Should the Netherlands "throw" thier game against Romania?

[msk06]

It's controvercial but a brilliant tactic. It's safe to say that both France and Italy (especially Italy) know how to grind through knock-out matches and will be very dangerous come the latter stages. Not to mention the Dutch already have the top spot and will most likely play Sweeden in the quarters.

[Excape Goat]

Well, Romania owned Holland during the qualifiers. So it isn't exactly throwing the game if Romania wins.

[glennaldo_sf]

Well, Romania owned Holland during the qualifiers. So it isn't exactly throwing the game if Romania wins.

Qualifiers don't mean **** in my opinion (unless it's England your talking about :p). When it comes to the actual competition, depth of squad, experience, etc.. all come into place. I think it's safe to say that France & Italy are much more dangerous opponents to meat in a Euro SF than Romania. Remember the C1 v D2 QF winner meets the D1 v C2 QF winner so Holland could very well wind up playing one of the aforementioned giants in the semi-final. Despite the scorelines, the share of posession and chances were very even in both of Hollands games - I say MVB loses the game and I can't wait to see the Italians reaction. :p

[Excape Goat]

Qualifiers don't mean **** in my opinion (unless it's England your talking about :p). When it comes to the actual competition, depth of squad, experience, etc.. all come into place. I think it's safe to say that France & Italy are much more dangerous opponents to meat in a Euro SF than Romania. Remember the C1 v D2 QF winner meets the D1 v C2 QF winner so Holland could very well wind up playing one of the aforementioned giants in the semi-final. Despite the scorelines, the share of posession and chances were very even in both of Hollands games - I say MVB loses the game and I can't wait to see the Italians reaction. :p

I am trying to say: "Do not under estimate Romania". I am not saying that they can beat Holland. I want to say if they get a result against Holland, it does not mean Holland throwing the game away. Romania could have beaten Italy last night. They are not pushover.

Besides, Hlland might want to throw France or Italy against Spain. You do not give an easy game to Spain.

[Prenn]

No Dutch player will try their hardest in the game and I wouldn't expect them to. Why on earth would you open yourself to the possibility of playing France or Italy again in the semis?

[AFCA]

Well, Romania owned Holland during the qualifiers. So it isn't exactly throwing the game if Romania wins.

Owned by one goal over two games :D

But Romania have shown their quality. I don't think there will be any throwing.

[AFCA]

No Dutch player will try their hardest in the game and I wouldn't expect them to. Why on earth would you open yourself to the possibility of playing France or Italy again in the semis?

Cause we decked them before :D

But I wouldn't want to play them again.

[Belgian guy]

I think if Holland choose to rest some of its starters against Romania than no one can hold that against them. It's not like France and Italy wouldn't do exactly the same if they were in the same position.

[Tetsuo]

I think if Holland choose to rest some of its starters against Romania than no one can hold that against them. It's not like France and Italy wouldn't do exactly the same if they were in the same position.

exactly. and if Romania happens to beat their reserves it's not a big surprise. Romania took 4 points from a full-strenght dutch team in qualifiers. Romania drawed their matches with Italy and France despite we were the cinderella of this group. why would a victory against a Holland B team be a surprise? We are a very powerful team. We are not Andorra or Malta.

[exeprime]

Besides, Hlland might want to throw France or Italy against Spain. You do not give an easy game to Spain.

Easy game to Spain? A bit of trivia - the last game Spain lost was against... oh that's right, Romania! 0-1 in a friendly in 2006 I think...

[glennaldo_sf]

Owned by one goal over two games :D

But Romania have shown their quality. I don't think there will be any throwing.

A good example of the Dutch 'throwing' a meaningless game was that qualifier in Bucharest. If I'm not mistaken they were well and truly qualified before that game took place and must have 'taken it easy' as they say.

Anyhoo.... don't we already have a thread and poll titles 'dutch favors'?

:confused:

[Tetsuo]

A good example of the Dutch 'throwing' a meaningless game was that qualifier in Bucharest. If I'm not mistaken they were well and truly qualified before that game took place and must have 'taken it easy' as they say.

Anyhoo.... don't we already have a thread and poll titles 'dutch favors'?

:confused:

no they weren't qualified. in fact if Bulgaria wouldn't have drawed with Albania 1-1 three days later, Holland might had lost the ticket to euro 2008. this Holland team is however different. it's in a superb form.

[fh 1]

I think, Holland plays with the same team but tactics is different. They returned to classical Dutch style, while van Basten tried to adopt the German/Italian style for last 2-3 years, which doesn't correspond to their players characteristics, because the best Dutch players are to be found in the offense, the defense is solid but not extraordinary, except the goalie, so they can't play defensive.

If Romania closes the match against Holland, which they are capable of, the Dutch will have problems to score, especially if the result is of no importance to them and motivation is low, while Romanians should not be underestimated at all. They're a very descent, technically and physically excellent team, IMO of similar quality as Italy and France atm, don't let You fool by the big names, what counts is what you see on the pitch.

[ITALIA1982]

I am trying to say: "Do not under estimate Romania". I am not saying that they can beat Holland. I want to say if they get a result against Holland, it does not mean Holland throwing the game away. Romania could have beaten Italy last night. They are not pushover.

Besides, Hlland might want to throw France or Italy against Spain. You do not give an easy game to Spain.

That is a possibility, having Spain make it easy to the semis vs a tired Spain, France or Italy..?
I still think MVB will opt to avoid France or Italy at any cost and play a healthy Spain as the prospect of a semi against Italy or France is scary.
I hope I am wrong.
Nothing against Romania but I do not see them in the semis.
I think UEFA should change the group system qualifications in all fairness to the game.

[drahnier]

I suppose they shouldn't morally, but if they don't the end result is probably that they get Italy in the semifinal, and that is not good because by that point Italy will have as much chance as anyone else of winning the whole tournament, if not more.

Of course throwing the game probably means a Spain semifinal instead, but is anyone really that scared of Spain in the knockout stages at this point?

[masto22]

It will be an interesting match. I don´t know what could happen...

[ITALIA1982]

Who would the Netherlands prefer to play in the semis???
Having already beaten Italy and France, or would they prefer the unknown in Spain?

[drahnier]

In reality though this Dutch team seems to play with so much joy and passion, not only will they not throw the game, they'll most likely go all-out trying to score as many goals as possible.

So i'd say Romania is quite screwed.

[drahnier]

I would always prefer Spain to Italy in any semifinal, regardless of previous results.

[Johannes]

Of course throwing the game probably means a Spain semifinal instead, but is anyone really that scared of Spain in the knockout stages at this point?

all this talk about semis... As a long time follower of the Dutch NT I always get an eerie feeling about the premature optimism. During the last WC, Dutch fans where already organizing busses to Gelsenkirchen because we were sure that we would beat Portugal after making it out of the group of Death (Serbia-Mont. Ivory Coast and Argentina). We all know how that ended.. and the Spanish have a simular history of playing great in the group stages and choking the first knock-out game.
I don't think it really matters who faces who in the QF, we've seen over and over again that at tournaments like these, every game stands alone!

I do think that MvB will give Huntelaar, Heitinga etc a chance to prove them against Romania, but these guys are extremely eager so there will be no throwing of matches.. Nonetheless, I'm very much looking forward to the France - Italy game !