Robben impresses; Kuyt scores.

February 19th, 2008 | by: Jan |

A winning manager is always right. Rafa Benitez is heavily criticized at Liverpool, but his team put Inter Milan away with 2-0 (two late goals, very late goals…), so the manager can breathe easily for a while.

The Reds didn’t impress, to be honest. Belgium ref helped Liverpool control, by giving Mazzerati two yellows in the first 35 minutes for questionable fouls. Now, I don’t like the Inter defender either, but this was too cheap. And Liverpool actually couldn’t make anything out of it. The crosses were poor, they didn’t try to find the free man, it was almost brainless football. Most shots on goal weren’t even on target. Liverpool’s problem – in my view – is the lack of football intelligence from the back (where did I hear that before?). Babel played a decent first half, Kuyt worked hard, Gerrard played his normal game in midfield and Torres showed his strength primarely with his speed, but it didn’t result in anything.

Only late in the second half, with Crouch, Liverpool pressed and pressed and that resulted in a marking error in the box allowing Dirk Kuyt to score the 1-0 in the 86th minute. And three minutes later it was a wonderful distance strike from Captain Fantastic Gerrard making it 2-0. I’d say Inter was robbed and this game isn’t played yet. In three weeks, the Reds travel to Milan for the second leg.

In Roma, Dutchmen Robben and Van Nistelrooy played with Real Madrid against AS Roma. Madrid impressed in the first phase, with Arjen Robben on fire. His run on the left ended in a cross to Guti whose shot was deflected by Raul: 0-1 in the 8th minute. Only minutes later, Robben penetrated again and the rebound of his shot was put away by Van Nistelrooy, only to be disallowed for off side of the former PSV-striker. In the 20est minute, again Robben left four defenders staring at his heels – on the right side this time – and gave Raul a second opp to score. The clear header went just wide. Roma equalized some minutes later, 1-1.

In the remainder of the first half, Real stayed in control in an impressive way, but failed to score more. In the second half Real resumed their control and seemed to play with Roma, but the counter-specialists struck hard in the 60est minute with a Mancini goal after a Totti assist; 2-1.

With 12 minutes to go, Drenthe relieved Robben and opened his game with a dribble and scissors-shimmy on the right, allowing Van Nistelrooy a zinger on the post! In the 85th minute, Drenthe had a pacy run into the box where he collided with a defender. Ref didn’t see a penalty in that. Best action of Drenthe was his scolding of the experience Batista The Beast when the latter played the ball not precisely enough to Drenthe. It’s clear that the kid isn’t on the lowest level of the hierarchy ladder in Madrid .

The Dutch did well. Robben was constantly threatening. Took on his opponents all the time, and even put effort in defending. He played a pivotal part in the 0-1, in the Van Nistelrooy off side goal and was almost successful with a shot in the second half, setting up numerous opps for his mates. Van Nistelrooy – just back from injury – played sharp. Tough in the duels, taking his chances from distance and had some exciting little dribbles in the box. Sneijder didn’t play, of course. Drenthe did very well. Working hard, gutsy but not so fluent in the position-passing play yet. We’ll give him some time for that. But it’s easy to see why people compare the youngster with Edgar Davids.

Tags: Arjen Robben, Dirk Kuyt, Group C, Oranje, Royston Drenthe, Ryan Babel, The Netherlands

Netherlands World Cup Blog RSS Feed

Comments

By dirk v.d berg | February 19th, 2008 at 8:26 pm

Drenthe was really impressive, even more so, because he was playing everywhere on the field. He’s such a versatile player, he’s going to be a regular starter for Madrid in the next few years. Any injury that comes up for a wide player, he can replace.

Posted from Canada

By Miguel Rosado | February 20th, 2008 at 12:52 am

I am very happy for Robben and Drenthe. Robben is playing very well it’s strange because he didn’t have time to play enough after his injury and he’s doing excellent and Drenthe is showing that he is ready for big matches.
If Schuster had used Robben and Drenthe at the same time it would have been very difficult for Roma’s defence. Ruud as sharp as ever, he had 2 chances and he scored one (offside) and the other hit the post.

By Jan | February 20th, 2008 at 2:20 am

True… I was a bit disappointed with Robben but he was the man. Intelligent, gutsy, smooths… The EPSN guy said that he danced velvetty into the box .

In that form, you’d want him in Oranje. All balls on Robben!

Drenthe impressed me too.

Posted from Australia

By Liverpool vs Inter Milan Highlights | Goalcentre.com - Soccer Highlights and Videos | February 20th, 2008 at 7:13 am

[...] Dirk Kuyt found the net in the 85th minute while Captain Marvel, Steven Gerrard added a second 5 minutes later. [...]

By Caleb | February 20th, 2008 at 9:27 am

Yeah, Robben and Drenthe both played very well. Too bad about the final score though. I hate Roma almost as much as I hate Totti. Hopefully Real turn it around at home, maybe with another 7-1 thrashing like last year from Man U.. I really enjoyed that one, haha. It would be even better with some goals for my favourite Dutch players.

I’m not really sure why people compare Davids and Drenthe so much. Sure, they look somewhat similar – dreadlocks, short muscular build, Surinamese – but they play different positions and in different styles. Davids is mostly a holding/ball winning midfielder while Drenthe is mostly an attacking winger. I don’t think I ever saw Davids do too many fancy moves, except for in the nike commercials. But they are both very aggressive, never give-up players though.

Posted from Japan

By Jan | February 20th, 2008 at 2:40 pm

When Davids came to the scene in the early 90s he used to make his runs like Drenthe. He had his penetration runs and even played left winger for a short spell at Ajax. It’s the explosiveness – and the fast short legs – that reminds me of Davids when I see Drenthe play…

Davids started out as left midfielder and I remember vividly how Davids made name in Holland as trickster. His reputation as such was known around the big players in Europe even before he made it in Ajax 1. And some would contact him to try out new tricks…

Posted from Australia

By tiju | February 21st, 2008 at 9:50 am

kuyt the asshole scored a lucky goal.
hope vanbasten will not consider.
@goose how is roben now?
ha ha funny
instead of experience we should give preference to guts and penetrating/threatening power drenthe is proving that.
come on drenthe come on.
you guys in manchester united the old guns
scholes and giggs giving -ve metality to others
but nani and anderson?
think think think
at age of 17 rooney/messy/nani/valcot all are playing for their country but we are avoiding our gutsy ,talented,dancing guys like drenthe,castelen etc and we are considering assholes like kuyt,makkay,jaliens,kovermans,haiselink
ha ha funny

By Caleb | February 21st, 2008 at 11:22 am

Jan – I looked at some Davids compilations and I can see your point. I didn’t see him too much early in his career, mostly at the end, but on the compilations he seems like the player you describe. They both look quite similar though, physic, hair and all, haha.

Posted from Japan

By Miguel Rosado | February 21st, 2008 at 1:57 pm

I think Drenthe is getting better and better and in the future he could be in the center like Davids. He will learn to hold the midfield and we need a new pitbull haha.

By Netherlands » Blog Archive » Wooden shoes in the airport - Amsterdam, Netherlands | February 22nd, 2008 at 3:40 am

[...] Robben impresses; Kuyt scores.In three weeks, the Reds travel to Milan for the second leg. In Roma, Dutchmen Robben and Van Nistelrooy played with Real Madrid against AS Roma. Madrid impressed in the first phase, with Arjen Robben on fire. … [...]

Comments are closed