We got to the semis with a mediocre team - we should be rejoicing really. Let's face facts: we didn't deserve to be in the final. All the more reason to be proud of the team for getting this far. Their team spirit has been tremendous. And let's not forget that it is a tremendous achievement for a small country like Holland with a mickey mouse league like the Eredivisie to get to three semifinals of the Euro champs in five tournaments. Holland will now have to build a new generation of players. The future belongs to Heitinga, Sneijder, Van der Vaart, Robben, Van Persie, and (hopefully) Collins John. I hope the Dutch FA will do the right thing and give Overmars, Stam and De Boer a proper send-off, they deserve that.
Hi Johan, Sorry for Yesterday, but as you said, Portugal was better. I was disappointed by the dutch defense i must say. Ronaldo all alone on the corner, nobody on pressing Maniche before his goal ( i think 2 players had turned their back ) Pauleta all alone on two clear chances. Lucky the latter isn't doing a great euro. Too many chances for Portugal, not enough for Holland. I was expecting a lot better especially from the midfield who was eaten alive by Portugal, and Robben too who for me was ( and still is in my top 3 ) one of the best in this euro deceived a bit. Why has Overmars gone out ? But as you said, three semis in 5 euros is tremendous. At least you participate in the best match of the competition so far against the Czech.
You're right.....I am not nearly as p*ssed as i was four years ago. It's very easy to come to terms with, we simply weren't good enough to reach the final.... Looking back, reaching the semis is a good performance considering the lack of quality. We did better than Germany, Spain, France and England.... I won't have the gut-wrenching feeling of "we should've been here" when I'm watching the final on sunday, because we clearly didn't deserve to win yesterday...
Well exactly. I can live with losing to a better team. Prior to the tournament did you think we'd do better than Spain, France, and England? I certainly didn't. In a couple of years time the world has forgotten how we played, but our place in the semi-final will always stand.
this was the first time i didn't expect ORANJE to win it all at a big tournament - portugal played better so they go through - i didnt expect them to get this far and this time i think they learned some things - so i too am handling this ouster MUCH easier than in previous years
Well, After a full night's sleep last night and being able to reflect back, I can say that I am proud of this Oranje team. Obviously, I was also guilty of blasting this team before they even took on the pitch. Too lazy, no motivation, personal egos, too old, Dick is a dick etc etc. But they got this far not because of superior tactical teamwork, not because of outstanding technical skills, but because of those very things that they were heavily critisized for. For that alone, the veterans whose last tournament was Euro 2004 ought not to be ashamed of anything. They fought until last drop of energy on their last stage, you can't ask for more. (well, except maybe a little more luck..)
I agree completely, who would've thought that guys like Kluivert, Seedorf and the like would be lauded for teamwork and camraderie. This was one of the teams I'm most proud of in terms of working hard, and working together. Hopefully this sort of attitude will permeate the Oranje and once we have some new talent in place will take us to new heights. Hup Oranje Hup!!
johan, who's moaning and whinging? a semi's place in the championship with a albeit, below average team... well done to them.. the next generation should compete on the big stage in two years time and everyone should be full of optimism! Sure i lost some money on this tourney, but not disappointed with the teams performance at all~ not going to win them all unfortunately~
yeah... and he shoved teammates away from free kicks they were better equipped to take, wasting countless set pieces - he also failed to do much work for the team at all
Holland seem to have got rid of the penalty shoot-out trauma, now theyv'e got the semi-final trauma. I have little faith that they'll ever reach another final. And Adriaanse was right, I knew all along , with Advocaat you don't win the EURO champs. And I'd like to add to that, that with him you don't win a World Cup either. And Holland was very very lucky to have even gotten to the semi's anyway.
I blame this defeat on two people................. Dick Advocaat and Clarence Seedorf. course I'm also pretty bitter...
Wasn't impressed with Seedorf at all either, why not Sneijder for instance? but what r your reasons that Seedorf is mostly at fault for the defeat?
All players and the manager talk about how tremendously important Seedorf has been off the pitch for the team spirit. I hate Seedorf as much as the next Dutch footy fan, but give credit where credit is due.
Like I've said elsewhere on this MB, if you'd put God Almighty Himself in charge of this team they still wouldn't have won. We just weren't good enough.
muh huh... never heard of a brave face? and what credit exactly? the guy left an effort vacuum in the middle of the field against portugal
For once Seedorf acted like a "professional" off the pitch. Where for other players this is normal, in Seedorf's case it's very rare and he should be praised when he doesn't behave like a spoiled little child. I hope we get a new bondscoach, who's got the balls to keep that pathetic reject out of the team for good.
God wouldn't have subbed Arjen Robben for Paul Bosvelt against the Czechs, he would kept Seedorf's lazy, ballwasting ass on the bench where it belongs. He would have seen Van der Meyde struggling and subbed him sooner with Marc Overmars. He wouldn't have allowed Edgar Davids, De Boer, Marc Overmars, Phillip Cocu, and Jaap Stam to see their final chances of international glory to go to waste. He would have started Van der Vaart and Sneijder and allowed us to play absolutely glorious football. Heck, I'd rather he start Patrick Kluivert than Clarence Seedorf. This team was plenty good enough to win it ALL.
So Seedorf had a bad game against Portugal. So did most of the others. Seedorf was the ONLY Dutch midfielder to show a bit of creativity going forward. He may not have been that good, but he certainly was miles better than the others, including Van der Vaart.
You obviously haven't seen Holland play over the past two years. Everybody in Holland knows this group lacked quality. Some of our key players were Barcelona rejects (Overmars, Reiziger, Cocu), others had been injured for much of the season (again Overmars, Robben), others were in the last phase of their international career (Stam, Davids, Seedorf), yet others had an awful season with their club (Van der Vaart, Van der Meijde). Wouldn't have hurt you, or indeed the international media, to have been a bit more realistic in judging this Oranje. And can I just remind you that: without Van der Meijde we wouldn't have gotten a draw against Germany, AND Seedorf was the best man on the pitch against the Czechs. I should know, I was there.
Considering that 99% of the Dutch media and Dutch pundits agree with me that Seedorf was Dutchman of the match against the Czechs, I'd start doubting your own judgement if I were you.