Oranje is Oranje’s only enemy…

Some sponsor thought it was fun to have Bert van Marwijk pose for the cameras next to a fake World Cup trophee. That must be great publicity, they must have though. A quick smile, a snap and wham bam, our sales will go through the roof…
The picture was taken indeed, but Van Marwijk couldn’t manage a smile. The team manager snarled that “it’s all typically Dutch and very presumptious…”. The coach: “This is just not me. I don’t like these circus acts. Let’s first qualify for crying out loud…”. And away he walked, leaving the excited pr people of the phone company alone with their cup.
Van Marwijk wants to be consistent with his messages. “You can smile and be proud after you win the title. Anything before that is out of place. You know, our biggest weakness is thinking that we’re really good. Once you believe that, you lose. We need to be on our toes. Oranje can be it’s own biggest enemy like that. I want focus!”.
Van Marwijk would love to have declined the sponsor deal, but it is part of the job. So he does it. “But I don’t have to like it.”
Van Marwijk warns all involved. Again. “There’s a real danger of thinking “we’re there”, when we’re not. When the standings are as they are, it’s vital to keep on focusing on what’s at hand. I discussed immediately after the win over Scotland. We want to qualify. That’s goal number 1. Goal number 2 then, is getting as far as possible on the WC. That means winning the finals. But to reach those goals, saying them out loud is one thing, focusing and working hard is another. And I’ve told the players this too: if there’s a player who can’t handle being benched, I don’t have time for him and I certainly won’t take that player to the WC. It’s that simple. You’re in, or you’re out! And I will give that process my utmost attention. I don’t have to teach these boys to play football. But I will have to focus on the process, the discipline and the team unity.”

Benching Sneijder was a psychological master stroke. Every one realizes that there are no positions to be claimed. Positions in the starting line up need to be earned. Top dog Sneijder is in the same boat as the rest. Through his benching, commotion ensued. Sneijder was angry and demonstrated that. Tomorrow, the ex-Ajax player will want to take revenge.
Van Persie is injured and it comes across as perfect timing too. Sneijder can now demonstrate his value. The battle for a starting position has started and won’t finish till the summer of 2010.
“Wesley handled it very well,” Van Marwijk says. “Disapointment and anger are allowed. Or better: needed! We need some dynamics in the group. I welcome it. But, there is a line that can’t be crossed and Sneijder didn’t even get close to that line. Again, I’ll know when a player sabotages when he’s benched and that player can book a nice holiday in the 2010 summer. And they know it.”
If Oranje winst against Macedonia, the ticked to South Africa is virtually in the pocket. In a record time. Never before did Oranje handle it’s qualification as smoothly as under Van Marwijk. Some people tend to look down upon our competition in the series, but Van Marwijk couldn’t be bothered.
“The FIFA uses the ranking to determine the group combinations, to make it as fair as possible. And look at the results. Look at France and Scotland for the EC2008. Look at Portugal now. It’s not easy to beat nations like Norway, Scotland or Madedonia. Not even for typical top nations.”
Van Marwijk wants to officially qualify in and against Iceland, on June 6. This would mean that all that’s left is one year of friendlies.
“That’s fine. We’ll just make sure we will invite top nations to practice against.”
Macedonia will build it’s traditional wall of players in the ArenA, Van Marwijk assumes. “Since decades, opponents adapt to Oranje. They always do. We won’t be surprised easily by their tactics. But, Macedonia is not easy. They have physical strength, length and they’re shrewd. Both tactically and technically. They will play differently that Scotland, that showed a lot of respect for us. I can’t see Macedonia do that. And they’ll commit more bodies up front and go for the counter attack. We need to be careful…”
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Jan, I remember Beckenbaur talking about Holland in the 90s and he said. “You should never try and beat Holland, No one can beat Holland. The only team that can beat Holland is Holland themselves.”
I think if you look back – isn’t that so true !
Posted from
Singapore




@carlos that time we were too strong that may be one reason and,but it was mental treatment by beckenbaur and finally we fell down into that trap.this kind of statments will make us proud and and proud goes before fall.so the rest is history.
Posted from
India




And Johan has said that many times as well.




Beckenbauer is a German fart that is jealous on Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini.




@Finni ha ha you could be right.”We need to be on our toes” like Bert said this is the only way to glory.
Posted from
India




Yeah Beckenbauer…
. I know JC said something similar as he also said that Italy can’t beat you, but you can lose against them or something… huh?
Beckenbauer and JC are actually good mates. Apparently Der Kaiser told JC in 1974 he wished he was Dutch. Can you imagine our team in ‘74 with Der Franz?
In 1988, after the Germans lost to Oranje in the semis, he walked into the Dutch players’ bus and shook all their hands to congratulate them. That made quite some impact, I remember. San Marco copied that at the last EC by doing this with the Russians.
But, listen…I still can feel the frustration grow in me when I think about how our Oranje in 1990 got beaten by a lesser Germany… AAAarrghhh….




But then, Netzer and Schuster also wished they were football-Dutchies
.
No one picked up – yet – on Van Marwijk warning our players: if you can’t handle being benched, you’re out! I like that. A lot!




@Jan: I rather have Sepp Maier in 74 than Der Kaiser…




@Jan: I like the benching bit quite a lot. Very undutch thing to say if you are the boss. Maybe that will help build some balls so we don’t lose when it counts again.




I really think Beckenbauer had class. He was an admirer of Cruyff and the total football played. Oh dear 1990 ! Did you know we already printed postage stamps with World Champions 1990 on them ? we had 5 of the top ten world ranked players in our side – The Milan trio Koeman and Wouters ! But Holland beat Holland again.
Posted from
Singapore




The picture is too small. I cannot see the starting eleven clearly. Where else can I see the picture?
Posted from
Indonesia




“if you can’t handle being benched, you’re out!”(Exception only to sun in law)
Posted from
India




Sorry to resurrect this, but Holland was beaten by a better Germany for once in 1990.
Holland barely made it out of the group stages of 1990. They drew all three of their group matches 0-0 England, 1-1 Republic Ireland, and 1-1 Egypt. I mean come on Egypt. They then lost a random drawing and ended up third in their group. On the other hand, West Germany’s record was 4-1 Yugoslavia, 1-1 Colombia, and 5-1 UAE.
In the second stage knockout match itself Holland was second best again. Aside from a very dubious penalty for the Dutch, they were clearly beaten by two extremely well struck shots that looked actually very Dutch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMo28nyzI_0&feature=related




Nick, you are so right. On paper we had the best team, we were favourites with the Bookmakers, Marco was odds on to be the top scorer in 1990. But then politics, player power, and as was mentioned so often here, Cruyff v Michels caused Oranje to beat Oranje. Good team the Germans in 90 but what a boring final
Posted from
Singapore




True Nick… We did play horrible, but with the AC Milan three, Koeman, Wouters, Schip, Kieft, Witschge, Breuk etc we should (there’s that word again) much better than them. Those players with the mentality of today’s team (and probably another coach too, sorry Leo), would have made the difference. Let’s bury this WC!


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