushovers and we have a big chance to win. HAI ROMANIA! :)

[guignol]

rest certain players in view of upcoming more important matches, certainly. suffer from a lack of motivation? of course. but intentionally lose the match? that would be scandalous and i think MVB and his players (with perhaps one unfortunate exception) would be disappointed that anyone here could even ask the question. i know i am!

what's worse is that a (slight) majority in this poll voted YES!

the world at large is too often a combat of the cynical against the disreputable, where scruples are for losers. sport must be otherwise if it is going to have any meaning at all. it produces no food, no cars, no household appliances. its only output is emotion, courage and hopefully some modicum of honor.

oh, i know that's naïve. between the EPO, the multimillion euro contracts and the chinese online betting there seems to be little room left for sportsmanship. but i'm still shocked to see a poll showing so many "sports fans" (so-called) who would encourage a team to throw a match.

[Tony Dellbird]

No, indeed, they're welcome to their footballing opinions. But I found his post to be rather tasteless and frankly, spiteful. I apologize, though, for responding in like measure.

So you wouldn't be jumping on the bandwagon if England were in this position? Pull the other one and taste your own medicine sunshine.

[Excape Goat]

Van Basten probably does not care either Italy, France or Romania advances to the 2nd round. He expects to play Spain in the semifinal, regardless of the outcome.

[Erwin6174]

I'd rather have us lose against France or Italy later on than to intentionally throw the game against Romania.

[Mad2Ad]

If i were holland i would try and play the best they can, maintain there form, its a dangerous thing to mess with your form. I mean there playing well at the minute then they chuck it against romania and then they could struggle to gain that same form they have at the minute, back again. no player in the world can turn form on and off. Holland beat both italy and france why do they need to be scared of them now. they should take confidence from the fact that they beat them.

[guignol]

Yeah, after my week of partying and mongering in Amsterdam, the first thing I think about is what a moral people they are...:Dafter having lived a year and a half in the netherlands, the first thing i think about is the false ideas tourists get about the dutch, based upon their own behavior and that of other tourists ;)!

here's something else to consider, though i admit it's more à propos to clubs who have to play league, cup and european matches than it is to tonight's match...

nothing suceeds like success. in french thet say la victoire appèle la victoire... often you see a club taking it easy in a cup match to concentrate on a league match... only to bollocks that one up too. the message must be clear and unchanging: every match is important. once that mentality is lost, eventually no matches are important.