Oranje starts campaign well…

May 24th, 2008 | by: Jan |

Kuyt scores….

A 3-0 win over Ukraine. It doesn’t really count of course. We all know this is a game for the coaches. To test some players. To try an idea. And to improve rhythm (some players haven’t played for some time).

So…nice. Three goals.

But what really mattered: Afellay playing as if he’s part of Oranje for years, Engelaar impressing Van Basten, Gio happy as full back and Kuyt scoring.

Ukraine is on a school-camp trip. That was obvious. It’s not Italy, France or…Portugal, is it?

But Holland played disciplined and with depth. Van der Vaar was happy with Engelaar behind him. “He was good. He is constantly available and he likes to play his passes deep. That in particular is key in top football. He sees it.”

Van Basten was impressed: “Engelaar showed he is more than ready for this level. I’m happy with him.”

De Zeeuw and Engelaar played in the holding role, while Gio van Bronckhorst went one position back. Or did he? “Marco knew Ukraine wouldn’t play a right winger, so I could guard the zone and be creative in the offense. That’s a role I am happy with. And I’ve played in this role many years.”

Kuyt scored the 1-0, Huntelaar the 2-0 and in the second half, minutes after he came on, Babel scored the 3-0.

Sneijder, Ruud, Robben, Robin and Sar were rested. Henk Timmer wasn’t in the squad due to the flu.

Van Basten: “I saw some positive things, at times even very good play. In particular the first 30 minutes were good. Don’t forget, Ukraine didn’t put us to the test and that was fine. We are in the ramp-up stages of our preparation. Most players will feel their body tomorrow. I did want to see more aggression, but that’s all the criticism I can think off. This is a good start. Nothing more, nothing less.”

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Comments

By Michel-Olivier | May 24th, 2008 at 7:07 pm

for euro marco should drop the 4-3-3 or 3-4-3 and play 4-4-2 with
RVN-klass
sneijder-vaart-zeeuw-robben
gio-heitinga-mathijsen-melchiot
VDS

Posted from United States

By sphinx | May 24th, 2008 at 7:58 pm

Engelaar and Afellay did better than expected. But real the thing orange could make, especially in the first hale was team work and collective defence play.
Engelaar shadowed behind Vaart and De Zeeuw for Afellay to win back at any case of loosing ball, offering mid-field engines feel free to attacl.Think they did well as Basten expected.

Posted from Australia

By Miguel Rosado | May 24th, 2008 at 8:25 pm

It looks like Engelaar is already in the 23.

By Mario Rosado (Dutch admirer) | May 24th, 2008 at 8:52 pm

I am positive about our chances:

van der Sar, Melchiot, Heitinga, Bouma, Gio;
Sneijder, de Zeeuw, Engelaar, Robben;
van Persie(Huntelaar if injured), Ruud

van der Vaart and Kuyt will be on the bench but they have everything to be in the starting line up as well as Afellay and Babel so if one of the offensive midfielders doesn´t perform at the very top they can come instead.

By Jan | May 24th, 2008 at 10:03 pm

Yeah, me thinks Orlando secured his ticket.

I like all these comments:

1) I too think we could win this

2) there is soooo much quality on our side, now it’s making sure we can leverage.

3) tough decisions for Marco. Vaart in or out, Afellay? Robin starts as a sub. What with Robben.

Wish we could play 14 players.

Posted from Australia

By Caleb | May 24th, 2008 at 10:34 pm

Anyone have any links where I could see the match (hopeful) or good highlights of the match?

By tiju | May 25th, 2008 at 1:33 am

I dont care abt the results against a weak team that to a friendly match.
but with our other superstars we wont get this kind of rhythem
suppose see the line
VDS
heitinga,ooiger,mathjenson,gio
znijder,vaart,vanpersie,roban
hunter,nestel rooy
we wont get the rhythem any more in such kind of formations
afaleey provided skill and tireless running
kuyt(i hate him)provided tireless running
Englaar provided physical strengh and tireless running
Totally all these factors made game beautiful.
but how we won or scored goals?that is big question?
i would say its only beacause of one mercurious talent(vander vaart)
so wht will be our line up against itlay?
i would like to see
this line up
Vandersar
Melchiot,hetinga,Mathjenson,Bouma
Englaar,Afaleey
Vaart,vanpersie,Roban
Nestel
Super subs
Babel
Znijder

By Jan | May 25th, 2008 at 2:24 am

Well Tiju, your line up would certainly work… I rather see a footballing players on left back instead of Bouma, but that’s me. De Cler or Gio.

Posted from Australia

By goose | May 25th, 2008 at 5:22 am

Landzaat – Boschker – Melchiot (if he doenst get fit) will be dropped…looks like vBasten will start with Engelaar! Engelaar did play good but we still havent seen him play with the real big boys…hope vBasten knows what hes doing…
rather have deCler than Gio..think Gio is way past his best and is too slow, even for a left back

what vBasten wants is at least 1 back who make runs… cause almost no international team plays with real wingers anymore you dont need to have a real, old style back whos only duty is to watch the winger..so than you can have a more attacking back but he needs space…so if Oranje plays with a real winger like Robben who stays at his line, there will be no room for the back to make his run.
Its too bad; on the left side we have 2 defenders who can make a run (Gio, deCler) but on the left we can play a real winger (Robben) but on the right we have no real attacking defenders (Ooijer’s too slow)and we have no real winger (Kuijt is more of a midfielder)

really tough job for vBasten;

maybe

————————vdSar——————–

—Ooijer——-Heitinga——Bouma————vBronckhorst–

———-Kuijt———deZeeuw———–Engelaar–

——————–Sneijder————————

—————————–vPersie———————-

——————–vanNistelrooy————————-

NB; this is what i think vBasten will start

Posted from Netherlands

By Lerkot | May 25th, 2008 at 5:55 am

I really really hopes Melchiot gets fit. He’s what you’re looking for, Goose. An alternative would be to play like Engelaar or Kuijt as right defender. Hiddink does that a lot, puts strikers as wing backs.

By Michel-Olivier | May 25th, 2008 at 8:36 am

@ goose
i think he might use this line up against france or romania but not italy.
plus Persie is not fit.

Posted from United States

By sphinx | May 25th, 2008 at 10:26 am

my expected line up by Basten!
————————vdSar——————–

—Ooijer——-Heitinga——Bouma————vBronckhorst–
-Engelaar–Afelly
Sneijder-
Vaart-Ruud-Robben

Posted from Australia

By Rob | May 25th, 2008 at 10:27 pm

sphinx – I like you line-up, except Mathijsen instead of Bouma at centre-half and Melchiot at right-back if fit. I think that team would be fantastic.

Posted from Japan

By Igor | May 26th, 2008 at 11:04 am

engelaar played well enough but for all his size and supposed physical presence i actually didn’t see him win too many header duels.
also, about the left back situation, i agree with goose for the most part. we need a back who can make runs and it has payed off in recent games (de cler set up huntelaar against croatia, and against ukraine gio crossed for kuijt’s header goal). however the game vs italy will be different they play with camoranesi as a right winger, and he works hard makes lots of runs, so we’ll need someone with good defensive skills and speed to mark him. so perhaps not the best situation for gio.

Posted from Canada