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Oranje just not good enough

June 26th, 2006 | By: Jan | 74 Comments »

Oranje desperately wanted to achieve on the most significant stage of world football. Coached by Marco van Basten, who in turn would be guided by Johan Cruyff.
The “new” Oranje fell hard on it’s face in the second round of the 2006 WC.
The team manager preached attractive, offensive and dominant football. Alas, the team couldn’t fulfill those demands.

Portugal was smarter, more experienced and better in the absurd soap opera last Sunday.
“I am disappointed,” van Basten said after the game. “Losing is part of football so now too, I have to act as a grown up, but it’s tough.” Portugal won with 1-0 in a emotion-pack slugfest, which was destroyed by the antics of the Russian referee Ivanov.

In the last years, van Basten built a totally new team. Big name players like Seedorf, Davids, Kluivert and Makaay were axed and he trusted young new talented players. Experienced players like Edwin van der Sar, Gio van Bronckhorst, Phillip Cocu and Ruud van Nistelrooij were asked to guide the youngsters and Van Basten thought he had the perfect mix of skills, experience and team spirit to overwhelm the world (again).

Directly after the lost match against Portugal, Van Basten stated that his ream lacked experience. The South Europeans were shrewder, played ref Ivanov better and ended up winning by a narrow margin. But still…winning. Everyone talked at length about the 16 yellow and 4 red cards, but Van Basten summarized the match by stating that Oranje lacked experience.

In fact, Van Basten critized his own selection policy. The former European Player of the Year (3 times) thought he could do without the pizzazz and experience of Edgar Davids, to name one, but right after the lost match, he concluded that exactly that aspect – experience – failed the team. He did take four full right backs with him to Germany, which resulted in a out-balanced group.

When Van Basten addressed the press for the first time, he immediately chucked the high expectations in the bin, saying that he would actually focus at the EC2008. The WC2006 in Germany was some sort of experience-building boot camp on the way to the European title in 2008.

However, the WC2006 qualification was such a success, that Oranje – and the Dutch nation – gained faith in a good result at the WC. Under Van Basten’s reign, Oranje only lost once – before Sunday that is. In a rare interview, Van Basten confided to the interviewer that he would only be satisfied with the World Cup.

That objective was an illusion. Oranje was simply not consistent enough. Sometimes, it was good, but more often the team was mediocre at best.

The results hid the lack of quality and experience. Oranje was lucky, played tight and well-organized and cannibalized the brilliance of players like Arjen Robben.

At the WC, things went along just fine, but similar to the qualification games. The team never played great football, but did win against Serbia & Montenegro and Ivory Coast. In the last match against Argentina – both countries had progressed already – both trainers replaced key-players and were happy with a goalless draw.

In the first real important duel in the knock-out phase, it all went sour. One brilliant moment of Maniche was enough for Portugal to win. When mental strength became the determining factor, Oranje failed the test.
On the way to the big Objective – the EC in 2008 – the lessons learned are tough.
“But now, I will have to act like a grown up…” so said Marco van Basten.

(ANP)

Tags: marco van basten, Netherlands

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Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 74 comments.

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By Rami | June 26th, 2006 at 9:59 pm

Here’s something to further shit our sour luck goose..

Now the matchup between Ukraine- Swtizerland is going on.

Its half time. Read this well. 17 Fouls, no yellow cards or red cards.
Hehe, we even got one in the first damn minute. And you should look at the fouls that has been made in this game.. Some are pretty brutal.. Yet the ref plays wise and leaves things calm, no frustration on either side, both teams are still focused. Everything under control…

Shannon I’m sorry the ref is also to be blamed to a very big extent.. It is frustrating to see those stats tonight and compare them to last night’s. God !! for consistency’s sake at least… How can FIFA tolerate this ?? No consistency whatsoever.

Posted from Russian Federation

By Luis | June 26th, 2006 at 10:31 pm

Rami dude..I wasn’t offering advice on how to play football, just expressing my opinion. Last time I checked that was still allowed. I know you don’t care it’s. you made it clear. Just like you showed you’re an ass. Too bad for you posting is open to everyone. This is a worldcupblog, not dutchclubblog!

Posted from United States

By Ana | June 26th, 2006 at 11:44 pm

Dear Lars,

I guess with that good mood everybody found out what you’re not having… a good performance of the english boys!

FORÇA PORTUGAL!

Kisses

By Rami | June 26th, 2006 at 11:54 pm

Luis dude. youre welcome to post your opinions and comments insights … whenever you want.
It is the worldcupblog … but its also the dutch’s worlcupblog..

you’ve been playing mean all along and then suddenly you sound all upset and disrespected in your last comment?? what do you want?

Nobody is telling you to get out of here man, at all… just you portuguese fans say something interesting for a change. You’ve said what you said before, we read, we acknowledged your opinions about last night’s match … But i was just wondering when is it exactly you were gonna cut it short.. Again this is a thread that has nothing to do with portugal and yet you guys come again and again and poison us with last night’s talk.

Posted from Russian Federation

By Rami | June 27th, 2006 at 12:04 am

http://www.bangkokpost.com/Sports/27Jun2006_sport31.php

Check this site guys.. Very true, sums up a lot of what we have been saying for the past day.

Posted from Russian Federation

By borneng | June 27th, 2006 at 12:42 am

I’m sorry but I just can’t keep it to myself any longer. Everyone agree that MVB made mistakes but I disagree that he will learn from his mistakes. He hasn’t even admit he made huge mistake for not letting RVN play, let alone learn from it! Now he goes on about being adult and get on with it after the defeat? That’s just total BS. It’s him who is acting like a whiny little child by ignoring RVN in last match because he is unhappy with him. MVB is a pethatic wa*ker that he let his personal feeling comes before the importance of the team and winning the match. This talk about aiming euro 2008 and WC is a bonus is just another of his pethatic excuse for his sad effing ego! If he is a real good coach he would have put his personal feelings aside and allow the possibility of RVN score by playing in the match! Why settle for “being in a WC is a bonus” when they could have gone further!

Posted from Ireland

By Luis | June 27th, 2006 at 12:42 am

Read all my posts and comments if you like. If you do, you will see that I always go out of my way to be fair and always show respect for all opponents. I am a fan of football, not just Portuguese football. I cheer for Robben, V. Persie and V. Nistleroy all season long. I’m not here to put down Dutch football in any way. I’m just responding to opinions that I feel are unjust.

Posted from United States

By Victor | June 27th, 2006 at 1:22 am

Hello everybody.

I have seen a lot of bad words from Portuguese people, dutches and others…
My friends, Portugal won the game… yes… a terrible game… Players of the tow teams had lost their mind… YES, is sad we watch some bad attitudes from professional players… but we must understand that the pression that they feel in these game…

Is a football game! Put the aggressions and bad discussions behind and let celebrate the life! Portuguese such as dutches are good people…

Oh… god…

Please, be the wisdom…

Nederland, Portugal understands your feel… but only a team could pass…

Be HAPPY…

Posted from Portugal

By alaa | June 27th, 2006 at 1:27 am

we said every thing. i think we have a bit of every bad thing to lose.
we are unlucky( look at that post that’s still shaking till now from cocu’s missile) .
we are bastards because always we leave some good players home( castelen, huntelaar, and many others)
refrees favor always other teams over ours.
what do want more guys?
i think it is our fate every time to cry because our orange team couldn’t make it.

By srini | June 27th, 2006 at 2:09 am

Why did RVN not play. Can someone really explain this>>>>>Looks like it was an ego issue with the coach.
Simply immature

Posted from Canada

By Danny | June 27th, 2006 at 2:47 am

Lol at Goose & Rami. Let me start off with Goose. Who are you calling handbags? I’m not Portuguese. I’m American buddy. And yeah i read your posts. It was filled with excuses and arguing with that guy Mario F. Lastly I would like to say what the heck is a wanker? Get better comebacks homie. Now off to Rami. “Dude you’re hilarious.. I feel like you’re expecting to meet your gods in heaven some day..” (Rami) First of all don’t call me dude because we’re not boys. Let me remind you or shall I say enlighten you Remi that Portugal was the best team in Euro 04. How soon people forget lol. Portugal will easily defeat England. That means a semi-final berth and that to me is special. Since you decided to jump in my convo with Goose the Loose I might as well leave a couple lines for you. Your living in Russia so why don’t you start concentrating with your own country. Try qualifying for the World Cup first then you can start talking lol.

By ayl18 | June 27th, 2006 at 5:36 am

At least Russia will have Hiddink….. i wish the Dutch had him this year!! Look at what he did with Australia.. lost in the final 20 seconds of injury time to a penalty which stemmed from an Italian diver….. Fifa has got to change the way that the game is officiated…. FIFA let us down more than the Refs, it’s their responsibility to ensure that there is consistecy etc between the referees.

Personlly, i think that video refereeing should be introduced in the same way that it’s used in Rugby League and American Football. Used for decisions which may change the outcome of the match, not for fouls in the middle of the park…. that would just slow the tempo of the game.

I think (correct me if i’m wrong) that in the NFL, each team can refer a certain number of the refs decisions to the Video Ref during the game and the Video Ref can overturn them …..

i love that idea, it could be used for offside calls before a goal is scored (eg. goal is scored but linesman calls offside incorrectly), it could be used for reviewing penalties in the box etc…. I hope that FIFA at leat consider it. With so much at stake these days it is a huge mistake to fall so far behind, they must embrace technology and use it to benifit football and the football community.

Posted from Australia

By Rami | June 27th, 2006 at 8:52 am

WOW danny your dumber than I thought. First Im dutch living in lebanon finishing university if its any of your damn business..

And yea I remember portugal2004.. I wouldn’t call this a tournament to remember if I were you. One of the lows of football history, in which Greece managed to win the tournament. Portugal was only that strong because it was playing at home. I don’t recall in 2002 which was your team’s prime period that you did anything besides disgracefully leaving in the early stages of the WC.

Danny boy, you did not win against England just yet.. When you do and if you do, then come tell me about your stupid divine gods of yours who got your team to the semis for the first time !!

Posted from Russian Federation

By Pedro P | June 27th, 2006 at 10:38 am

@Lars: Chill out dude. We can carry on @POR blog, if you want…

Posted from Netherlands

By goodie | June 27th, 2006 at 11:17 am

I feel sorry for Van der sar. He did well throughout his football career without winning major trophies.

Posted from Hong Kong

By luigi | June 27th, 2006 at 11:33 am

You should look to your sub 21, they are champions already, they are your future and have a fantastic football (good coaching). They will win for sure

Posted from Portugal

By Martijn | June 27th, 2006 at 12:23 pm

All this blogging with portugese fans. very unsportive, just like on the field if i might say? Holland had like 20 shot on goal, and you guys like what, 9? We played alot better than portugal, look at there attacking style, how many times we hit the crossbar, how many times did we just, just shoot wide? You were lucky, very lucky, and everyone in here knows this game was just about luck. And finally a portugese who is optimistic! Luigi! Cheers man. There should be more portugese like him in here, that what football is all about, bringing people closer. But no, some people just have to ruin those type of things that we love about the game itself..

Posted from Oman

By Anatoliy | June 27th, 2006 at 2:20 pm

You can say many things, but I want to say only one: Orange guys was Really bad

Posted from Ukraine

By Ben | June 27th, 2006 at 3:29 pm

Well, here’s what the referee said that contributed to the downfall of the Portuguese. Hint, it wasn’t the Portuguese. It was the Dutch.

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

Check out the article at http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldFootballNews&storyID=2006-06-27T123611Z_01_L27830174_RTRIDST_0_SPORT-SOCCER-WORLD-IVANOV.XML&pageNumber=1&imageid=&cap=&sz=13&WTModLoc=NewsArt-C1-ArticlePage1

Posted from Canada

By Danny | June 27th, 2006 at 3:53 pm

Rami Rami Rami. Stop stuntin’ Rami son. I dont know the deal with you keep stating i have these other “divine” gods. I have one God and that’s it. But this isn’t about religion, this is about futbol. You can keep having playing this lil’ message tag arguement but ive got better things to do like watching my beloved Ghana hopefully stun the world in beating Brazil.

Posted from United States

By Clyde Van DutchWannabe | June 27th, 2006 at 4:01 pm

Hey Danny, why don’t you go off and play your wussy soccer. We’re talking about REAL Football here… you know, the one where you actually use the foot and the ball is round as in the definition of a ball. Oh yeah, and when we have a WORLD championship tournament we actually have other countries playing. Your better off going into your corner and sulking about how Bruce Arena took a reasonably talented team and made them appear pathetic and leave the football discussion to people who actually understand it.

Posted from United States

By Jan | June 27th, 2006 at 5:06 pm

So, this Portuguese, Dutch and Russian guy walks in to a bar, and says…

O, and…to a former poster…Holland wasn’t ousted in the first round in the EC2004. We survived the first round, won against Sweden and then lost against Portugal in the semis. Not all that bad…

Posted from Australia

By goose | June 27th, 2006 at 6:18 pm

@Danny, im so glad you finally found better things to do..NOU OPZOUTEN KANKERHOND..

PedroP: we will meet again my friend, dont worrie…..we kunnen ook ff afspreken!!

about the ref.stuff: think FIFA will need to look at the american legueas: video: time : ,its all very proffessional… BUT remember FIFA is one corrupt empire with Blatter as Louis XVI, to be honest have no faith in FIFA w.s.e.

greetz

WIJ HOUDEN VAN ORANJE

Posted from Netherlands

By Rami | June 28th, 2006 at 9:24 am

Danny .. wish you kept you mouth shut and your comments to yourself.. that last one of yours shows how off topic you are and irrelevant u can be. No one was even in the vicinity of religion talk !!

You were talking on a differnet thead about a semifinal birth that your portuguese football gods would reach…

Posted from Russian Federation

By Mars | June 29th, 2006 at 8:45 am

I am 27 now, my country never qualified for the word cup and will never, since i was 9 I was a such a faitfull dutch fan and a great lover of thier football style…
My question is will i ever see them winning the WC and making my joy ???

Posted from Lebanon