World Cup 2014 Round of 16 - Netherlands vs Mexico, 29 June 18:00 CEST

The hot weather worries me more than the Mexican team does

 

I am very curious to see the referee appointment for this match. At 68 fouls, the Netherlands is leading the tournament (like the last) with an average of 22.6 fouls a game, many of which are persistent fouls. Depending on how lenient the referee is, NL could do a good job of killing Mexico's game.

Sowieso, I don't see Mexico winning this. While I expect them to put up a good fight, I have a good feeling Oranje will effectively break Mexico's attempts to find rhythm and will certainly hit them hard on the break.

Hopefully it will be a good game to watch.

 

Mirror systems will be interesting. Mexico's opponents in the group stage had trouble with their wing backs but I suppose in this game will cancel each other out. Could be a very narrow game in which the forwards will try to drift out wide.

I guess the main focus is to keep the lines close together as Dos Santos thrives when there is space between the lines and, with a true box to box player like Herrara, Mexico can allow the play to become more stretched and still have balance. Without Strootman we don't have that option. I'm curious if Van Gaal will use Fer or Wijnaldum to track him. De Guzman would be too much of a liability imo.

The suspension of Vazquez could be factor, no idea if the replacement can provide the same amount of cover for their defense.

 

I think this is our biggest concern. I don't think he can be replaced. We're all interested in seeing who will get the start and if there will be a change in the mid.

Not sure how the oranje will go about the game but i would guess you guys will probably have an advantage in possession with both teams creating chances throughout the game, similar to the Brazil match. I think this will be one of the more entertaining matches of the R16, even for the neutrals.

 

Hahahaha no. I guess you haven't seen any of our games in this tournament so far. We are playing a different type of football this time.

 

I am sick, so few comments from me after the Chile game and will keep it short for now as well.


I don't have a good feeling for the game vs Mexico. I don't know why. Their defenders are not the fastest but they conceded few. It tells me that they use good organisation and their brain to solve that issue. If they can come up with a plan to keep Brazil on 0 goals they can do the same to Netherlands.

I also remember a friendly vs Mexico in the time Engelaar still played in the NT, I think it was San Marco being the coach. Mexico was much better in their field play than Netherlands. Efficiency won us that game. I think Mexico is a team that is more than the sum of their parts that can shut us down and outplay us.

The game vs Australia and Chile were probably the worst games in ball possession I have ever seen from the Netherlands. With that I already compensate for the fact we play reaction football. This system is 1, but then Ron Vlaar behaving like a Conference League defender kicking the ball into the stance while having time is a big fat number 2. New territory that we are exploring here. Where does it go?

We need to start behaving normal in ball possession. If not, then a team like Mexico can accumulate pressure quickly and find the cracks in our dike.

My other main problem is Cillessen. We know from our past that we can get into penalty's and Cillessen still has to stop his first penalty in his career or something. He is not good enough in that aspect. Apparently with the last penalty he just dismissed information from his keeper coach and dived into the other corner. Does this guy think it is all a joke? That whole mentality does not sit well with me. I do not see him trying to get under the takers skin. Like that Ivory Coast keeper with Samaras. Funny thing with that situation is that he exploited all possibility's, including jumping from his line to the front and then missing the ability to reach it as the ball was not impossible to stop had he directly gone sideways from his line. However he did all things to stop it. Cillessen is an insecure looking bird who conceded already 2 penalty's and never looks close to stopping one even if he dives into the right corner (Spain penalty? don't remember well). This is what gets me angry, knowing Dutch football history.

 

Given the heat in Fortaleza I think Van Gaal will set up the team conservatively. Fairly deep as not to give away too much space behind the defense. Maybe in a similar fashion as against Chile by waiting for opportunities to counter or to score from a set piece. Should we lead expect Lens to be brought on to threaten with pace, similar to what Mexico does with Hernandez.

The current team isn't very creative in possession given our limited options in midfield. Should the Netherlands fall behind or want to force a goal, I guess Van Gaal will switch to a 4-3-3 by bringing on Depay for a defender. Both sides have shown remarkable organisational discipline, so it may take a lucky goal for this game to heat up.

 

Our weaknesses do match your strengths well. Our lack of speed becomes most evident on counters, covering Robben will be harder than neymar, and that's why vasquez's absence is so worry some. If salcido starts I can see strategic hacks being employed to slow him down.

I suspect well have some success passing the ball maybe create some chances. I like our chances on corners but fear the counters that can come from them.

 

I

highly doubt salcido plays, I think Pena will end up starting.
He is faster and physically stronger than salcido.

 

Bad news for Fer. Was hoping he can be a sub-impact after his goal the other day. On other news, BMI has a chance to make a comeback.

3 games in the tourney, LvG has made ballsy moves to throw the opponents off. First with the 5-3-2 against Spain, followed with the 5-3-2/4-3-3 switching midway through the match against Australia, and then with Kuyt at LB vs. Chile. I wonder what's in store this time against Mexico staring at elimination. I am speculating he will revert back to a 4-3-3 with Depay starting upfront to complement Robben and RvP. Partly because the long-ball tactic to release the front players won't quite work against the Mexican team that will pack the defensive line. Also because Netherlands can't afford to start slow and chase the game as Mexico is very good in absorbing pressure. And Depay is in a good form/confidence and he can add the attacking fire and quickness necessary to compensate the awfully-quiet Sneijder. I am very excited building up to this game just to find out what surprises Van Gall will have...

 

I'm also curious what surprises van Gaal has in store. But I rather doubt he'll start with a 4-3-3 from the outset. After all, look what he said after the Chile game:

http://www1.skysports.com/FIFA-Worl...an-gaal-defends-tactics-in-2-0-win-over-chile
"If I played 4-3-3 against Chile, Robben would have had to run after them. They can't do that for 90 minutes," he said after the game.

The conditions will be by far the most challenging that the team has had to face in Brazil so far, so he now has even more reason to avoid a system that will cost a lot of energy over the 90-120 minutes that the match lasts.

 

Looks like BMI might be fit for Mexico. If not then, probably the QF's if we make it that far:

http://www.vi.nl/nieuws/martins-indi-hoopt-op-achtste-finale-geen-hoofdpijn-meer.htm

 

If we lose to Mexico there is something stinky going on--we have far too much talent--both Chile and Spain have very good attackers and our D was fine---that was my largest worry--we will score

LvG actually had Moreno at AZ 5 years ago--not that it matters much but since he brought up his tactics at AZ for winning maybe he has a new plan that involves him

now for my gripe

The red card against Italy in the 58th minute--total crap --then nothing for Saurez chomping a guy's shoulder--from here that smells of a fix-

-and for the 7000th time--the game will never become big time in North America until this crap is totally eliminated-

-diving is still looked at as a weapon and probably practiced regularly--something like Samaros needs to be looked at in a replay before they hand the game to Greece---

 

Suarez just got suspended this morning for 4 months

 

Samaras actually got his foot clipped, he probably embellished but not the worst call

 

Latest weather report for Sunday in Fortaleza shows a decline in humidity when morning turns to noon and later, which is mildly good news I suppose. Temp still expected to be high though, in the mid to upper 20's by 2pm-ish

http://www.wunderground.com

Chance of rain is less than 20%, with slight overcast

 

Looking at the playoff brackets Netherlands will have to defeat Mexico then play the winner of Costa Rica vs Greece then likely play Argentina or USA to reach the final. I think the Netherlands are the class of their playoff bracket and should advance to the final vs Germany Brazil or France the class of the other playoff bracket teams.

 

I agree

the first 2 games both teams--Mexico and probably Costa Rico will be playing defense hoping to steal a goal against us--I can't see them playing attacking football --should not be a problem for us

In reality their first tough game will be Argentina in the semi--that will be the #1 test and then the final is the final exam

France=Germany-Brazil and Chile are all on the other side--this worked out very well

 

I cant speak for Costa Rica but Mexico will come out to attack, just like they did in the group stage.

 

Good, we'll be ready for you

 

Exciting weekend in the Netherlands....

...first, on Saturday it's the TT Assen (anyone here a fan ??) then the BIG game on Sunday.....can't wait !!!!!

 

I have a hockey (ice) starting at 120 on Sunday. Oh well looks like I'll miss it

 

I'd expect the Belgians or Argentines to make the semis and both have better squads than the Netherlands. I don't really wouldn't want to look beyond the Mexico match for now. That's far from an easy game. I'd be amazed if we could survive the semi's should the team even reach them.

The results in the group stage have been far above expectations but a little realism wont hurt. The team has been hopeless in possession during the pre-tournament friendlies and was barely able to break down Australia in the group stages. We will struggle against any defensively organised side.