Van Basten's Preliminary World Cup Squad

Oh come on Bertje, nobody reads your posts around here

 

Davids has been illmatic at times for Spurs. Boateng is a stud but i wouldn't put him on a sie like Holland. then again i don't see half as many matches for the Oranje as you all do.

 

Somehow, I think you're right.

Bastards!

 

I dont really agree with this, sorry.
Davids has been to Euro96, WC98, Euro2000 and Euro 2004.
Boateng has been to ZERO tournaments. I'd say leaving Davids home instead of Boateng is not a fair trade-off, I think Ornaje would be a lesser team with Boateng in the squad instead of Davids.

 

Which players are (almost certain) of a place in the starting line-up?
Robben, RVN, Van Der Sar. Who else?

 

But they are very different! We are not going to say Mathijsen's form hasn't been as good so let's bring Huntelaar, are we?

 

Robben, Cocu and Van der Sar. The rest might be changed depending on the opposition, but players who will see a lot of playing time are: RVN, Mathijsen, Boulahrouz, Ooijer (these three are basicly the most important defensive part of the team), Van der Vaart (might pop up as a striker once and will play quite some games in midfield), Sneijder (unless Cocu is going to be used as a playmaker, but Sneijder+Robben=goals against a team which tries to attack), Van Bommel (to crack opposing defenses with a running midfielder), Castelen (we have wings!) and Kuijt (can you say pressure?).

 

I dont think they are nearly as "different" as you're portraying them to be.

 

Davids is better than Boateng always has been and always will be. That is the bottom line!

 

Okay. How alike are they then? Can you give me a detailed description (or however you spell that) of these players?

 

I really dont wanna get into a lengthy discussion over this but I did watch Boro vs Steaua Bucharest last week and Boateng did quite a bit of ballwinning IMO.
To say that either player is completely different is over-generalizing

 

Never mind then. Don't get to a discussion forum and then when there is an opportunity for a discussion walk away.

 

I'm not walking away I already gave you my point of view.
You have a different opinion, you've expressed it and thats the end of it.

 

I wouldn't want him in the squad if all other midfielders were match fit (VDV, Maduro, Sneijder, De Jong).

 

Kuijt, Cocu, Gio

 

Khalid"The Cannibal" Bouhlarouz seems te be certain of a place in the squad.

 

You have to love a defender that a forward refers to as a "cannibal" - at least so long as he's on your side . . .

 

He got that nickname in germany where he is pleing at HSV.

 

HSV, led by a strong Dutch contingent, are a close 2nd just behind Bayern.
I think they would've caught Bayern if vdVaart hadnt been injured.

 

Yes I know. Some poncey forward was whining about him - forgot who

 

Brazil has announced their starting XI squad:

Dida; Cafú, Lucio, Juan, Roberto Carlos; Emerson, Ze Roberto, Ronaldinho, Kaká; Ronaldo, Adriano

I see alot of aging players and some inexperienced youth also.

 

I see some vulnerability on the flanks esp.

why can't we have a high class right winger?

what about Robben on the right and van Persie on the left?

 

Pretty much what I expected, with the exception of Ronaldo.

 

Ronaldo and Adriano are having poor seasons, Cafu and Carlos are aging badly, Kaka and Juan have little NT experience and Emerson isnt the youngest anymore either.
Also Dida has no WC experience and is prone to making blunders.
I think this Brazil team is beatable.

 

Every world cup team has it's weaknesses.

For WC 2002, I thought Brazil's defence would suck, and they would fail miserably once they got past the first round.

I agree on Carlos and Cafu, though. Brazil could find itself in trouble with two backs who are a good deal on the wrong side of 30.

However, Lucio and Juan are quality. And Emerson and Ze Roberto will give the defence the extra cover they need.