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Bert van Marwijk wants a serious test

August 12th, 2009 | By: Jan | 14 Comments »

Both the Dutch and the English national team have won all seven games in their WC qualifications. Still, it’s a question whether the friendly in Amsterdam tonight will be a top class game. Form and rhythm will be absent since most players haven’t started their competition season yet.

Bert van Marwijk confirmed that to him this friendly is going to be a serious test. “But, the team won’t be as sharp as the team that won against Iceland and Norway two months back. In England and Spain, the competition hasn’t started yet so you can’t expect the players to be top. Fit, yes. Rhythm? Probably not. And in all honesty, I want my players to be top fit and in tremendous form by next year’s June…”

With the friendly against England, Oranje starts a year in which results don’t really matter. There will be that one qualification game against Scotland away, but Holland is certain of participation in South Africa already. All other games Holland will play are friendlies. “I don’t see it as a problem, really. The players have demonstrated earlier on they can pump themselves up for games like this. There’s quite some prestige involved in playing England or Argentina or Australia.”

The good thing is, Van Marwijk has many options for as many spots in the team. Competition has only gotten more fierce over the years and players won’t cancel friendlies that easily because of that. Most internationals also seem to realize it’s crucial for them to get enough playing time at their clubs. Which is a current affair for the Real Madrid lot.

Van Marwijk won’t be able to play son in law Van Bommel and skipper Gio van Bronckhorst against England. Gio will most certainly be replaced by Braafheid. Stijn Schaars seems to be the logical stand in for Bommel, but the AZ skipper had to be replaced last Friday with a knee problem. Schaars was stretchered off but did participate in the group training yesterday. Still, Van Marwijk might not take any chances with the midfielder, who could be replaced by Demy de Zeeuw or Mendes Da Silva.

Van Marwijk is able to use all his creative talents, but despite the hungry training ethos of Huntelaar and Van der Vaart, both players lack rhythm and will most probably start on the bench. In that case, Kuyt, Sneijder, Van Persie and Robben will most likely start.

England will play without Steve Gerrard. The England and Liverpool skipper is out with injury.

How do you rate England?

Van Marwijk: “England is one of the world’s best. The last years were a bit disappointing but in terms of history and reputation they belong at the level of Germany, Italy, Brazil. They’ll always come back on top and this team has had a good run. We might bump into them at the WC, so it’s interesting to see where we stand now.”

Their national team is not a reflection of English club football.

“Premier League clubs are capable of attracting the best players in the world, sure. And that might be at the cost of youth development in England, but at the same time, the young lads that do make it within the clubs will get better by playing with the likes of Drogba, Ballack, Berbatov and Tevez. It’s remarkable that despite this fact, Capello has managed to bring the team to a higher level. On top of that, English players always play with passion, with their hearts and tremendous energy. If Capello can combine that with smarts and good tactics, they are a tough unit to beat.”

Oranje doesn’t have lots of players from the domestic competition.

“Our players develop in bigger competitions with fierce opponents. Although I do hope we can keep our Dutch competition at a certain level. We need to be able to compete on European level. It’s all about balance.”

With the development of so-called subtop teams in Holland, have you checked out more players of – say – AZ and Twente?

“If these players really have the right form, they’re interesting for Oranje. But it takes more than three good games to be invited for Oranje. Just like I won’t abandon players who are part of Oranje but who have a couple of bad games. We need consistency, but I’m definitely following what’s happening at clubs like Heerenveen, Twente, Groningen and other teams. Oranje B would have been an excellent platform for these types of players. I’m looking forward to the new season.”

Tags: England, Gerrard, Group C, Holland, Huntelaar, Netherlands, Oranje, Robben, Schaars, Van Bommel

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Comments

By Jan | August 12th, 2009 at 4:32 am

I’d say 3-0!

I think Oranje wants to keep on showing the world that we’re top dog and England probably comes down for a friendly game in the sun.

Before the pommies are warm, they have the first ball in the net ( Van Persie).

Robben scores the 2-0 and Van der Vaart will score the third.

By OranjeRules | August 12th, 2009 at 5:57 am

Jan – I hope you’re right but I have a feeling that we are gonna have a terrible match from both squads. Uninspired play from both sides leading to a 0 – 0 draw.

By Sandesh | August 12th, 2009 at 6:25 am

Result is not a very concerning thing for me. I hope all the Dutch players + Theo walcott returns uninjured.
The coach will try a few things: it may change in formation (4.1.3.2)
Jan, who do u think Bert van Marwijk has in his eyes for world cup in the Goal Keeper’s role? will u ppl think Edwin will return (just for the WC 2010). or is it Stekelenburg or Timmer or Krul or …..)
I watched the highlights betn NewCastle and Westbrom and found Krul very very impressive
Hunter’s Milan vs Real Madrid! i think it will be in 15 days time. looking forward to that game!

Posted from Nepal

By Lights | August 12th, 2009 at 7:09 am

My greeting to Jan n all friends here

If the score is going to be 3-0 like Jan said,that gonna be very wonderful.But i think this is quite a tight game due to both coachs r trying to test things out-agree with Sandesh.My guess will be 2-1 for Oranje or maybe will be 1-1.Anyway,let’s hope tonight is an interesting game with lots of excitement.

And yes,Krul is really impressive,Sandesh.He is so active n fast.I think he will be one of the Oranje’s keeper in coming future

Hup-Hup Holland

Posted from Netherlands

By sonneveld | August 12th, 2009 at 7:42 am

i wanna smash em, the good news is that are loss of van bommel is equal to them losing gerrard. The other good news is that if they play heskey they are playing to strikers that are good at everything except for scoring goals. wayne onley had 12 goals in epl. So they should miss some chances. I am thinking robben will destroy johnson cause he is more of an offensive player.

Keys For Us

Close down midfielders (they have good shots!)

Cover Rooney well, so Heskey has to be the option (no finish)

use robben vs johnson.

Terry and Ferdinand Are good but not very fast so get in behind.

Weak goalie for them so take shots.

What do you guys think?

By Carlos | August 12th, 2009 at 8:45 am

What time is the kick off in Amsterdam ? Jan ? Only Aussies and English cricketers know what ‘poms’ are .

Posted from Singapore

By Jan | August 12th, 2009 at 9:00 am

I guess kick off is at 8 pm. Are you able to watch it Carlos?

My gut says Oranje wants to kick ass. Most players think highly of the EPL and they want to show what they’re worth. Robben, Ooijr, Robben, Kuyt, Nigel…highly motivated.

Sneijder, Vaart and Hunter for obvious reasons.

Who do I think will be Oranje’s goalie at the WC? Stekelenburg.

He’s a decent keeper. Probably the best off all available, unless Sar returns, but he won’t.

Krul is potentially the man for the future.

By Jan | August 12th, 2009 at 9:01 am

I meant Robin!! Not Robben jr and sr

By finnster01 | August 12th, 2009 at 9:32 am

Should be an easy victory for Oranje.

None of the English are in match form, all are afraid of getting injured and they are only worried about doing just enough for Capello to keep them in the squad.

The one guy I think to worry about, is Gerrard’s replacement Young. He is a player I rate very highly. It remains to be seen how much playing time he gets, but he can do as much damage on the flank as Robben can the other way. His crossing is probably one of the very best in the Prem. Heskey is useless but if he gets a pin-point cross in the air, the Oranje defense will have a few issues.

2-0 Oranje.

By finnster01 | August 12th, 2009 at 9:34 am

Just to be clear, I am not saying Young is anywhere near Robben quality, but against our dodgy defense the absolute value of his contributions could be very similar. If and when he plays, he needs to be shut down.

By Jeff | August 12th, 2009 at 10:22 am

I am not sure these friendly matches are that meaningful despite what all the coaches and media are saying. I hope Jan is right because I can’t stand England. They always think they are the best in the world. I was in London after England beat Andorra and every newspaper was claiming “next time it will be the cup!”. It is a real joke. This is the only reason why I hope we crush them tonight. The game is at 8:45PM Amsterdam time. Do you guys know if we can watch it on-line?

Posted from United States

By sonneveld | August 12th, 2009 at 10:33 am

go to justin.tv Jeff, i’ll be watching paper per view hopefully instead, this will be the laast big test before world cup so i am really ready

do you guys get nervous for big tournemens? is it all fun or sometimes you care too much that can’t really enjoy pregames and oranje matches?

By OranjeRules | August 12th, 2009 at 10:35 am

Sandesh – In terms of who is in goal for Oranje I don’t care who it is as long as Timmer as no where near our goal in South Africa!!! I’d just as soon see a drunken Tij on one of his anti-Kuyt rants in net for Oranje as opposed to Timmer.

I just have a feeling VDS will be back in net for Oranje. If not, Steks is the man with Vorm, Velthuizen, Vermeer and Krul competing for the final 2 spots.

By Jeff | August 12th, 2009 at 12:05 pm

Thanks a lot Sonneveld. Much appreciated. Regarding the GK, it is Stenk’s time. We don’t need VDS any more, Stenk is ready. He needs to know he is the man. He has had to live with VDS on his back and I am sure it was not easy.
As for being nervous and enjoying the Oranje matches, my 2 sons and I are totally anxious before games. We don’t sleep very well and are only relieved after we win. You can imagine the feeling after the Russia and Portugal games at the last 2 euros and WC. It was all gloom and doom. I don’t think I will ever digest the 1974 defeat. I was 10 then and it is a hugely powerful memory.

Posted from United States

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