International press praises Orange

the Hunter must play against Romania

Posted from  United States

Huntelaar would be nice, yes. If they rest van der Sar, I wonder if they will pick Stekelenburg or Timmer.

Wether they go all the way or not, the entertainment they offered is more important than the prize, I will remember this performance for a long time…. My only worry is that they still haven’t found a worthy replacement for VDS and they should have because of WC 2010!

Posted from  Germany

Friends:

It was about time for us to see Holland playing like that. We always knew we have the quality but the performances in the World Cup of Germany and during the qualification process were pretty bad.

But this team and van Basten have learnt from the past and now the group is very close and the tactics and strategy have changed a lot.

Of course you need players on top form and all the players have shown an extremely nice form even Robben and van Persie. If the team keeps concentrated, focused, with confidence and with some luck like until now everything can happen. I personally think this will be Holland´s tournament but now our rivals will be very cautios because they saw the demolition of the world and vice champions of the last World Cup.

Who do you prefer guys: Russia or Sweden? . I´d say Russia, they have some interesting players but I think Sweden is more dangerous. It will be nice for van Basten to beat Guus Hiddink and with all the respect Russia deserves, they don´t have the talent to beat the Dutch.

You guys need to remember that Van Basten was brought in to prepare a team for this tournament (Euro 2008), so I am not surprise at all that the team is doing well. The world cup was a bonus, I have alwas thought that Marco had always been unfairly abused. And if it was not for those portuguese cheats, we would have a better worldcup.

the portuguese did cheat in battle of nuremberg, i would of give ronaldo an oscar after all the dive he pull out.

Posted from  United States

I dont think the portuguese realize how much we want to beat them. IF we both can claw our ways to the final we will have the extra motivation to win.

Posted from  Canada

They know…I cannot stand their coach, he has no class. And it seems that he has problem with us. Remember he was one of the firt coaches to say tha RVN goal was offside…And when we do meet them, Ronaldo will remember what Boula did to him last time, he will stay away.

Yes, Boula hits Ronaldo and the Portuguese are the cheaters, of course we are.
Remember these last clashes:
World Cup 2002 – Netherlands out of WC behind Portugal in qualify
2000 Netherlands 0 – Portugal 2
2001 Portugal 2 – Netherlands 2
Euro 2004 – Portugal 2 x Netherlands 1 (semis)
World Cup 2006 – Netherlands 0 – Portugal 1 (last 16)

So, we are also eager to find you in the final. Beating you guys has turned into a habit.

Dont forget you still have our friends and neighbours, Spain, in your path.

Take it easy.

Regards

Posted from  Portugal

I think that bonehead just proved my point. Typical scum.

Posted from  Canada

Scolari can only wish to have his team play with such beauty. Its hards to play a beautiful team game with one star. IT wont be long until they resort to their old tricks. However, Germany will not be as gullible as we were in 06. Germany will beat them.

Posted from  Canada

Spain do not like the portuguese. They see you as ugly deformed little siblings.

Posted from  Canada

Well Portugal boy, I remember too how the Czechs beat us in the road to Euro 2004 and then in the tournament but in the qualifications for the World Cup we beat them twice and many years passed by to beat Italy and we did it already. So, bring on your country, we will beat you severely.

By the way, I think van Basten was pretty wrong at the World Cup and I said on this blog many bad things against him, I wanted him to leave the job before the tournament but something very important has changed for van Basten. He has listened to his players and changed tactics around in a way that the players feel more relaxed and comfortable on the pitch.

The 4-3-3 he used at the World Cup was very static, you had Sneijder as holding midfielder and that was a huge mistake. And players like Robben, van Persie, Sneijder and van der Vaart need freedom on the pitch and in 2006 they were held in one position. In this Euro 2008 they are allowed to move and change position often and that makes them more explosive dangerous and specially difficult to mark. I don´t say with arrogancy that we will beat the Portuguese because they are a great team too but in terms of quality the Netherlands have plenty to offer. We haven´t even used Huntelaar and Portugal doesn´t have a goalscorer like him because Nuno Gomes is old and is not a lethal striker at all. Of course Ronaldo is great but although he scores a lot he is not a centre striker so that is what Portugal lacks and Holland has Ruud, Kuyt, Huntelaar, van Persie and Venegoor…I predict a final between Holland and Porgugal and Holland will beat them 3-0.

gee, don’t focus on Portugal, it is not important for now. The main thing to do is a decent performance against Romania.

Posted from  Netherlands

It’s always the losers that come up with great results their team had years ago

Posted from  Netherlands

PortugalFan, i hope you will come back after the tournament…Keep important coaches.

“Yes, Boula hits Ronaldo and the Portuguese are the cheaters, of course we are.”

I think he meant to say Figo, because Figo was the main antagonist that match, horrible, horrible actor, the way he cheated Khalid into that second yellow..

Posted from  Netherlands

THere was alot of bad events in the “battle of Nuremberg”. However, the one that caught my eye as a neutral supporter was the coeardish act by FIGO. He instantly through his entire career down the toilet in the three second span. HE embarrased himself, his family and his nation. At that moment that game went from being a grudge match to a soccer freakshow!

Posted from  Canada

Hup, are you a Dutch or a Canadian?
Tell me, so I may bring my list of insults to Dutch people or Canadian people: I dont want to use them both, it takes too long.

Don’t forget these two little details: France was stolen a penalty when Neth was wining 1-0, and that offside against Italy … please, the most far fetched techicality ever used in a soccer match (1-0).
Lets hope that Neth doesnt get a home cooked refereeing like they had in under-21 at Netherlands (first time I’ve ever seen a coach to order a referee to force an injured player should take on a penalty. It seems dutch coaches are allowed to have such a direct and dramatic contact with the match).

So, wait for Spain.

Posted from  Portugal

Would be nice if people stopped fighting on this forum. I personally am here to enjoy beautiful football. Whomever brings the most of it, should win. I dont care who brings it really. As for bringing up the past… its just sad.
May the most beautiful football win the tournament!

Posted from  Netherlands

Looks like the Portuguese have become our Germans.

All I can say is that it is a great tourney so far, and that Portugal and Holland are the 2 most likely candidates for the final IMHO.

And to Hup & Portugal Fan. The Spanish do not dislike the Portuguese, it is the Portuguese that dislike the Spanish.

Just to let me end it …
In 2004 I went to celebrate with the Dutch here at Braga (it was a great and orange night of St. John).
What pisses me off is that you all say that Portugal cheated, but look for Mr. Ivanov comments:

“You would expect some dirty tricks from the Portuguese,” said Ivanov. “They are known for time-wasting or hitting from behind. But I was unpleasantly surprised by seeing such things from the Dutch. More so, they were the instigators.”

But that’s over now.

If Portugal takes this defeat with Sitzwer. as therapy, we may have a chance to reach the finals.

And if Neth. does it too (or even Spain), it would be no shame to be second to them. (At least, not this time).

That’s it

Best regards.

Posted from  Portugal

[i can't resist a last side note]
Portuguese and Spanish get along just fine … rivalry is not hate.
Otherwise we wouldn’t call them ‘nuestros hermanos’…

Posted from  Portugal

Thanks Portugal fan. It would be a fitting end to this EC, Oranje-Portugal in the finals. We could both leave that horrible match behind us.

I can see a 4-4 score after 90 minutes. 5-5 after extra time and then Sar and Deco (is he the Portugal skipper?) deciding not to take penalties and to split the title and the cup. Oranje Angel is invited onto the pitch with an axe to actually split the cup in half and then she undresses for all the fans and we find out that she….is a he!!!