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Michel Vorm: goosebumps at Hampden Park

September 9th, 2009 | By: Jan | 23 Comments »

Michel Vorm

Maarten Stekelenburg trained without gloves on the billiard-like pitch of Hampden Park. The goalie wanted to test his injured finger. Van Marwijk: “The chance that Stekelenburg will play is really slim.” This will mean that Michel Vorm will take over and he’ll be part of the group of players who started their Oranje career in the infamous Hampden Roar, like Rijkaard, Taument and Andy van der Meyde.

That roar can actually send shivers of terror on spines. Stanley Matthews, the famous England player, once said: “The moment we stepped onto the pitch was unbelievable. My nerves were hit by that roar. I wanted to turn around and go home.”

On that day, 140.000 people witnessed Scotland England, but in reality it must have been closer to 160.000… Thousands of fans crashed through the gates when the announcement was made that the venue was full.

Van Marwijk: “I visited Hampden last season for Celtic – Rangers, the Old Firm. I didn’t believe what I saw and heard. There’s only 52.000 spots in the stadium these days. You visit the game as the Dutch team manager, but within seconds you’re a fan. The noise, the passion, the fans, it just gets to you.”

“I actually played there myself, in 1969. We played the finals there for the youth EC. In front of 100.000 men in those days, we played East Germany. I scored the equalizer in extra time. 1-1 and then they used a coin to determine who’d take the cup home, can you believe that? Johan Neeskens was our skipper and he lost the toss.

Michel Vorm will have goosebumps on his arms tonight in Glasgow. The Utrecht goalie never ever defended the goal outside of Holland. Injuries made him miss the Intertoto games against Hammarby and Derby County. When Young Oranje won the EC in Portugal three years back, Vorm was the replacement goalie behind Ken Vermeer.

When Oranje arrives in Glasgow, it’s the players with a Hampden Park history that get the most attention from the media. Glenn Loovens who played there twice with Celtic last season. Andre Ooijer, Gio van Bronckhorst and Rafael van der Vaart have acted there as well, in the lost play offs game for the EC 2004, 1-0. “That was an unnecessary loss,” says Van der Vaart. During thay match, the midfielder was provoking coach Advocaat to bring him on, by demonstratively tying his shoe laces on the bench in the first half. “Yeah, I felt I needed to go in. I tried to communicate to him: give me a chance.”

Van der Vaart would play only half an hour, but four days later he was a starter – with a very young Wesley Sneijder – in the 6-0 win in Holland.

For the Scots, it’s just like six years back: do or die. Team manager George Burley already named this game “The Game of his Life”. If Scotland wins, they might still go to the WC as one of the eight best “number twos”.

An hour before kick off, the Hampden Park will fill up with spectators and hope. The Proclaimers’ 500 miles will blare through the soundsystem before the national anthem – Flower of Scotland – will be played.

Bert van Marwijk decided to take all 22 players along. The slightly injured Sneijder and Stekelenburg also traveled to Glasgow. “Normally we wouldn’t take all 22 players along to an away game, but this one is special, ” Van Marwijk says. “This is our last qualification game and it’s played in this tremendous atmosphere. I figured it would be good to keep the group together for this finale accord.”

Tags: Group C, Oranje, Sneijder, Stekelenburg, Van Marwijk, Vorm

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Comments

By finnster01 | September 9th, 2009 at 8:43 am

Well, I need the Oranje to step up and beat Scotland for Norway to finish second, but even so it will be a very long shot. The no 2 in the Oranje group is likely to end up number 9 of all the number 2’s and hence will not get into the playoffs.

In any event, should be a great game. Used to live in Glasgow. Have been to Hampden Park countless times, and when they march in the bag pipe bands of about 180 men before the game, everyone gets extra fired up and it is really intimidating. It is a great day out though. The atmosphere at Hampden is amazing.

By Van Basten | September 9th, 2009 at 12:28 pm

Well the Scots…and Scotland are fired up! They certainly want this win more than anything else since it could assure them a playoff opportunity.
I wonder how our Oranje players will play. Will they dominate from the start? I will be looking forward to the young guys especially Elia, De Zeeuw, Loovens…and the defense.
Hopefully the game will be entertaining, and I hope Scotland will bring their best game.

Posted from United States

By Andrew | September 9th, 2009 at 1:29 pm

@Finn,

I also lived in Glasgow for a good period of time in 1983. Saw a match at Hampden (int’l with E. Ger.); also saw an old firm match at Ibrox, a Celtics match at the pre-refurbished Parkhead, and other matches at smaller grounds(Fir Hill, for Partick Thistle)…Completely agree about the atmosphere at the grounds in Scotland those days…and the pubs afterward. (But not on an Old Firm match day; the City Center and the pubs locked down tight.) Fantastic. The walk from the subway to Ibrox on the afternoon of the Old Firm match across a vacant lot with all the buzz cut Rangers fans sporting their colors was straight out of “Road Warrior”…makes me wonder what happened to Scottish football…in those days they produced players like Dalglish , Souness, Hansen, MacLeish, Strachan, Charlie Nicholas…now…?

Posted from United States

By Van Basten | September 9th, 2009 at 1:34 pm

What a beautiful link up! That should have been a Goal from Kuyt!

Posted from United States

By Van Basten | September 9th, 2009 at 1:40 pm

almost a goal for scotland!what were our defenders thinking?!?they were too late!

Posted from United States

By dirk v.d.Berg | September 9th, 2009 at 1:50 pm

Anyone have a link I can watch this at?

Posted from Canada

By Jan | September 9th, 2009 at 1:51 pm

Hi guys, apparrently the game is on???

I actaully expect to see it – with delay? – in Australia soon!

Like, in 20 minutues.

So, I’ll put up a “live” account on the blog. One after the first half, one after the second half.

“Prettige Wedstrijd!!”

By Van Basten | September 9th, 2009 at 1:51 pm

Scotland is Pressuring us!

Posted from United States

By Van Basten | September 9th, 2009 at 1:53 pm

http://www.justin.tv/homertv3
try that one.

Posted from United States

By Jess | September 9th, 2009 at 1:55 pm

@Dirk http://www.justin.tv/homertv3

By Thang | September 9th, 2009 at 2:02 pm

Thank for the link guys

Posted from United States

By gretzky | September 9th, 2009 at 2:04 pm

Thanks for the link Jess and Van Basten.

Hup Holland Hup!

Posted from Canada

By Van Basten | September 9th, 2009 at 2:09 pm

What an impeccable save from Michel Vorm! Two consecutive saves!

Posted from United States

By Abhirup | September 9th, 2009 at 2:16 pm

Rubbish!!!!!Our defence is absolutely rubbish

By Van Basten | September 9th, 2009 at 2:19 pm

Halftime. 0:0! Scotland has played amazingly well, I’m impressed. Under the given conditions, our Oranje players were decent. Not any terrible mistakes. They stood their ground, and themselves could have scored.
About even, a very entertaining game, in a lively stadium.

Posted from United States

By Carlos | September 9th, 2009 at 2:20 pm

We were lucky a few times…still 0-0
England 2 Croatia 0
Hungary 0 – Portugal 1 (damn)
Serbia 0 – France 0

Posted from Singapore

By Carlos | September 9th, 2009 at 2:22 pm

Serbia 1 – Fra 0

Posted from Singapore

By Igor | September 9th, 2009 at 2:24 pm

some strange officiating as well…robben called offside when a Hutton was at least a yard and half in front of him, he would have been clean through on goal! but in all fairness, scotland had a goal scoring chance taken away by a questionable offside decision as well.

And yes, what a save from Vorm, but oijer should have been first to that rebound, miller came from further away to get to the ball. Can’t believe loovens isn’t playing, i mean it would not really be a gamble to put him in since we know how he does against these same players week in and week out in the scottish premiership.

also a very nice through ball by rvp to put robben through

overall we’re doing ok creating chances (Kuyt, Robben, Sneijder and van Pesie have all had decent chances) but look vulnerable at the back.

Posted from Canada

By Thang | September 9th, 2009 at 2:31 pm

live
http://www.tv2t.com/watch/Live/1830_GMT_World_Cup_2010_Qualifying_-_Scotland_vs_Netherlands/flash1

Posted from United States

By dirk v.d.Berg | September 9th, 2009 at 2:48 pm

Stupid Eduardo, if it weren’t for his fiasco there’s no way Kuyt would’ve gotten a card for diving.

Posted from Canada

By Jess | September 9th, 2009 at 2:49 pm

How did he miss that??

By dirk v.d.Berg | September 9th, 2009 at 3:07 pm

WHAT A GOAL

Posted from Canada

By Robert | September 9th, 2009 at 3:25 pm

Well, whatever else (and we will find something to complain about even in a perfect record qualifying campaign) Michel Vorm and Elia are 2 guys that looked spectecular

Comments are closed