Match 64 (Final) - Netherlands v Spain Pre-Match Thread

He was one of the best players of Madrid in his first year. His second year was not good. Madrid didn't allow him to have one bad year and besides that didn't play him at his natural position at 10. It's to easy to say he could only come back to his old self at Inter. I'm convinced that he could have come back at Real if they kept their trust in him. But Perez promised to kick out all the Dutchies. It was a hit job on dutch nationality. vd Vaart didn't even get a playing number. Well we all know how the story ended. vd Vaart came back and became a starter. Robben became player of the Bundesliga and almost won the treble. Sneijder won the treble and is with Maicon and Milito the most important player for Inter. And as if that is not enough a small nation as Holland (far smaller than Spain) is now in the final with the dumped players from Madrid. Hahaha. Eat that Perez, idiot

 

Give me a break he had 5-10 good games in his first season here. If that's good enough for you so be it.

 

Holland to win 2:1

 

He did not have a good 1st year. He had a good a couple of months than his form went downhill from there and his 2nd year was nothing to talk about, unless you want to talk about crap. Sneijder's lack of form was his own doing at Madrid. He cheated on his wife, so his wife took off back to Holland with the kids, and he was out of shape for most of the season and partying all the time. Sneidjer has no legit complaint. Robben is a different story.

Despite all of this, Madrid initially wanted to keep him over VDV. That is why VDV was left without a number. Nice revisionist history on your part. It was Sneijder or VDV, the plan wasn't to get rid of both. Than when they figured they could get more money for Sneijder and taking into account his larger salary (Not to mention VDV didn't want to leave Spain with his wife undergoing Cancer treatments), they switched their priority to selling Sneijder and keeping VDV.

 

Madrid rags like Marca were going crazy over Robben when he was there. I even recall some poll they made asking readers who they thought was better him or Messi. The notion that he wasn't good enough is wrong. He was their best player for a stretch of time when he was fit.

The problem was that he was injury plagued but Pellegrini still wanted to keep him. It was Perez and his huge ego that got rid of Robben.

 

Every player on the planet goes through slumps. The difference between your joke of a club and a loyal club is loyal clubs tend to stick with a slumping player, unless its long-term. Judging by Sneijder's form this year clearly it was short-term

 

Here's another fine example. Diarra who had an awesome start to his first season with Madrid, then loses form a bit and Madrid cant get rid of him fast enough:

http://www.tribalfootball.com/real-madrid-open-stuttgart-talks-sami-khedira-956881

 

I find it funny how you apologists call Sneijder cheating on his wife, having his wife flee to Holland with the kids, being out of shape, while partying all the time...a slump.

If he wasn't Dutch you guys wouldn't be making any excuses. Talk about bias.

 

I just replied to this post and I've realised a flaw that is not too visible in the spanish game. Only to comprove it afterwards when watching the swiss goal.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9VBLP9hqWU"]YouTube- Spain VS Switzerland - Fernades Goal[/ame]

Everytime Spain does high pressing, they leave a gap between their defense and midfield. I clearly remember Almeida winning alot of headers which contributed to some goal opportunities. They were few, but could have been more if he had the support of a 2nd forward or a free roam AMC. When this particular player was subbed out, Spain completely dominated (they were already, but simply killed) the game. Portugal had the necessity to feed high balls due to their extremely minded defensive game as they couldn't cope with the spanish pressing. Hence why Almeida was vital as an offensive escape, something that C. Ronaldo couldn't continue for the obvious reasons.

The swiss, by chance or strategic thinking, scored exactly like that. Perhaps if Netherlands feed high balls to a tall striker and move their wingers more to the inside as a support, then they could win this.

Spain's midfield organization is the best I've ever seen, but their backline is a tad overrated.


P.S.: Sorry if this was discussed before.

 

Let's get this thread back on topic.

 

Our fullbacks are the weakness of the defense. Paraguay pressured the wings there and we suffered because of it.

 

It can seem that the defence is the weak of the spanish team, but it's not the same defending almost in the midfield, where defends Spain, than defending almost in your goal line, with the support of your midfielders.

The playing style of Spain requires a lot of attention of the defenders.

Check out the statistics on fifa.com, and look at the back line of the best eleven:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/statistics/castrolindex/topeleven.html

 

Our playstyle certainly aids our defense and the defense plays a part in that playstyle. If the game is tied then I think the best option for Holland would be to pressure like Paraguay did. For me the wildcard is Robben. If he can produce a bit of magic for them I think it would bode well for Holland.

 

Meanwhile you and your Spanish buddies are yet to give us one single football-related reason for Spain steamrolling Holland. All you've done is tell us Sneijder ain't much because he cheated on his wife and oh aren't Spain superior. Tribalfootball readers indeed. Mind you that makes you the typical BigSoccer poster. What football manager game do you base your views on, just for future reference?

Here's what's Spain's weaknesses. Your central defender duo is slow and your left back just isn't very good. That places Robben and our attacking mids in a favourable position. Judging on how Spain has played this tournament, they mostly play on possession and then capitalise on the opponents mistakes. Which mind you they do very well but still, it's capitalising on the opponent's mistakes. I hope this hasn't entirely escaped your attention, but the Dutch rarely make mistakes, and they always score, even when they're having a rubbish game, and even against defences superior to Spain's. I'm sure Del Bosque thinks about that more than about what Sneijder is up to in his private life don't you.

 

Don't apologise. I''m personally thankful for the fact that someone brings forward a proper football argument! I agree, but I think it's because the Spanish defence is quite slow and doesn't always stay as near to their midfield as Del Bosque will probably have wanted. What with Sneijder's ability to send passes between the lines there's an opportunity for the Dutch there.

The defensive mids will be key to the Dutch in the final.they can't afford to make any mistakes.

 

Will Van der Vaart start? I think you guys look a lot better with him in there.

 

Nah, Kuyt's always the first name on Van Marwijk's team sheet. We'll start the same as we did v Uruguay, just with De Jong and Van der Wiel who are back from suspension.

 

100% true.

 

I haven't said anything about Spain steamrolling Holland. I haven't even said anything about the game.

I just decided to point out the facts about Sneijder's time at Madrid WHEN SOMEONE TRIED to make this about Sneidjer being a victim which was never the case, as if this game was some sort of revenge. If someone didn't go inventing things and rewriting history I would have never of mentioned it because it has NOTHING do to with this game.

 

My point exactly. It's the infamous BigSoccer disease.

 

Everybody at Madrid awas happy to see Sneijder go. Not so with Robben.

 

Paul the oracle is 7/7, so far.

 

How is he still alive?