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Van Marwijk: our worst game…

September 6th, 2009 | By: Jan | 46 Comments »

Oranje won 3-0 against Japan. But team manager Bert van Marwijk was as down to earth as ever: “This was the worst game we played under my rule. Japan made it very hard for us. They deserve the compliments.”

Asked about the reasons, Van Marwijk went on: “We were playing clumsy, amateuristic football in the first half. And that sometimes happens. It wasn’t like two or three players started it, it was the whole team. The only ones who deserve a compliment over 90 minutes were the goalies. This time we played an opponent who’d dare to put pressure on us. We didn’t have that for a while. Norway, Scotland…they play their own physical game. Japan played against our strength. They pressured us, kept the space tight and whenever they had possession they used the space. They were very able in disrupting our game in that way and we allowed it to happen. But I’m happy with the game, it was a good lesson.”

After the break, Van Marwijk saw a different Oranje. “At least we were able to win a bad game. And I think that’s important. That’s what makes champions, you know? We played ourselves back into the game. That was pretty good and it led to three great goals.”

Van Marwijk was happy with the new players. “Vorm and Velthuizen played as if they’ve been part of Oranje for years. Cool, calm and collected. Elia was a weapon when he came on. We all know that he’s really good, but he demonstrated his smarts as well and he can perform under pressure. In the 89th minute, with 2-0 on the board, he still had the perfect cross. It’s wonderful to know you have a lad on the bench who can break a game open. Glenn Loovens must have played a tough game. He normally faces tall and strong strikers and he can handle that well. Now, he was faced with smaller and very agile runners. Tricked players, with quick feet. Under these circumstances he did very well.”

Schaars and Heitinga were kept out of the starting eleven. Both had a bad game against England. “I didn’t bench them for that. And if I did, I wouldn’t tell you. I wanted to test Da Silva and Van der Wiel on those positions. See how they did. The reason to play these friendlies is to allow other players to learn and adapt. I know what John and Stijn can do. I learn about all players everytime again. I can imagine some fans were disappointed, and I understand that, but for me these games are valuable.”

Tags: Elia, Group C, Loovens, Oranje, Van Marwijk, Velthuizen, Vorm

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 46 comments.

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By Gerard | September 6th, 2009 at 7:18 pm

Yes, Elia and De Zeeuw were excellent and really made a difference in the match. Elia is just a top player who seems to have a great down to earth attitude as well. It’s nice to know we have this extra deadly option in our arsenal. Hopefully, goodbye Babel.

De Zeeuw is a player who has had big fluctuations in form and confidence during his career but now seems to be playing very well at Ajax. Mendes da Silva was just bad, though, so I wasn’t that surprised when De Zeeuw did better than him especially because he’s much more of a playmaker type. I think Van Marwijk deserves credit for bringing them on as subs when he did and if you think about it, these are two basically 2nd team players who made a big difference in the match which is a very nice thing to know.

A quick word about Oranje’s defence. I really don’t think we are going to have a world class all time great back 4 for the World Cup. I think we should aim for a group of about 6/7 players plus 3 defensive midfielders who all understand each other well and who know their roles within the team and can act as a unit. Then pick the back 4 according to form/fitness/tactics. This is how things normally work out anyways. I just agree with most that Ooijer should not be part of the group and probably not Gio either (and that younger players should be brought in sooner rather than later.) There are good replacements for Ooijer (Loovens, Vlaar, Heitinga, Boulahrouz) and nine months is enough time to bring them in so I’m not worried. Gio is more complicated because there is no obvious replacement for him in the squad. I’m actually hoping Bouma will make comeback that would solve a lot.

Anyways this is my fantasy lineup for the match against Scotland (probably not defensive enough)(And I don’t care whay anyone says, I love making fantasy lineups!):

———-Stekelenburg————
vd Wiel-Heitinga-Loovens-Braafheid
————De Jong—————
Kuyt——–vd Vaart——–Robben
——-Huntelaar-Van Persie——-

Elia as sub.

Posted from Canada

By Jeroen | September 6th, 2009 at 7:37 pm

@Gerard

I would like to see them try only one holding midfielder as well. I would prefer Sneijder over VDV though (if sneijder is better by then). Elia should definitely sub second half for whomever is performing the least.

I would say Braafheid is the ideal replacement for Gio btw. I would also like to see Heitinga try a central role again, but then with Mathijsen first. Mathijsen is a constant factor, and that is the only way we can really compare the central defensive backs. Loovens looked ok against Japan, but looking at the highlights again he wasn’t superb. But as VM said, he’s better against big static strikers like Toni and Berbatov.

Posted from Netherlands

By Carlos | September 6th, 2009 at 7:43 pm

@ Jeroen, about 75% of the “weighting” goes to the last 2 majors the WC and EC, at both we were knocked out in first round. Some weighting goes to Fifa ranking and the qualifying games. I think the top 8 teams in Pool 1 will be. Brazil, Spain, Germany,Italy, South Africa (hosts)France (if they make it)Argentina (if they make it) and then a choice between England and Holland.

Posted from Singapore

By finnster01 | September 6th, 2009 at 7:59 pm

How can they possibly put South Africa in Pool 1 ahead of England and Holland? Is there a rule that says home country has to be in Pool 1?

Oranje has to be in Pool 1 no matter what. Certainly ahead of England. England has done nothing but feck up. Maybe Capello has changed them, but as far as records go, you can not possibly seed England ahead of Oranje.

By Jeroen | September 6th, 2009 at 8:01 pm

I guess everyone hopes to get stuck with South Africa.

I thought last time it was only about the qualifiers. Anyways, I think Holland has the edge over England, considering England didn’t even qualify for the EC08. Holland must win vs Scotland though. Getting first seed is quite important at these tournaments.

Posted from Netherlands

By Jeff | September 6th, 2009 at 8:15 pm

Carlos, Finnster and Jeroen, I was hoping you knew something I didn’t because I already heard that Holland would not be in Pot 1 unless as you stated one of the big teams (France or Argentina) does not qualify. South Africa will be in Pot 1 as the host nation, it has always been that way. Because we lost in the first elimination round, we won’t get many points. Also we did not qualify for WC 02. My understanding is that they will use a weighting factor from the last 3 WC, and the qualification stages where we did very well. I am not sure about the Euro (how would you factor Copa America, Gold Cup, etc) but I don’t think it will be taken into account, which is why England would be ahead of us (3 QF in a row at the last WCs). The FIFA ranking counts only for 25% I believe. Please if anyone has heard differently, let everyone know. I really hope i am wrong on this one because i think it would be a joke if we are not seeded.

Posted from United States

By Gerard | September 6th, 2009 at 8:49 pm

@Jeroen. I agree that Braafheid should be Gio’s replacement. But after that who do we have for left back? Emanuelson, Pieters, Kuiper don’t really fill me with hope right now. Thats why I hope Bouma comes back so the two of them can fight it out for their place. Otherwise Gio will stay in the squad but I’d rather see him retire from oranje before more poor performances tarnish the image of his career.

As for Mathijsen, he’s good and is a constant in the team but I think now is the time to experiment with new combinations. It doesn’t mean Mathijsen is banished in disgrace if he misses a match or two (although many in the media might interpret it that way). This will give other players some valuable experience plus we have to be ready when/if Mathijsen is injured/suspended.

I love this blog!

Posted from Canada

By Gerard | September 6th, 2009 at 8:53 pm

PS. If Ooijer plays against Scotland I’ll be p*ssed. Really p*ssed.

Posted from Canada

By Carlos | September 6th, 2009 at 9:17 pm

Gerard – Mathijssen can play left back too – he’s quite good coming forward, but not so speedy. and…… you NEVER know who else turns up in the next 10months or so. We may even put a right footed player at left back. Some noted right footers at left back – Maldini – Phil Neville – Phillip Lahm – and for us Reiziger. I think Ooier will get the nod here unless BvM says Loovens has played against these guys week in week out and doesn’t want to aggravate Ooier (and Sneijder) injury. Mourinho would have already spoken to Bert to ask him NOT to play.

Posted from Singapore

By Carlos | September 6th, 2009 at 9:25 pm

This my Guess at Being Bert -
Steks
Heitinga – Loovens – Mathijssen – Gio
de Jong – de Zeeuw
v Persie – Vaart – Robben
Kuyt.

Thats Bert ! What I would do is put vPersie i/o Vaart – shift Kuyt to the right and Hunter up front. – The rest can stay the same.

Elia comes on after 60 min. Braafheid/Schaars after 80 min (fresh legs)

Posted from Singapore

By Jan | September 6th, 2009 at 11:55 pm

I haven’t forgotten about Tim De Cler myself as LB

By Jeroen | September 7th, 2009 at 4:02 am

I guess I will check the FIFA website. I just remember last time with the EC, also the qualifiers for the world cup in 2006 and our performance there played a role. I’m not sure if it is true vice versa as well.

Posted from Netherlands

By afzal | September 7th, 2009 at 4:24 am

seriously the match has beeen realy disappointing… i think this time the luck is arund the dutch.. none of their last 3 matches are so close to what they have played in the euro 2008.. dutch really have 2 go far a while 2 catch up with the performance of brazil and spain… despite that holland has not played any good game with any real opponents otherthan england fora while, in that match 2 holland scored due to the errors in the defence and not 2 the ability of the attacking of the dutch.. please u have the skills 2 be the world topper but not able to perfrom that well like how the dutch used 2 play in the late 80s’ and the 90s’

Posted from United Arab Emirates

By Jan | September 7th, 2009 at 4:34 am

Afzal, I don’t agree about the England game. Sure, England made defensive mistakes, but our lads put the pressure on and 2) our lads were able and ready to punish them. That’s a quality in itself.

By Sol | September 7th, 2009 at 6:11 am

Yes Susanne, de Zeeuw indeed missed the vPersie pass. I blame overconfidence at that point (normally it’s Sneijder who starts shooting and overlooking the pass, but usually that’s only if things aren’t working or we’re losing, at which point sometimes it’s the best thing to do to wake everyone up, but you’ll have to find a way to do it without wasting too many chances). He just assisted Sneijder for the 2-0 so I guess he felt he was playing so good that he should go for the goal. Typical mistake.

vd Wiel did it once as well in the first half, after starting with some good play, he made a nice move inwards towards the center, that was a good move but he chose to shoot himself (his shot was a lot better than de Zeeuw’s though) while a pass might have been a much more useful choice from that situation (he played himself in a real good position for a steekballetje).

But nice to see there’s no lack of confidence in the team all around. Now they need to learn their own limits and accept their own qualities and that of the others around them. That free-kick by Sneijder at Inter from over 32 meters is a classic example of not accepting your own limits and not utilizing your own best qualities (that should have been a pass, Sneijder’s passes from that kind of distance are much more useful than his shot from that distance, it’s just that he puts more value in a goal than in an assist at that point I guess, he shouldn’t).

Just look at (I believe) the first game by Arsenal against Everton where there were 2 similar free-kicks from the same distance. Both vPersie and Fábregas chooses the pass and they both get the assist. Maybe not so much glory in the eyes of the casual fan, but the knowledgable fan and the coaches will value you much more than the one who scores.

Posted from Netherlands

By Sol | September 7th, 2009 at 6:26 am

Considering the pool selection for the WC, isn’t it based on Fifa World ranking?

8 groups
1 host (South-Africa) and the top 7 of the Fifa world ranking

Divided in the same way tennis tournaments get divided (nr.1 and nr.2 as far away from eachother as possible, so they only meet in the final, meaning group 1 and group 8).

So being nr.2 or nr.4 seed (lower half of the tournament) will allow you to avoid Brazil until at least the final.

I have no idea how the host nation fits in though.
But I guess I got it all wrong anyway.

Does anyone know exactly (I tried finding it in the wiki but couldn’t quite find the answer)?

Posted from Netherlands

By Sol | September 7th, 2009 at 6:52 am

Sorry, should have read the last few comments first. 75% for the last 2 results, that’s a bummer. Then you can’t really do that much anymore now. Then if for example Portugal makes it (I still think they will, looking at the upcoming matches), even they will probably have a better chance of getting into pool 1. Since they have slightly better results in the last WC and I think the same in the last EC.

That’s really unfair considering the ranking which is much more up to date then something a team did 4 years ago.

Then again, it might not be so bad if we are drawn into a group with at least one worldcup contender. We all wanted a test before the worldcup, and you can’t really have that with friendlies anyway. This way, if we screw up our first real big test, we won’t be out of the tournament right away, we can go for 2nd place in the group. And if we do well, then it’s also useful just for confidence and improving your level of play.

Posted from Netherlands

By Jeroen | September 7th, 2009 at 7:04 am

Plus, how bad would it really be to play a team like France again? They look horrible right now.

Posted from Netherlands

By Jeroen | September 7th, 2009 at 7:11 am

Information on 2010 seeding. First two are recent calculations, last one is how it works.

http://www.football-rankings.info/2009/01/2010-wc-seeding-formula-based-on-latest.html

http://usasoccer.blogspot.com/2007/06/2010-seeding-formula-june-2007-update.html

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=551607

Posted from Netherlands

By Edgar | September 7th, 2009 at 8:11 am

That’s a pretty old seeding post, Jeroen.

For the latest seeding info, go to http://www.football-rankings.info/ and check the posts mentioned at the top of that page.

In order to get seeded, Netherlands need two of Brazil, Germany, Italy, Spain, England, Argentina, France and Portugal to stay at home. With Brazil already qualified and Germany, Italy, Spain and England almost there, you need two of Argentina, France and Portugal to miss out on qualification.

Of course, that’s valid only if FIFA will use the same seeding formula.

Posted from Romania

By Sol | September 7th, 2009 at 9:12 am

Nice links, especially the first one, I particularly liked the random draw generator.

So it seems it’s more like 50/50 (average Fifa ranking over the last 3 years/last 2 WC performances). It also looks like the only way for Holland to get pool 1 is for Argentina, France or Italy not to qualify, or for France or Argentina in particular to drop a lot in the Fifa ranking. They probably have to drop a lot more since it’s an average ranking over the past 3 years. We’re talking for Argentina or France to drop below ranking 20 perhaps.

Unlikely. More likely is it for one of these not to qualify. We are on the nr. 8 spot right now though (allthough I don’t see Portugal in that calculation and they could still be ahead of us perhaps, it’s close probably).

Posted from Netherlands

By Jan | September 7th, 2009 at 9:16 am

I never bother with those theories. If you want the World Cup, you should be able to beat them all, I say.

By finnster01 | September 7th, 2009 at 10:21 am

@Jan: That is true. However as history shows, there’s been quite a few WC winners who lost a match in group play.

By Jan | September 7th, 2009 at 5:40 pm

Yeah, and I recall a nation that survived the group of death twice in a row and implode in the first knock out round. Psychology. When you survive such a group, your body/mind goes… “Right! We did it!” And then complacency sinks in. Albeit 3%, you’re screwed…

By Sol | September 8th, 2009 at 6:06 pm

Jan: “If you want the World Cup, you should be able to beat them all, I say.”

Well, I agree that would be more fun if Holland did it that way, but I wouldn’t mind an Italy 2006 easy draw style win either.

What was it, Australia, Ukraine, Germany, France? I’ll take that. Let France take care of Brazil, Portugal and Spain again and be completely tired and worn out once the final starts.

Or something that goes somewhere along those lines. I’ll take any bit of luck that comes our way. We had some luck in ‘88 as well (remember Kieft’s goal?).

Posted from Netherlands

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