USA vs Holland Pre-game [R]

Man, where on earth have you been when you wrote this analysis? For your information, in the last game the Dutch played (11/29/2003) they crushed Scotland with 6-0!

A few headlines from The Herald (Scottish newspaper):

1. Bullets from Amsterdam
Van Nistelrooy hits hat trick as Scots wilt Graham Spiers in Amsterdam; The Herald; Nov 20, 2003; pg. 40

2. A SORRY TALE OF 2 CITIES; SCOTS FAITHFUL AT HOME AND ABROAD WATCH IN AGONY AS EURO 2004 DREAMS END IN BITTER DEFEAT
Dutch dejection as Tartan Army win new fans Alex Robertson; Evening Times; Nov 20, 2003; pg. 4

3. The retreat from Amsterdam
Scots return with tail between their legs after Euro drubbing Graham Spiers; The Herald; Nov 21, 2003; pg. 40

The Dutch have players like Ruud van Nistelrooy (probably one of the best strikers in the world!), Patrick Kluivert, Roy Mackaay, Jaap Stam en Frank de Boer. So what are you going to do? Beat the Dutch with 3-0?! That´s just hilarious!

By the way, the last two times the Dutch played the USA they won both matches with 2-0...

Good luck! See you February 18th!

 

I'm sure you didn't watch the World Cup, since your side wasn't in it. I think USA brings a bit more to the battle than Scotland.

That said, this won't be easy. 2-0 to the oranje, since that seems to be a popular score when we play them.

 

You're right, we weren't there. I've seen each and every game though. That the Dutch team wasn´t there doesn't mean that I'm not watching anymore.

In the mean time the Dutch played a couple of top shelf opponents and either beated them or played a draw. So that they missed the WC doensn´t say that they don´t mean anything anymore. They're still #4 on the FIFA world ranking list...

Nevertheless I am convinced that the USMNT isn´t capable of beating the Oranje, a draw isn´t even possible from my point of view. Sorry guys.

 

From SOCCER NET

The final roster for the Holland match will consist of a mix of European and domestic-based players, with a likely 20-man roster to be announced prior to the team's departure for Amsterdam on Feb. 13. The foreign-based players will join the traveling contingent in Holland after completing club play the weekend of Feb. 13-15.

 

Right, but in that game the Portugese showed probably the worst football they played in the past 2 years.

If they had the form they used to have (and they regained it again) the 3-2 for the US wouldn´t have happened.

Every country can have a good or bad day. But if you look at the facts it's not likely to happen that the US beats Holland. Just look at what has happened in the past...

 

Why I completely disagree with some of the above posts regarding 2-0 or 3-0, it is very possible that we can beat Holland. Did you not see the friendly last year between our countries. But for your goalie playing like an American keeper, we would have won the game or at worse tied the match. Granted a couple of players were not on the Holland team that day, but then again, a couple of players weren't on the US team that day.

Regardless, the US should be bringing their A team to this match. I think our real concern is that our defense is relatively young and lacking somewhat in experience (Bocanegra, Gibbs and Cherundolo in particular.....Pope isn't lacking anything). That being said Pope and Bocanegra in the center are a very very good duo. It will be interesting to see how our d holds up against the Oranje attack. The advantage Holland has is their ball skills and their individual talent. The advantage the US has is their work ethic. Sounds identical to the Portugal game.

In my mind the game will come down to how serious the Oranje take us. If they are focused and want to win, they will probably win 1-0 or could win 2-0, and could also tie. (home advantage is big) If they are slacking off in the slightest it is very possible the US pulls off a win or ties.

This is a pretty good tune up for the Oranje for Euro's. Plus it is at home. I see a 2-1, 1-1 or 2-0 scoreline for the Oranje as being very realistic. That all being said, it is not outside the realm of possibilities that Keller/Friedel/Howard plays one of their terrific games and the US steals the game 1-0.

We are not Scotland Flying Dutchmen. We are much much better than the Scots.

 

9

If Dutch have their full squad, USA has no chance. The Ducth are one of the best teams in the world, USA is not.

 

This is a preparation match for both sides.

The Dutch have more pure talent, the home field edge, and should control possession.

Still, the USA counter game will give the Dutch something to worry about.

The match should more resemble the match USA had in Germany, where Mathis got 2 goals, but the Germans sliced the USA apart.

 

Having been at this game, I have to disagree, and admit that the US was clearly outclassed in this match. I remember thiking, "there is something wrong with how teams qualify for the WC, when this team is not playing in it."

 

Re: 9

just because they're better doesnt mean its a lock. especially in this sport.

 

you think so? i personally think that's the great leap. i say 2-0 the dutch.

 

As a US fan, I am realistically expecting defeat. Why?...because when is the last time we have seen a near full strength US squad in a serious match? US-Brazil in the Gold Cup? Its been so long how do we know what to expect? We don't even know the roster yet. I expect Holland will work better as a unit and be a bit sharper than our boys.

 

I agree the Dutch are favored. 2-0 or 2-1 are probably the most likely outcomes.

But I really do wonder what the US has to do to get respect from the Euros still stuck in the 80s?

We've beaten a lot of good sides in the past five years and haven't lost by as many as three goals since 1997 and, yet, we consistently hear how "such and such a team is going to beat the US 5-0."

Well, that's ignorant garbage. Even if it eventually happens (which it will since we play 20+ games a year), it's an outlandish prediction. Far more outlandish than suggesting the US could get a draw or a win in Amsterdam.

 

beating a good euro team in europe would be a start.

 

usa-holland

Where can I get some of what boc 18 has been smoking ?...The USA more physical than the Dutch ? don't make me laugh...it was one thing to play Holland in the USA in summer...quite another to play Holland in amsterdam in feb....The Dutch will be very motivated, not often they get to beat the USA in anything and if they can run it up, they will. The USA has too many small outfield players..who will be run over by the pace, power and skill of the Dutch...just as they were when they played the germans in germany in winter....I am a huge fan of the USA but a little more realistic about the outcome of this game....the score will be closer to the scotland thrashing than to any USA win or Holland by the odd goal...I believe I am correct in stating the USA has NEVER beaten european oposition in europe...what makes anyone think they can break that string against Holland ?...the fact that the dutch were not in the last world cup is down to the strength of the euro's...as an aside the european championship is harder to win than the world cup....no china's, saudi arabia's, costa rica's in sight...how would the dutch fare in concacaf ?...win the f'ing by a country mile...easily...Mike in dallas....

 

Ok, let's say "good teams" are Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Holland. We could pick more, but those are arguably the top five.

How many games do you think those five teams combined have lost at home in the last five years? And how many have they played altogether?

Losing at home is VERY rare for those sides, I'd wager.

 

you asked the question...

 

usa-holland

...To Zerie Zed....for the USA to get respect in europe, they will need to beat a decent euro side, in europe, when the euro's are in season....not by playing against some uninterested, out of a long season, on vacation, euro team more interested in meeting some cute American chicks, in miami in july...won't happen in Holland in feb with places in euro 2004 to fight for....your 5-0 nightmare ( or worse ) is about to become reality...

 

hey england 66......... you like talking mad stuff about our national team dont u.... i bet in ur eyes u can see England beating the dutch in amsterdam.... well that cant happen either... u might feel confident the brits can beat the dutch because thats ur country..well we feel the same way and i believe the US has a good chance at winning this game

 

We (US nats) have not been together at full strength since the world cup. The Netherlands has qualified for Euro 2004 in that time, doing repeatedly what we cannot do - beating European teams at home. Their chemistry is near peak. Ours will be zilch. We stand a chance of taking a severe beating.

In this game there is always a chance. In this case it's a small chance.

Playing Holland in the WC would be similar to playing Portugal in the WC and I would give us a better chance in that situation.

For this game, I'm hoping for us to tighten up our midfield play and get some good experience for our upcoming matches.

While we will have a lot of our best players out there, I don't think the ultimate goal is to win this game, but to win future games that matter. Therefore, you might see a few people out there that may not be of our current best 11, but hopefully in the future best 11.

It's silly to talk smack about a team like Holland who is an established power. I admire their team very much and think they have the ability to beat any team at any given time. And they are hella fun to watch.

I can't wait for this game. 3 hour doctors appointments rule.

 

In preparation for WC 1998, USA took appart Austria in Vienna, May 1998.

3-0, with Reyna totally controlling the match.

Teams like Austria and Switzerland and perhaps Finland, I think USA can go on the road and compete at an advanced level.

What Arena has to worry about is the legal prostitution in Amsterdam....

..better have bed checks....

not too worried about the legal drugs....most of our guys should know better.

 

So I did.

And I dug up results for France and Italy (for my money the two best)...

From 1999-2003 (5 years)

France W23-D4-L3
Italy W17-D5-L4

That's seven losses in five years and fifty-seven matches played (about one in eight) between the two. Pretty good.

Not sure what it has to do with the price of tea in China now that I've got it, but there it is.

 

My recollection for France in 1994, was they had two home matches, Israel and Bulgaria, and ended up drawing Israel and losing to Bulgaria to PREVENT France from qualifying for USA 1994.

USA isn't quite the Bulgaria of 1994...Stochkov anyone, but I'd say USA and Israel aren't al that different in the yes of world football.

Whatever Isreal can do, I'd feel fully confident, this current group of USA players can emulate.

And the coming group is kids is far more potential than the current existing crop of nats.