I disagree. We're the third ranked team in the world and Brasil would find themselves in the same position Holland currently is. That means caution but with optimism since we can field one of the most devestating teams in the world, just like Brasil. Therefor one must have the belief of it's own merit. 'Slight edge'? Who're you kidding? If we don't manage to go out of this group then it's a disaster. Nothing less. Euro2008 serves as a reminder of what this team can do against the favorites. Also, Holland faces opponents with a different mentality when it's not a friendly.
Really, you disagree? I'm shocked that a supporter would see it differently! The Netherlands approaches real international matches differently than friendlies? Wow, no one else does that . . . that's simply awesome! I can tell this is going to be a fun group!!!!
If you knew me at all you'd know I can be objective. There is no need to give a disdaining smiley since everyone has bias, but not all can appraise with dispassion. Your lack of understanding can be forgiven: Hollands effort in friendlies are lackluster. It's not only about avoiding injuries, it's also about not playing at your full capability, us more than others. This mentality switches drastically when something is at stake and therefor friendlies are poor references. My point still stands that Holland is in the same tier as Brasil in terms of attacking threat so you can bin the 'Netherlands are no Brasil'. The only thing I agree with is that this is a fun and interesting group.
why the slight disadvantage to cameroune? they are the most athletic and probably as techniquely gifted as anyone in the entire tournament. The only danger is that african teams tend to lack discipline and focus leading them to drop games they should actually win and turn in entertainingly competitive games against powerhouses in losing efforts. However, this time they seem to have a great coach and have really come together over the last half of the qualifiers. Plus they'll be playing in their home continent. It would be a major failure if they don't advance. Holland is always great in group stage and accustomed to tougher groups. They have more than a slight advantage. I fully expect them to advance. The rest is somewhat unpredictable but Cameroune will have the crowd behind them and tremendous pressure to go through. On paper, they have the easiest group of all the African teams save Algeria And I agree with Awareness. Anything can happen in WC play but Holland is clearly favored to advance. Period
1) I think I'm getting a good idea of who you are. 2) Is this better? 3) In this Group, I should be able to. I've never had the pleasure of running into Japan, Netherlands or Cameroon supporters in the forums before now. This will be a fun, new experience for most here I would think, so let's not get bogged down in uber seriousness. Oh yeah, The Netherlands are no Brazil. (If you knew me at all, I prefer humor over hubris.)
That's exactly why I would give Cameroon a slight disadvantage (couldn't have written it better myself). If you read my earlier post, I already stated that everyone should look out for Cameroon. And like my newest best friend from Den Haag, I also said all the way back on Page 2 that The Netherlands should get through the group stage. I'd be surprised if many would disagree.
Cameroon has been very consistent since Le Guen took over as coach. That said Cameroon still seems to have the same disciplinary issues they have had since 1990, as far as rash tackling is concerned. I believe Rigobert Song has the record for the most red cards in World Cup history and I wouldn't bet against him to catch another one this time around. Apart from that they have been very tactically sound and the best indicator for this was they way they disposed of Morocco in Rabat in the last group game.
I'm finding it a bit weird how hard you are on your own team. We didn't lose any of those games despite missing our three best players in all them, and by the way they were friendlies. Italy and Paraguay created nothing against us, and saying we only scored because of England's defensive errors, well, if no defensive errors were made in football then 99% of games would end in a 0-0 draw. It's what you do with your opponent's defensive errors that counts. Yes we have our problems but then again so does every other football nation. Like Rene van der Gijp said the other week, sometimes you see flashes of brilliance in the Dutch team, with quick one touch football, passing and creative moves that you don't see anyone do, not even Brazil. If that's the type of football we can produce at the world cup, then who knows we might get far.
This is the prediction thread I'm trying to get a grip of how those games will unfold. Now we are with fans from all teams we maybe can have a tactical discussion. Where on the pitch do the teams start to pressurize? Things like that will predict a game far more than friendly results from 20 years ago. As for our ability to play great football, that will come mostly to the surface when we play the toughest opponants. France, Italy, Brazil. The expectation is on their shoulders and we will rise up to the occasion. I think we can beat Brazil in the quarters. In this group we are the seeded team, we are the favorites and we will face teams that will adapt to us. There is another energy flow behind it. When I hear the Danish gameplan I get dejavu memories of England, Italy, Paraguay, even Australia. Maybe we can eclipse their tactics with our individual quality up front, when Robben, v persie and Sneijder are fit, but I would like Bert v Marwijk to answer on such a gameplan before the WC starts in one of our friendly's. That's not to much to ask I think.
We've never failed to get out of the group stage of any tournament, have been the world's number three for quite a while, unlike England are not in the habit of crashing out of tournaments as soon as we meet a real top opponent, etc. It's just a bit strange to have that many doubts is all I'm saying. You're referring to friendlies - we're historically rubbish in friendlies. Yet under Van Marwijk's leadership we rarely lose even those. Are we a top favourite for this tournament? No of course we're not, Spain and Brazil are. But I can barely see us lose, that's my point. We're far, far too solid to be losing games. And even 3 draws can be enough to progress from the group.
Thank you for changing your scornful smiley for a more inviting one. Ironically, the Dutch side has been hiding behind a humble face for too long. The goals set in previous tournaments were NOT high. In no case was the cup the orientation of a succesful campaign. Ofcourse there was some sort of disappointment, but we didn't expect to raise our game due to our own appraisal of the team. Some would call it grace. Now that another golden generation has risen, it's custom to appoint higher the expectations. Euro2008 propelled us to a more lofty opinion of the team and therefor it should be noted that we have only ourselves to blame if we don't progress. We should be able to win against minnows. Calling improved but lesser teams almost on par with Holland is just way of shielding against disappointment. We both agree that Holland are favorites, we don't agree in how much better this Holland side is. It's an axiom that everything can happen and no team is certain of progressing, but I'm just tired of the notione that we should show (too much) respect. Staring myself blind is not the way to imbue confidence in a good result, Im aware of our weaknesses aswell. I'm but one so I welcome your opinion without dismissing it completely. It's just time to act as the 3rd world ranked team in the world. With all it's advantages (taking the game to them and..) and disadvantages (the bigger they are, the harder they..) PS Neeskes, please don't tell me you're leading the bandwagon for the Douglas-for-Holland campaign.
This is a simple group to predict Holland Cameroon Denmark Japan Holland- is the class and talent . Cameroon- has good WC history and will be inspired Denmark- Much as I like Bentner he can get awfully cold in big games Japan - has never won a WC game outside Japan. even lost to Jamaica. This is not the group to get your first win in
I saw somewhere in this thread someone calling Bendtner Denmarks best forward. As a Gooner, I find this both sad and hilarious. Bendtner is a good striker, but if Danes are relying on him to either score or create goals consistenly they're out to lunch. Bendtner has potential, but he can't be depended on to be the go to guy at this point in his career. After Eboue, he's probably the most frustrating player to watch. He regularily makes bonehead passes and misses sure goals. If I was a Dansk supporter my one saving grace would be that he's not going to be up against some of the stronger back 4's in the world.
Considering that professional football is young in Japan, that it's the third WC for them and that being Asian always gets you hard draws, this is not an indication about their level.
Football is young there, therfore Japan is not ready for their first outside win . Asian teams always get a hard draw because all the teams are above them . This is actually an easy group (for the others) because Japan is in it . It becomes a matter of prespective .
I'm a Twente supporter, what can I say. It's not like I'm objective on anything Twente related. He's got a serious Dutch girlfriend so who knows, it might happen sooner than you think.
Douglas is awesome. I was in the Velodrome and at Twente when we played you (UEFA Cup) and he was absolutely impressive. A beast. I also have a strong memory of Elia, he was just playing in front of me. A lot of trash talking but damn, he's fast. Douglas could improve Netherlands's defense, for sure.
He's been in a country full of hot blonde women since he was 19, it's a smart move to get a serious Dutch girlfriend before he moves on to play in a country where the women aren't so attactive, like England. /shallow comments
This post is worthless without pics. I think you need to make a visit to the Fans and Travel forum and start a "Girls of Group E" thread. Y'know, purely to back up the trash talk.
Group E would have some competition from group D for sure. Case for group E though would be Doutzen Kroes
Excellent choice, but let's not just start throwing up pics of extremely hot women here. Please be our representative and set up a Girls of Group E thread in the Fans & Travel forum. Or you can set it up here and I'll be happy to relocate it to the correct spot. We're going to try and keep this thread open to strictly Group E football talk. Thanks Oranje!