Comments on: Oranje distraught with grief in 2008 http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/oranje-distraught-with-grief-in-2008.html World Cup 2010 - South Africa, Oranje, Nederlands Elftal, Eredivisie, Marco van Basten, Dutch football, The Netherlands Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:43:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Alex http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/oranje-distraught-with-grief-in-2008.html/comment-page-1#comment-161723 Alex Sat, 27 Dec 2008 15:28:03 +0000 http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/oranje-distraught-with-grief-in-2008.html#comment-161723 The Romania offence performed no less then the italians and the french. That's no argument, Henry, Benzema, Del Piero etc. weren't exactly performing very well. I'm just saying our defence looked more comfortable and less dependant of V.d.Sar. The Romania offence performed no less then the italians and the french. That’s no argument, Henry, Benzema, Del Piero etc. weren’t exactly performing very well. I’m just saying our defence looked more comfortable and less dependant of V.d.Sar.

]]> By: chatchat http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/oranje-distraught-with-grief-in-2008.html/comment-page-1#comment-161709 chatchat Fri, 26 Dec 2008 21:53:43 +0000 http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/oranje-distraught-with-grief-in-2008.html#comment-161709 Boulah was replaced because he'd got a yellow card! Marco was afraid he would get another one then oranje would play with 10 people. One reason oranje defense looked good in the Romania game was their offence was not so good. Boulah was replaced because he’d got a yellow card! Marco was afraid he would get another one then oranje would play with 10 people.

One reason oranje defense looked good in the Romania game was their offence was not so good.

]]> By: Michel-Olivier :) http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/oranje-distraught-with-grief-in-2008.html/comment-page-1#comment-161706 Michel-Olivier :) Fri, 26 Dec 2008 20:37:53 +0000 http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/oranje-distraught-with-grief-in-2008.html#comment-161706 if we played "Boulahrouz-Heitinga-Mathijsen-Bouma" we would beat of russia. the worst sub was when marco played heitinga in rb for boulah instead of replacing ooijer. if we played “Boulahrouz-Heitinga-Mathijsen-Bouma” we would beat of russia.
the worst sub was when marco played heitinga in rb for boulah instead of replacing ooijer.

]]> By: Alex http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/oranje-distraught-with-grief-in-2008.html/comment-page-1#comment-161705 Alex Fri, 26 Dec 2008 19:03:52 +0000 http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/oranje-distraught-with-grief-in-2008.html#comment-161705 The biggest mistake v.Basten made was putting Heitinga on the bench when he just had the best season ever. With Ooijer still in center we had an enormous amount of luck, the only reason we got through safely is V.d.Sar. I thought the defence against Romania was the most consistent and the strongest defending performance of the three games. And how come, the back four actually contained the best actual defenders in the squad, instead of an old center back and an left midfielder. It was; Boulahrouz-Heitinga-Mathijsen-Bouma, and what would you know, we won with a clean sheet, and we didn't even have V.d.Sar in goal, but Stekelenburg. I think V.Basten still hadn't figured out what our best defenders were, while i thought it was obvious. The biggest mistake v.Basten made was putting Heitinga on the bench when he just had the best season ever. With Ooijer still in center we had an enormous amount of luck, the only reason we got through safely is V.d.Sar.
I thought the defence against Romania was the most consistent and the strongest defending performance of the three games. And how come, the back four actually contained the best actual defenders in the squad, instead of an old center back and an left midfielder.
It was; Boulahrouz-Heitinga-Mathijsen-Bouma, and what would you know, we won with a clean sheet, and we didn’t even have V.d.Sar in goal, but Stekelenburg. I think V.Basten still hadn’t figured out what our best defenders were, while i thought it was obvious.

]]> By: Michel-Olivier http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/oranje-distraught-with-grief-in-2008.html/comment-page-1#comment-161704 Michel-Olivier Fri, 26 Dec 2008 18:07:08 +0000 http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/oranje-distraught-with-grief-in-2008.html#comment-161704 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LEtfMHlO6g Russia - Netherlands http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LEtfMHlO6g
Russia – Netherlands

]]> By: Michel-Olivier http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/oranje-distraught-with-grief-in-2008.html/comment-page-1#comment-161703 Michel-Olivier Fri, 26 Dec 2008 17:56:56 +0000 http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/oranje-distraught-with-grief-in-2008.html#comment-161703 we lost because ooijer and gio can't play for 90+ min, heitinga should of stay in the bench and robben couldn't play. the only reson we beat france and italy was because of an der Sar, wesley, ruud(the guy was awesome, he played like a playmaker), and robben. plus italy and france had an old back four. please watch the game again or the goals oijer and gio did nothing. we lost because ooijer and gio can’t play for 90+ min, heitinga should of stay in the bench and robben couldn’t play.

the only reson we beat france and italy was because of an der Sar, wesley, ruud(the guy was awesome, he played like a playmaker), and robben. plus italy and france had an old back four.

please watch the game again or the goals oijer and gio did nothing.

]]> By: chatchat http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/oranje-distraught-with-grief-in-2008.html/comment-page-1#comment-161701 chatchat Fri, 26 Dec 2008 17:48:34 +0000 http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/oranje-distraught-with-grief-in-2008.html#comment-161701 There is no way Boula's loss costed Oranje the cup. Even if the Oranje defeated Russia, they couldn't defeat Spain. Final four is the best result for them. There is no way Boula’s loss costed Oranje the cup. Even if the Oranje defeated Russia, they couldn’t defeat Spain. Final four is the best result for them.

]]> By: Jess http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/oranje-distraught-with-grief-in-2008.html/comment-page-1#comment-161700 Jess Fri, 26 Dec 2008 17:27:21 +0000 http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/oranje-distraught-with-grief-in-2008.html#comment-161700 My heart still breaks over this story. I often wonder if Boulahrouz will carry a lifetime of guilt over this. Not being able to help his daughter and then the added guilt of thinking maybe his loss cost his team the cup. I don't think Van Basten thought the possible consequences of his decisions out. He shouldn't have allowed him to make the decision. no one can make a good clear thinking choices amongst that much grief. That's why Van Basten was there to make the tough choices. There will be other games, other teams, other cups but Boulah will never have "another" baby to replace the one he lost. I think that is the real factor Marco missed. God Bless the Boulahrouz family this year! My heart still breaks over this story. I often wonder if Boulahrouz will carry a lifetime of guilt over this. Not being able to help his daughter and then the added guilt of thinking maybe his loss cost his team the cup. I don’t think Van Basten thought the possible consequences of his decisions out. He shouldn’t have allowed him to make the decision. no one can make a good clear thinking choices amongst that much grief. That’s why Van Basten was there to make the tough choices. There will be other games, other teams, other cups but Boulah will never have “another” baby to replace the one he lost. I think that is the real factor Marco missed. God Bless the Boulahrouz family this year!

]]> By: chatchat http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/oranje-distraught-with-grief-in-2008.html/comment-page-1#comment-161699 chatchat Fri, 26 Dec 2008 17:20:18 +0000 http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/oranje-distraught-with-grief-in-2008.html#comment-161699 The tragedy doesn't disappear just because you send the victim home. Wesley or Robin will still lose their sleep at night. As to Robben's importance, I think it's fair to say without him Oranje would have tied or lost to France in EC. For 30 minute in the first half, the Oranje defense system almost disappeared except for Van der Sar. The situation only improved after Robben was sent to the pitch to replace Engelaar. He soon assisted Van Persie's goal then scored himself right after Henry's goal. He literally subdued the French side by doing that. Van Basten admitted "we made constructive mistakes" after the France game, in spite of the overwhelming praises. So I don't think Oranje became arrogant after the first three victories. They practiced penalty kicks specially before the Russia game. What does that tell you? Arshavin played well in both the Holland and Sweden games. He is a great player, not a one-game wonder. Why was he invisible in the Spain game? Simple because of the strong Spanish defense system. They controlled the ball most of the time which was in sharp contrast to the way Oranje played. I noticed that when a Russian defender tried to pass the ball to their teammates in the front, 90% of the time it was intercepted by a Spanish defender (often Ramos). If Oranje could defend like that they would win the title because they are better at attacking than the Spaniards. The tragedy doesn’t disappear just because you send the victim home. Wesley or Robin will still lose their sleep at night.

As to Robben’s importance, I think it’s fair to say without him Oranje would have tied or lost to France in EC. For 30 minute in the first half, the Oranje defense system almost disappeared except for Van der Sar.
The situation only improved after Robben was sent to the pitch to replace Engelaar. He soon assisted Van Persie’s goal then scored himself right after Henry’s goal. He literally subdued the French side by doing that.

Van Basten admitted “we made constructive mistakes” after the France game, in spite of the overwhelming praises. So I don’t think Oranje became arrogant after the first three victories. They practiced penalty kicks specially before the Russia game. What does that tell you?

Arshavin played well in both the Holland and Sweden games. He is a great player, not a one-game wonder. Why was he invisible in the Spain game? Simple because of the strong Spanish defense system. They controlled the ball most of the time which was in sharp contrast to the way Oranje played. I noticed that when a Russian defender tried to pass the ball to their teammates in the front, 90% of the time it was intercepted by a Spanish defender (often Ramos). If Oranje could defend like that they would win the title because they are better at attacking than the Spaniards.

]]> By: lowiesje http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/oranje-distraught-with-grief-in-2008.html/comment-page-1#comment-161695 lowiesje Fri, 26 Dec 2008 12:33:17 +0000 http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/oranje-distraught-with-grief-in-2008.html#comment-161695 @Jan, I agree. If you think of it... to ''blame'' Robben for the loss of the Russia-game is a lame excuse. Why can't MvB admit the technical staff and he made a error judgement? Why doesn't he say: "We should have send Boulah home, we, the technical staff and I, should have protected Boulah for himself, and us, so we and the other players could have been focused on the Russia-game." Of course, it is not a guaranty the outcome of the game would have been different, but, I mean, did Mvb learn something of this tragedy? Isn't there any self-reflection? @Jan, I agree. If you think of it… to ”blame” Robben for the loss of the Russia-game is a lame excuse. Why can’t MvB admit the technical staff and he made a error judgement? Why doesn’t he say: “We should have send Boulah home, we, the technical staff and I, should have protected Boulah for himself, and us, so we and the other players could have been focused on the Russia-game.” Of course, it is not a guaranty the outcome of the game would have been different, but, I mean, did Mvb learn something of this tragedy? Isn’t there any self-reflection?

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