Reactions to EC Draw

I´d say that why wait to sack van Basten?

With de Haan, van Gaal, Adrianesse, van Marwijk, Rijkaard or a coach of that level we can have more hope. I think that with San Marco we have slight chances to triumph. I see our opponents and I don´t fear them because we have great players too just as they do. But the problem here is with San Marco. We are enterint now with disadvantages:

1- van Bommel is not in the team…is like if Italy could axe Gattuso and expect a player to cover him. There is no other player like Gattuso in Italy just like there is no other player like van Bommel in Holland. De Zeeuw doesn´t have the guts, experiencie, leadership and talent to compete with this players.

2- The players don´t seem to like or believe van Basten tactical plan and team selection anymore.

3- The defense is not the best but with van Basten those guys are underperforming, they seem pretty bad players and then they go to their clubs and play very well, that has to be van Basten´s fault that he doesn´t know how to get the best from their players anymore.

There can be more bad things to say but there are a few good things to. But with these disadvantages I find it very difficult for Holland. I said before I think Holland and Italy will go trough and I say it because I love Holland but being realistic that task will be so complicated. We bearly beat Armenia, Luxembourg and lost to Belarus, Romania dominated us all the qualification process…so how in the world will we be able to beat Italy , France and even Romania???!!!Can somebody explain me that? Because honestly I think that with van Basten the reality is that although
I wish Oranje all the best of lucks I don´t think we wlll pass being honest. My heart says Holland will be in the knock out stages but my head doesn´t say that. If the KNVB really cares about winning trophies instead of saving their pride keeping van Basten at the helm they should thank him and let him go and hire de Haan now. That won´t happen and that is why I think that in the normal scenario and according to what Holland has been doing lately on the pitch we will be third or fourth place in the group. We will be succesful with van Basten or any other coach if we start improving in the friendly games before the tournament and increase our level of football in Euro radically. I say that luck counts too but you can´t go to a tournament and expect that the luck will be your best weapon. I think this will be a great tournament and let´s be positive. But our players and our coach will have to be at their best if they don´t want to be embarrased in the big scenario.

hehe, Mario you can sack van Basten at least 180 times before the beginning of the ec but the knvb probably won’t. how do yok know that de haan would be better? he won 2 u21 ec - but u21 is not at all the same as the “real one.” VanGaal: remember the wc 2002 (i know all the arguments that we have injured players, but even with injured players that team vas better than the one we have now). Adrianse: what he hell has he proved? how many championship,cl,uefa cup with his successive teams? Ben Marwijk - he probably will be great but i guess after the ec. Rijkaard - he has a better job and a better team and lives in one of the most exciting european city. i wouldn’t say that Marco is a good coach but the best (Hiddink) who has the potential for forging a team,a winner mentality have serious job.
one good thing - Marco always said that our team would perform better against big teams. they gave to proove it in june. actually my heart says oranje and italy but honestly my brain says italy and france. but this is only specualtion. one thing is sure - Marco has to finish his experimentations and build a team.

Posted from  Hungary

My unbiased opinion says France first, Italy 2nd, Romania 3rd, Netherlands 4th. But my biased opinion says Netherlands 2nd, after France. Van der Sar will step up to the big occasions, and Italy can’t win a game without the ref’s help. France has been a bit slow lately, and our loss to Romania was a one time event.

Posted from  Canada

How interesting to find Holland in this group for the EC, after its assignment to a group of much weaker teams for the WC qualifiers. Some bloggers were worried about the WC grouping, so no surprise that a feeling of hopelessness is alive and well regarding the EC.

Now comes the reality check for the Oranje players–not the coaches, the players. No one thinks very well of the coaching talent for this team, but I’m convinced that coaching does not determine outcome in every respect. If we Netherlander national team supporters are correct,there is talent on this team. If their is genuine talent, then there is hope. Several things must occur for success of Holland, as follows:

1. All of the talented and motivated players must be healthy in June, 2008.

2. van Basten must not do any further damage to the team’s tactical approach, assignment of players to positions or play too many friendlies prior to the championship.

3. Team leaders must be identified and step forward to set the tone for the attitude toward this tournament. As has been said by others, and I agree, the Dutch generally play to the level of their opponent. If there was ever a tournament that the team needs complete focus and motivation, this is it! If the players come with an attitude that they can win, that they will play their best every minute of every match and that they will show the world that their FIFA ranking is deserved, then coming out of this group is possible.

4. If van Basten has any chance of a long term coaching career at any level, he must affirm the above listed items and serve more as an off-field captain, rather than as a traditional coach (which he has no talent for!). He can be a motivator, can help set the attitude for the tournament and provide confidence to the players. If he brings the things as his own attitude, and demands that the players have peak motivation, then the Netherlands can succeed.

Based on comments I made in another blog, I believe that this EC will determine whether or not the Dutch are truly high quality, with mental and physical toughness, or if they have become, indeed, a group of athletes who really do not care about performance and results. If the Belarus match Dutch team shows up, it is over before it starts. If the best of the van Persie-Sneijder-Seedorf-van Nistelrooij-van de Sar-Davids attitude is present at every moment, the this could be a fun tournament for Dutch fans.Here’s hoping that this high level team comes to the EC.

Posted from  United States

[...] Read the rest of this great post here [...]

I’m with Bob on this one.

The qualifications and those matches don’t say anything. Playing small nations is totally different from playing big nations. All big football nations had trouble in this qualifications, bar Germany.

I feel the players need to step up. They need to be fresh and fit, both physically and mentally. Playing 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 is not going to make the big difference. But that free-kick of Sneijder, or the dribble by Robin or the cross pass by Seedorf will…

Again, I also think that Italy and France are beatable. In all honesty, I bet 20$ on Holland and Rumania going through…. Who’s game?

Posted from  Australia

I am French and can tell you that the french team is totally beatable and has big weaknesses especially backwards with the old Thuram, Abidal and Gallas.
With Domenech, France has not a lot of luck.
Italy is always Italy and a guy like Toni is very dangerous.
Roumania team lacks tournament experience and physical strength.
So I bet that Netherlands and Italy will go through.

Th best for Netherlands is to avoid Portugal at any step !!!

Posted from  France

What is not to like about this??? These will be some great and very exciting games. Holland as the underdog?? Yeah right. I actually think this will be good for us. It will be tough to get out of the group stage but I have a good feeling about this. Mostly though how can any soccer lover not want to see these matchups. Watching Luxemburg playing 11 man back gets boring fast. Time for some real soccer. Hup Holland Hup!!!

well; Ruud asked for big countries, now he got it!

@bodo; im sure the french can be beaten but same goes for Holland…we could lose all 3 without a problem

agree on Portugal.. would love to play them in the semis or in the final…think we still have some scores to settle with these *&*&^&

Posted from  Netherlands

://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A29754020?s_fromedit=1&s_type=15&s_sport=football

on the draw (with a little piece about Holland and how great we are

Posted from  Netherlands

Good link Goose….

Posted from  Australia

@jan; i hear that vanBasten is gonna sit down with the KNVB this week to talk about his contract!!
vanBasten told the press he already made his discission…

this cant be right!!!

how can we talk about vanBastens future with Oranje before the EC08… i say lets wait till we are outed in the first round and than sack the guy!!

Posted from  Netherlands

yah thats true ruud did ask 4 the big teams n he has got it n iexpect him to perform he is the senior striker n has learnt a lot frm raul i think at least we can see him very improved n involved in the game wen we watch real madrid play seedy i biliv is a bit overrated and he always performs good but i havent seen him inspire the team to victory
one very important thing have u ppl expect the oranje to bounce back from 2 goal down at half time to win the game or even 1 goal down. its been years i guess since they performed like that -being 1 or 2 goal down n then coming back in style
4.3.3 is a disaster so lets hope they will convince marco not to play in this system
well the group doesnt seem that tough i guess. all the big three are not in their best of the form italy i think can b beatable by any top country m not so impressed by them
there r few good names in france ribery ben arfa benzema henry malouda they all play in top league so france is a big threat
i think we would have benn in more trouble if we were drawn against portugal germany n czechs

Posted from  Nepal

MR vasbasten
u r selecting wrong guys for orange that is ur main problem
433 or442that doesnt matter
u can kiss the trophy if u r taking
donk(header specialist after franc deboer)
drenthe (a gutsy taleted motivator)
castelen(can dance with italian and french defence)
hantlaar(only the hope after ruud)we should avoid kuyt and kovermans
ronvarrl(for mataerzi,veira and other tall fellows surely either materazi or grosso,gillardinho will score from header against us)
these gutsy players wiil present u trophy with the help of RVN,RVP,ZEDORF,VART,OOigeretc

ha ha
definitly we will win against italy ,france ,and romania
with the players znejder(a selfish bull could have assisst minimum three goals against portugal in 2006 WC)
kuyt(use less every body knows)
jaliens(same kuyt)
de cler(same kuyt)
de jong(same kuyt)
vanbronkhost(ha ha a creative midfeilder)
land saat(fit for indonesia)
and we should drop talented and gutsy players like dont encourage them also
castelen,afaleey,donk,Zno,drenthe if possible vanpersie,roban ,nestel also
ha ha bla bla
i am extreamly happy at the currnet stage

@Tjiu; the names are getting better my friend!! keep it up!!

Posted from  Netherlands

Holland can beat France and Italy. We have the players and if they go out there with the mentality to win the tournament and they click at the right moment then we can beat these teams, but if we keep playing as we have for the last two years we are lost.
We need a stronger midfield with players of experience like Seedorf and van Bommel. I’ve read what you all think about our defense and I agree but I think if Marco plays the right players the defense can be better (Kromkamp/Heitinga, Mathijsen, Bouma, Gio).
Most of the players have played at a big tournament now and are prepared for the EC, it is the time for Sneijder, Vaart, Robben, Babel, Persie, Klaas, Heitinga, etc. to show what they got.
-An advantage: France has no Zidane any more.

to get in the mood; heres the one and only Oranje song… in a few months you guys should play in before a match… there are 100s of Oranje songs but theres only one real one..its sung by Andre Hazes, a working class singer and one of the greatest Oranje supporters there was..he died 3 years ago…all the dutch know this song, ill post in also before the EC and than in a way that you could download it…ill give the lyrics than also; enjoy!! its a classic in Holland

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=WUXfXSFTvYY

grtz

Posted from  Netherlands

Now our attitudes are right on! Holland and Rumania, Jan? Holland, yes, Rumania, no. Italy, a team I really dislike because of the way they play football, is a very good tournament team and the Dutch do not seem to be able to beat them. So, Holland beats France, Rumania, ties Italy and goes through with Italy. Do we now have a bet, Jan? HUP HOLLAND HUP!

Posted from  United States

Another group of death!

It’s more fun this time than the WC. Each of these games is going to be great to watch. It’s now a pool in which each of the teams could win all 3 matches - or lose all 3 matches.

Think Romania is hating life. They got past Oranje by playing well, and now they face them again. Weird, would think that the Euro seeding would at least have a rule that you don’t play a team in your qualifying group. Now France and Italy play one another again, as does Netherlands Romania. Not all that fair to any of the 4 teams.

Obvious factor - injuries and motivation. Which players are excited and motivated? Which can go hard?

But much better than watching Oranje Serbia or Oranje - Argentina in a game that didn’t matter!

Posted from  United States

Here is an analysis from myself about the “ Group of Death”

Holland.-
They have the talent for sure and they now have a more experienced coach in van Basten. Marco van Basten had some problems with some top players like Seedorf, van Bommel, Van Nistelrooy among others and that environment didn´t not help his side in the past World Cup. Like in the past Holland were their worst enemies again. A Dutch national team performing at their best can be unbeatable due that they have quality all over the pitch. Their defense is not like it used to be when they had Frank de Boer and Jaap Stam but if the team connects they can be very dangerous for anybody. An inspirational play by van Persie, Sneijder, van der Vaart, van Nistelrooy, Seedorf and a fit Robben can be a nightmare for every defender on earth. Should they play at their best and if van Basten can find a solid partnership on central defense between Bouma-Heitinga-Mathijsen-Ooijer-Hofland and then things can be fun for Holland in this European Championship. But another important thing to consider for the 1988 European Champions. If they want to repeat those glory times they have to find an Edgar Davids-Philip Cocu type of player in midfield to battle and pressure their rivals on midflield. Many van der Vaarts, Sneiders, Seedors and Robben will be important but they will need somebody to watch their backs and steal balls from opposition. The player who fits more with that role is Mark van Bommel. He is a fighter and that is what Holland needs now in midfield. A Demy de Zeeuw or a Hedwiges Maduro will have a lot of trouble to cope with players like Gattuso, Vieira, Pirlo, etc.
Holland´s recent form has not been spectacular but now van Basten and his men will have to forget about the past and concentrate on the what is coming up next. He has the luck to have brought back to the squad players of great talent and a lot of experiencie like Clarence Seedorf and the Pichichi of la Liga Ruud van Nistelrooy. It will key for the Orange team that van Basten plays the system that suits better to his players and that all the players and coach can go and sail to the same direction and the experienced players act as leaders on the field. It would be nice if van Bommel returns too but that is so unlikely that van Basten has to trust in guys like de Zeeuw or Maduro to do the dirty job and make them act ferocious against the opposition. He has to work a lot in the mental strength of the persons who will play in the holding midfield position because that role will be fundamental so the skilful guys can do their thing. Watch out for Robien van Persie, he has grown up a lot since the last World Cup and this player has the talent to win a game on his own.
Van Basten has to forget about all the criticism he has received lately in his country and the best place to discuss about Oranje which is the Netherlands Blog created for the World Cup in Germany because he for sure will be the coach in the European Championship and the KNVB has supported him so much and he has to deliver from day one of the tournament and make his players believe they are capable of beating anybody because in this group of death one mistake can be your end with such difficult rivals. Like always, Holland has great players now and if they are not their enemies and play as a team with a concentrated defense and midfield and the experienced and the most talented players play at their best for sure nobody will want to play against the Netherlands and things can be very fun for Dutch fans in summer.

Italy.-
This is not the same team that won the World Cup. Since that Lippi, Totti and Nesta called it a day for Italy. They will be missed a lot even though Nesta almost didn´t play at the World Cup but his presence and experiencie are key for Italy and for organizing a defense that now not even a Cannavaro has been able to organize. It has to be said that Marcelo Lippi and Roberto Donadoni are quite a difference. While Lippi has won it all as a coach, Donadoni is the opposite. He hasn´t won anything as a coach and he doesn´t have the experiencie and tactical knowledge that Lippi did have. Italy struggled a lot in qualification and are not even near or close to the level they showed at Germany in 2006. They were humiliated by France at the Stade of France in the qualification process and had plenty of problems with Scotland and in a friendly against Hungary they were severely beaten 3-1. It is true that in the game that was played in Hungary Donadoni had too many important players absent but if you are the World Champion you have to be able to deal with other players and Hungary is a very weak team nowadays.
But Italy has players with hunger and plenty of experiencie in men like Cannavaro, Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini, Zambrotta and company and Luca Toni will be constant danger for every defender. They are not the same that they were at the World Cup but we have to remember that Italians are experts to raise their game when things do matter and they will want to justify their crown as world champions but they have to play at their very best if they want to survive in this group.

France.-

The Zinedine Zidane era is gone. Now France has a new star in Ribery but not even 1000 Riberys will be what Zidane was a footballer. But now that Zidane is gone the strategy is concentrated much more on the flanks with Malouda and Ribery on the left and right respectively because they don´t have a creative midfielder of the Zidane´s characteristics anymore. Henry has had a lot of injuries recently and Trezeguet is getting old. But a new generation of players is coming trhough and France is always a tough adversary for anybody. They reached the last World Cup final with Domenech and he will want to win the tournament this time around. The French have already starting to play as underdogs when Houllier said that Holland will be better than Italy but that has to be seen on the pitch because here words count for nothing. It is a transition period for France but they will not want to return home too early.
The key for them is to have a Henry 100% fit and that he takes his responsabilities as leader of the group and that Domenech can keep all united as a front because in the past he has had some arguments with top players like David Trezeguet. The defeats against Scotland fortunately for them did not prevent them to qualify so the young boys will be extremely motivated to prove themselves in their first international competition for France and that can only be good for France because they have very mature players like Coupet, Thuram, Gallas and Makelele and they will help the young players to shake the fear and nerviosism that such a tournament can produce.

Romania.-

Romania is a team that will have nothing to lose in the group of death. They will enter every single game as the dark horses or the underdogs and that will take the pressure away from them from the minute they start playing against France. Romania´s fans have to be a little disappointed with the rivals they will face but their coach and players know that they are not obligated to win against either Holland, Italy and France so that is something that they will have as a huge advantage. While the other 3 teams will have the pressure from fans and press, Romania will enter each game to surprise everybody. And if they win and tie to any of the big football nations they will boost themselves and who knows what they can do. Besides they have great players like Chivu, Mutu, Marica and Contra and they are a difficult side to beat. Viktor Piturka does know his team very well and he is a coach that works pretty well on the mental strengths of his players. Since Euro 2000 Romania has been absent of all the big FIFA and UEFA tournaments so although there are many players without experiencie at this level they know that even a tie will be a good result back in their country.

Predictions: Italy will be in second round and France and Holland will fight for second place. Romania will do a good job and will take away some points but will be eliminated after the second game. Whoever passes this group will reach at least the semifinals and with the motivation high after been successful in one of the toughest groups there has ever been, anything can happen.

@MR; - wow - , this one even tops ferencs one the other day…to late now to read it all!! haha

Posted from  Netherlands

hi guys:)

i read all the postings and comments you said on this group, i just say the usual bad luck, did you notice that we are always in the death group?

in 2000 we had france, czech republic and danimark.
in 2004 we had germany and, czech republic.
and in the world cup our group was considered the death group. but this coming group is more than a death group and the sad part is that our team this time is not the usual strong orange that scares the opponents. it could’ve been nice if we had a team like the 1998 team.

anyway do you know guys what are the friendlies we are going to play before going to bern?? are the games and dates anounced or not yet? we should pick tough opponents to try to see what’s the real value of van basten’s team before the tournament.

Posted from  United States

so marco has thrown in the towel for the euro’s before we have had a chance to kick the ball … the very tournament he claimed to be preparing us for… what a ****er… well, the rotten wood is slowly drifting away, just not quickly enough for our team… lets be honest here… no matter how you look at it, this is a rotten draw not just for the group stage but the whole format of the tournament… if we get out of the group stage and that my friends is a BIG “if” we are most likely going to face the likes of france or italy again in the semi’s… not to mention the fact the miserable germans will be waiting to launch a blitzkrieg on us in the final if we were lucky enough to get that far in the first place… i hate to sound negative like this but because of our draw we are going to play 4 maybe 5 major countries if we are to win… italy, france, possibly spain, most likely italy again in the semi’s, and certainly germany in the final… you can’t say, well if we are the best we should be able to beat them all right? wrong! when you potentially have to play this many tight games that are 50/50 you are going to lose one no matter who you are or how good your players are… all it takes is one thing that goes against you like a penaly kick, red card, or a shoot out loss and your out, that’s it see you in 4 years… look at the world cup for example… france were the best beating spain, brazil, and portugal but italy won… because they had only two 50/50 games, germany and france in the final… the french had 4 50/50 games and came close to winning but their luck ran out becasue something didn’t go their way in a tight game and the odds were agianst them from winning… that is why since the groups were posted hollands odds of winning went from 8-1 to 14-1, too many variables to overcome… and that is why germany will win the tournament because at best they will play 2 major 50/50 games, portugal and whoever in the final (plus if it goes to penalties germany always wins)

my prediction… we have a nack of surviving the groups stages and should be able to handle anything from group d… a re match of euro 2000 with italy in the semi’s should be exciting but will ultimately end in defeat…

germany-italy final… germany win in penalties…

Posted from  Canada