Matchday 13: What have we learned?

i hate the german team, they play ugly soccer always but they can win, i donno why, i am happy the whiner (ronaldo) is out but at the same time i don’t want to see germans winning the semi final.

Posted from  United States

@alaa; we need the germans for our perfect win..we need to humiliate the germans in the final!!

Posted from  Netherlands

@goose : i agree, when we beat the germans for me this is the maximum joy in life, but germans and italians when they get far in the tournaments they get very lucky. i hate them man!!

Posted from  United States

How about forgetting about humiliating the Germans and just beat them. Last thing we want is a repeat of 1974. German’s win because they always fight to win and Portugal lost because they played individually. We can beat both these teams that were on the pitch today but we must be united. I am glad Germany went through because we will have a better game against them but first things first lets rip up Russian team Holland street style.

ORANJE ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!

Posted from  Canada

i was hoping for portugal revenge, but i guess the germans will do

Posted from  United States

Germany has shown the Dutch how to beat Portugal!I was just wondering whether the Oranje can fight for victory the way the Turks did against the Czechs. Germany and Italy can beat teams that are better than them, and without having to play great football(why did you let Italy, through, Van Basten?).For instance,Euro 2000:Italy vs Netherlands, and during the World Cup,Portugal vs Netherlands. I still cannot get over “The Battle of Nuremberg”. the Dutch always get so close, and at the last second ,for some reason, they disappoint big time.
Now I wonder what the remaining games of Euro 2008 has in sights for them.
I don’t want to get my hopes up and be disappointed, so I am going to be skeptical, and cautious, and hope for the best.
Let us pray, this is the team that wins both the Euro 2008 and the World Cup 2010. Time is of the essence, and it is now or never.
Go Van Basten!!!

Posted from  United States

To ´Van Basten´:
In 1996, era of the very succesful ajax generation, Oranje wasn’t a cohesive team; ‘black and white’ were not treated equally at their club (ajax) and this had negative effects on the team’s feeling.
In 1998 it was the quality of Brasil that took Oranje down (and a not given penalty for the charging of van Hooijdonk in the dying seconds of the game), and it is till today the biggest chance for Oranje to win the World Cup in recent football history.
In 2000 it comes down to sheer bad luck as Oranje missed a record breaking 5 penalties leaving Oranje stranded in the semis.
Let’s forget 2002 please, and only let Turkey and South-Korea be highlights (and that amazing freekick by ronaldinho) to remember.
In 2004 Portugal was just much better to be quite frank and that the Arjen Robben - Paul Bosvelt substitution was the best remembered moment, and the fact that Greece won the championship shows the freakyness of the tournament.
In 2006 the first signs of a new era became evident after advancing from the poule of death with 7 points. The loss against Portugal shows:
1. Oranje was not ready for the real deal
2. Marco van Basten wasn’t as good as he is now (letting Ruud on the bench for Dirk Kuijt)
3. The portugese team was realy sneaky, nasty (mainly Figo) and Oranje gladly obliged to this
4. Never have I screemed and cursed this much as during this game (together with millions of other fellow dutchmen I presume)

So to sum up in the passed we lacked team spirit, penalty-taking skills and a competent coach (quality players have consitently been there over the years). Oranje has a good team spirit, penalty taking skills (Netherlands - Sweden 2004:p) and Marco has shown after years of being critised that he can motivate and make the right decisissions. Together with an excellent generation of players (old school and ‘new school’) you have no reason to be too cautious. Get those damned hopes up, just like the Dutch players, they need to believe they can win!!!!

How is the EC coverage in the States by the way?

NEDERLAND!

Posted from  Netherlands

the coverage is amazing in the states. all the games are either at noon or 230 in the afternoon. espn has it all. only problem is that we have to listen to julie foudy and her garbage analysis after every half.

Posted from  United States

At the end of the day, football is in the details. The off side Kieft goal in 1988, the ball on the post in the WC1978 finals (just before the end of the 90 minutes), the Pi-Air penalty that wasn’t awarded in 1998, as mentioned.

In 2006, Portugal had one chance and they scored. We had three and we missed: Cocu on the crossbar, Van Persie after a great dummy (he took the ball on the outside of the foot instead of the inside!!) and Kuyt’s run towards the goalie who was just a wee bit quicker… These types of details (apart from ref mistakes and coaching errors) make or break you.

We could have won many more prizes, but…..we didn’t

@ mitchell, man i like all what you’re saying about keeping the hopes up and i agree 100% that we have to belive that we can win it this time. butttt as a fan since 1988, i can’t be very relaxed, come on it is not easy, i try to be relaxed but i can’t. i am so damn nervous.

Posted from  United States

@Mitchell and Jake:

Like Jake said, this year’s EURO coverage is excellent, all matches are shown live in expanded basic cable, i.e.: no charge on ESPN and ABC network. But I have to disagree with Jake re. the commentary. Julie Foudy is actually to me the voice of reasons in the ridiculousness of Tommy Smyth and Andy Gray. At halftime during France - Oranje match, Smyth actually said something like, “Holland will be happy with a 1-1 draw” and we were leading 1-0, what a bunch of garbage!

Agree with Mitchell that 1998 was the closest for the Oranje to have won a major tourney. That pass from Frank de Boer to Bergkamp who scored against Argentina was one of the most memorable scene in my head. That tournament also solidified Frank de Boer as my fav. Oranje in the golden era (who never won anything) of the 90s. Also have to agree with your astute analysis on the dis-harmony in the Oranje squad in 1996 (didn’t it also happen during World Cup 1994 in the USA when Davids was sent home by Advocaat?)

As I’ve previously written on this board, in my eyes, this year’s squad looks very harmonious and no primadonna attitude. Again, ESPN d*ckhead commentators said something like, “if I were van Persie or Robben, I will not be satisfied to come off the bench” …. that’s just garbage, you can see from their expression this year that it’s team above personalities. Also, I have never seen the squad playing as “confident” as they are …. plus, the no primadonna policy ensures that everybody - except for probably #10 - has to earn their spot.

Again, like I said, this is OUR year!

GO ORANJE!

–H

Holland`s appearence is superb. But there are some basic laws in big tournaments:

1. Never underestimate the italians.
2. Never write off the germans.

Let`s see if you can pull that stunt again vs the italians in a K.O. game (that game will be your real final, if you can, you are a worthy champion).

I estimate that your win vs Romania breaks your neck. Next time you meet Italy they will send you packing.

–HedonistiX - I think ‘74 and ‘78 were the closest we’ve come to winning a major tourney. ‘98 is the closest we’ve come in recent times.

Posted from  Canada

@Caleb,

Yes, that’s what I meant. I only had vague memories of WC 1978 while had only watched our action in WC 1974 via tape.

–H

Posted from  United States

@teamspirit:
“Next time you meet Italy they will send you packing.”
—-

Agree with your theory on the Germans and Italians.
With that said, disagree with what you wrote above since Spain will send Italy packing. No Gatusso = no heart. No Pirlo = no creativity.

GO ORANJE!

–H

Posted from  United States

If I would bet my money on a team, it would be Holland because of their outstanding performance.

I am looking forward to the Spain-Italy game. Its the first time to drop their pants. Its proofed that Italy has big balls, not sure about Spain.
In 06 they had their corruption scandal and still got the trophy. Sure, they lack some of their best players, but they will somehow fix it.

You didnt use your change to get rid of them, that was your fate. You can do nothing against that anymore, your doomed.

The Germans showed their balls and nerves yesterday, they will make it to the final.

Greets to the United States

never count out the germans…