Regarding whether to play de Jong or not - he's likely to pick up a second Yellow card at some point along the way. I don't think he will make it to the semi-finals with a clean slate. If we beat Chile we will probably have the weakest opponent for the remainder of the tournament so that would be the best game for him to miss (assuming he gets a Yellow against Chile). I've always felt that it's pointless to manage in a tournament basing decisions on who is carrying a card going into a match (not the same as taking someone off who received a card in the match and you don't want the player sent off). de Jong is our best DM and has to start IMO.
We get a very inexperienced Ref for this game. Milking teams could have a field day with him. We already got 2 bullsh*t penalty's against us. Curious to see what nonsense we get to deal with this time.
I don't understand why Netherlands vs Chile do not get the best ref in the world. What does FIFA want to prove? Anyway, let's first see how he does.
Am I overreacting if a thought crossed my mind that Blatter is trying to pull some strings to punish Netherlands for van Praag launching an attack on his position? The Dutch FA, backed by the English FA have started serious opposition against that fossil. Maybe that pissed him off. He said he never felt more offended in his life than when van Praag attacked him during a FIFA meeting speaking in public against Blatter.
Blatter has no control over the match official assignments at all. If you are interested there is a very good section here on Big Soccer on the officiating during this WC with a lot of experienced referees posting HERE. They wanted to give the two guys who had not called any matches something to do so one gets our match and a Bahrain official gets Spain/Australia. the other two matches tomorrow both have UEFA officials.
I'll say. The likely other teams in the foursome (to get to the semi-finals) for B1 are Mexico, Costa Rica and Ivory Coast. The likely others in the foursome for B2 are Brazil, Colombia and either Italy or Uruguay!
Kuyt as leftback??! Seriously, WTF??! http://www.telegraaf.nl/tv/telesport/wkvoetbal/WK_Nieuws/22772506/__Van_Gaal_verrast_met_Kuyt__.html
We never tried this. Kuyt as left wing back. Then why taking Kongolo with us? Or Veltman and moving de Vrij and Vlaar a bit? Leaving Blind where he was. I don't know. If Sanchez comes inside, a right footed player like Kuyt is well able to defend. It's just that it is an experiment in a time we have to do a top performance.
According to livescore.com Vidal will not start against Holland today. But I dont know reliable that site is
Interesting to see Blind at left CB and Kuyt at LB. Van Gaal really want to shut down the Sanchez-Isla partnership.
This is the reality on paper. The reality in practice is that Blatter has already intervened in the past, and his predecessor also sent the ref committee home. Havelange in his own proper person did just that. Not sure whether Van Praag has anything to do with it. Might just be that they want the best and most likeable names to progress, without direct intervention. Mind you that in dictatorships direct orders are rarely handed out too, it is usually not that simple.
The starting line up is all just conjecture until we see who comes out of the tunnel. It would not be above Van Gaal to play mind games with Chile and us. I won't be surprised if Vidal does not play today. he's carrying a Yellow card and just back from a knee injury.
He's not exactly the fastest guy in the world either. Add to that the fact Kuyt probably hasnt played leftback since he was 12 years old at Feyenoord C3, and I think vGaal has to be crazy to try this
Holy moly - I've always respected Dirk but this sounds really risky. All this to happen in a match that in all likelihood will demonstrate exactly where we stand. Is the coaching staff approaching this as a free match, and not one to fight for first place ???