Let’s evaluate the EC a bit more from a distance from it all…

With the Olympics underway and all that fresh news from all the big competitions in Europe, maybe it’s good to have a fresh look back and forward regarding our beloved Oranje.

The VI magazine had some interesting articles on the Dutch downfall… Taco van der Velde with his views:

Arsjavin dribbled from the left and passed the ball at the right time to Sernak. The penetrating midfielder took advantage from the space on the wing and crossed the ball in, hard. In the box, striker Pavlioetsjenko anticipated earlier than Mathijsen with his inward running action. He scored at the first post. This goal told an important story in the matrch between the Dutch and the Russians. Arsjavin was the creative brain, Sernak – who had to control Van der Vaart – read the moment and Pavlioetsjenko knew what would happen next and took advantage of that knowledge, before Mathijsen knew what was going down. A combination of skill, vision and creativity. Elements the Russians wanted in their football and the reason why they pay a lot of money for a Dutch coach.

Russia was the team with the most crosses in the whole tournament. In four games, the Russians had 46 useful crosses from the flanks. This tells us a lot about their intentions and begs the question: how come that Oranje only had one decent cross in that dreadful match? Holland holds a very low spot in this UEFA ranking (most crosses), right before Switzerland and Sweden but even behind Austria!!

Our football is not longer based on the Dutch School. Forechecking, dominance on the opponent’s half, pressure play…it doesn’t apply to Oranje anymore. It applies to Russia, this time around. Four years long was Van Basten focused on dominant and attractive play but Holland was successful in the counter-attack.

The Netherlands defeated Italy and France and reaped kudos from all over the world, but the victories were based on the counter-attack and turnaround. Weak foundations. We trusted our speed, our setpieces and the exceptional class of a couple of players. The Italians and French were overwhelmed in the turn around. Five out of our seven goals came from the counter attack. Defensively, we were so weak, France and Italy had 17 real chances against Oranje (respectively nine and eight) and Russia added 14 (!) chances to that tally, totaling 31 real chances!! No wonder Van der Sar was our best man this tournament.

The smart Guus Hiddink took our weapon, the counter, away from us. His team pressured our defense early on in the game and Oranje couldn’t think of anything else than deep balls towards Ruud van Nistelrooy who couldn’t find any mates to support him. Marco van Basten’s subs were terrible. His success against France couldn’t be repeated. Dirk Kuyt, who had the lungs to support Van Nistelrooy was taken out and when he brought Afellay and Heitinga (for the injured Boulah) Marco was out of options after 60 minutes of play. Huntelaar and Vennegoor could go for the showers. Heitinga was the mark of choice for the rampaging Russians while Van Persie and Afellay couldn’t add anything to the game. After the 1-0, most Dutch midfielders started to play for their personal glory, trying to score from all possible angles. The Dutch clockwork orange was out of steam. The low point was Van Persie’s free-kick while a livid Sneijder looked on. And so, after three positive and impressive wins, the team was back where it started in the qualifications. Lacklustre, unbalanced and without a clue.

The balance of the Van Basten era is therefore meager. Two relatively easy qualifications but also two relatively quick exits from the big tournaments. The type of football Van Basten wanted was never demonstrated and it’s fitting and ironic that Oranje was ousted by a Russian team led by a Dutch coach who was capable of letting his team play dominant and attractive.

So, what’s Van Basten’s legacy? A generation of wonderful talents (Robben, Van Persie, Sneijder, Van der Vaart, Huntelaar, Afellay) with a lot of potential. But, we will also have to say goodbye to Edwin van der Sar, who had 19 saves in three EC games and to Ruud van Nistelrooy who is a guaranteed goal scorer (he scored the equalizer against Russia as well). Bert van Marwijk has his job cut out for him…

The EC is well behind us and in all evaluations of the performance of the Dutch (more to come!) it’s clear that little big man Wesley Sneijder is seen as our new skipper and navigator. We’ll look at Wes’ progress with Danny Blind, Edgar Davids, Henk ten Cate and his dad Barry Sneijder.

The youngster started at Ajax at a young age and was spotted very early on by the Ajax youth coaches. Danny Blind: “Wesley had those specific qualities you look for at that age. He had all the basic skills you want from a youngster: he saw the game, had great ball skills and most importantly: he hated losing!”

Sneijder had a pretty good developed left foot, but youth coach (and current youth system manager Jan Olde Riekerink) was the first to force Sneijder to specifically train his left. Blind: “It’s rare for players to have perfect two-footedness. There is always a weaker foot. Wes trained with a vengeance and was told to only use his left. I believe Jan would blow foul whenever Wes used his right to pass or shoot.”

Wesley was always a typical cocky Ajax player. It was Henk ten Cate who decided to let the youngster put his money where his mouth was. “We had many players who could be the playmaker, but it works better if one player is the boss in midfield. I chose Wesley. I told him he had to decide when to attack, when to press, who was to take the free-kicks, etc. I made Wes important. And he stepped up to the plate.”

Sneijder: “Ten Cate and Fons Groenendijk were important for me. I rate them both very high. They triggered something in me, and they helped me make that next step up.”

Ten Cate: “Wesley made the difference. He was the heart of the team. When you analyse his skills and capabilities you have to conclude that the team has to evolve around him. I did tell him to spend more time in the fitness room. He is very skilled, but due to his length it was relatively easy for strong defenders like Stam to push him off the ball.”

Edwin van der Sar said in an interview, right after the WC2006, that it was time for Sneijder and Van der Vaart to become leaders. Wesley Sneijder read that as well. “I think it was good of Sar to say that. He was right. We needed to move on from being talented to being real important players. I decided to give it my all. That quote and Ten Cate’s confidence in me were the deciding factors.”

Danny Blind: “Wes didn’t have real flaws, although he did have what we call a long mourning-moment. Whenever a player loses the ball or misses a chance, he has the tendency to “mourn” that moment. Great players in midfield, like Zidane or Beckham, never lose too much seconds and immediately try to win the ball back. Wesley took his time when he was younger and we were vulnerable because of that. I told him only great strikers have the luxury to mourn their mistakes. Van Nistelrooy, Cristiano Ronaldo, Arjen Robben… They all have that, with Cristiano Ronaldo being the biggest example of it all, with all his theatrics and mimic. A midfielder does not have that luxury. To make the point, I decided to put Wesley in the team as holding midfielder. He would be confronted with situations where our team got in trouble whenever he wasn’t awake when we lost the ball. We played him there once, and we immediately lost that game. Wesley was distraught, he felt it was all his fault. That one game changed his attitude completely.”

Another problem Sneijder had, was his short fuse. Being it team mates, referees, coaches, press people…if he didn’t like it, he told them so. Dad Barry Sneijder: “It was his will to win. He could be so totally involved that he could lose himself. He wanted too much, at times. He has learned to control that anger and transform it into his feet, rather than his mouth.”

Sneijder, just 24 years old, played his third big tournament this year, after the EC2004 and the WC2006. Edgar Davids first met Sneijder during the EC2004 in Portugal. “I wasn’t overly impressed with him. He was skilled, sure, but he couldn’t cut it physically. He really had to walk on his toes, so to speak. And when I saw again at Ajax, when I moved there after the Spurs, he was a different player. A leader. Strong and always committed. He made great progress.”

Sneijder reacts to Davids’ comments. “He’s right. I was pretty annoyed that Advocaat didn’t allow me any time at that EC, but I wasn’t ready for it. It was a good thing for me just to learn and observe, I can see that now. My first EC was a learning experience. The WC2006 was tough. I wasn’t ready to do what Marco wanted me to do. He put me in a holding position where most people thought Cocu should have played there and I almost drowned. This last EC was my first real tournament, at least that’s how I see it. And I’d like to taste more. I never discussed that decision of Van Basten with him. Would you? I mean, I played my first WC at 22 years old, I wasn’t prepared to discuss the coach’ tactics. But I always felt my qualities are better put to work in the forward midfield line than in holding position.”

After his best season at Ajax, the midfielder got his transfer to the club of his dreams, Real Madrid. “I wasn’t myself, the first two months. I was used to being a protected player at Ajax. At Real I was a nobody. I played with Beckham’s jersey and some fans didn’t even know who I was. It was a culture-shock. And the dressing room hierarchy was clear: Cannavaro, Raul, Guti. Casillas and Van Nistelrooy were club-icons. I was lucky with my first goals so early in the season, that helped. After two months players like Raul and Guti invited me to do some finishing at training sessions, and since then I was accepted.”

“But it was clear to me how they looked at Dutch football. Whenever we were in the hotel and for instance Ajax-Feyenoord was broadcast or something from the Dutch league, they’d switch the channels to watch Spanish basketball. That opened my eyes as well.”

Henk ten Cate: “It was a bit weird… I realized Ajax couldn’t hold on to Sneijder and when he expressed his wish to leave, I tipped Barcelona. But they weren’t interested. I’m sure they have thought about my phone call a couple of times last season.”

Barry Sneijder is Wesley’s manager now. “He has learned quick at Real. And even though he is my son, I can say that he has quickly become a big player at Madrid.”

Marco van Basten knows Sneijder inside out, but again the Dutch team manager thought about moving him back one line, to make him one of the holding midfielders. Sneijder responded in his typical manner. “The coach makes the decision. He knows what I prefer, but I will play wherever he needs me.”

Danny Blind can understand Van Basten’s line of thinking. “It’s clear that Oranje will always have 60% or more ball possession and in those situations it helps to have a holding midfielder that can actually make the play. Whenever the percentage drops to, say, 30 or 40% you’ll be vulnerable with Sneijder on that spot. I think Sneijder performs best close to the striker, but the same applies to Van der Vaart. So, when you have two players like that, you either chose between the two or you try to find a compromise to play both.”

And Van Basten did exactly that… Sneijder won the competition with Van der Vaart, who was used as holding midfielder in certain phases at this EC.

If there’s one compliment Foppe de Haan deserves it’s praise on his ability to gel teams together. He was responsible for winning two European championships in a row with Young Oranje, a unique feat in Dutch football history.

De Haan spent some time in Switzerland to watch the Dutch seniors try to win the title as well. What did De Haan think about the big Oranje?

“These players were willing to put in the mileage. They worked hard and they were willing to help each other out. You see, all players at this level can play good football. That’s not so much the problem. The challenge is to make them work as a team. And Marco did that. Kudos! No one hides, they all work with each other. And at times, their pressure play was outstanding.”

But it wasn’t enough.

“One off-day can bite you in the bum. I don’t know what it was, you can only speculate. Fact is that the Boulahrouz tragedy hasn’t helped, of course. That is a major blow. For him and his wife of course, but also for the team. Although we need to put all that in perspective and realize that sports is just sports. Khalid lost a daughter. But that’s not an ideal starting point for the quarter finals. On top of that, the team wasn’t able to cope with the way the Russians played. Too many players were performing under par and the best goalie in the world can’t save you then. We can say Holland wasn’t good enough, but you must also acknowledge the strength of the Russian team. They played very well.”

Do you feel Van Basten made the right changes?

“You can only do so much. Boulahrouz got injured and I fully understand Van Basten’s desire to bring Van Persie. He has the ability to turn a match upside down. But he couldn’t bring it. Some people say he shouldn’t have brough Afellay. I don’t agree. Van Nistelrooy wasn’t the problem. The problem was the midfield couldn’t control the play and couldn’t service Van Nistelrooy. Bringing Afellay was a logical decision. All this talk is like looking into the backside of a cow. When you win, the coach is a genius, when you lose, the coach did everything wrong.”

How do you create a winning team as a coach?

“It’s about clarity. You have got to be very precise in what you expect. So, be clear and use a tactic that everyone understands. It always helps when there’s a couple out there who have their peak form. In this Oranje, I though Van der Sar, Sneijder, Ooijer and Van Nistelrooy were outstanding throughout.
And Nigel de Jong, in his new role. That’s four of five out of eleven. And if you score at the right moments, as we did in the groups stages, you’re well on your way.”

Was Marco van Basten a good team manager?

“I can’t judge that from the outside. But what I find really good, is that he listened to the input of his players. The team stalled, there wasn’t enough progress and so he thought: let’s listen to what the lads think. That is coaching, to me. Now, everyone felt right and at ease. This concept is good for this group of players.”

When you decided to abandon the classic 4-3-3 Johan Cruyff immediately criticized you…

“As he did with Van Basten as well. That’s all good. We all have different opinions, but at the same time, the 4-3-3 isn’t that much different from the 4-2-3-1. It’s about a couple of meters. Not more. I think any coach needs to follow his own compass. And people with different opinions? Fine… There should be room for discussion, right?”

What was your opinion on the quality of this EC?

“I think Oranje – with the exception of the Russia game – played the best football, with Spain and Portugal. These nations play on the basis of a clear concept. Most games I saw are those to-and-fro games. A lot of running. The pace is high, which is great for the viewer, but the creativity lacked. Italy, France, Germany, Czech Republic…I didn’t think they played very good football. Croatia was unlucky, where Turkey was lucky at times… And Russia plays according to a strict tactics as well.”

Ryan Babel might play for the Olympic team. What’s the status?

“Ryan is enthusiastic about the idea, but listen…he needs to get fit first. And recently I heard that Benitez of Liverpool isn’t too happy with the whole plan. I’d like to select him, but there’s a couple of ifs and buts…”

When will you make the final selection known?

“The 23rd is the deadline but I think we’ll scope for the 15th of July. We need to finalize all the physical tests first, and when that’s all done, we can make the final selection.”

What can we expect?

“It’s a different tournament then the EC-tournaments we’ve done. We knew most opponent fairly well. We had our team together for some time already. This time around, we can’t use players who were with us in the last years, so partly it’s a new team. The critical thing will be the last weeks before the actual tournament. Sometimes, it just clicks. Other times, you need a lot of work, time and some luck to find your ideal eleven. You can expect a typical Dutch side. Creativity, a fixed tactical plan, fast-paced attacking play. But, it’s the Olympics. The dynamics are different and will affect the players of course. Furthermore, we do play teams we don’t know that well, like Japan and the USA. Once we are able to pass the group stage, anything goes. We can face Argentina right away and that is serious stuff. We want to go for Gold, but so do the others…”

You finally extended your contract for another year.

“Yeah, there were some minor issues I wasn’t too pleased with. The KNVB wanted to control everything a KNVB coach says to the press, as an example. I can’t work like that. You hire Foppe de Haan, then you get Foppe de Haan. I can’t go reading out some statement that a committee drew up. Than they should get another coach… I’m happy they didn’t though.”

And the Best Oranje coach would be….
( polls)

Keep them votes coming in, my friends!

How do you feel, being an assistant coach after all those years as an active player?

I definitely feel I’m a coach now. I’ve said goodbye to my identity as a player. It did take some time, but that’s how I feel. Also because I made a step up at Ajax (coaching A1 in the new season) and because I’ll be assisting the team manager at Oranje. When I started coaching, I was more an ex-player.

Are you sad about leaving your playing days behind you?

Nah, I’m not sentimental like that. It’s part of life, isn’t it. Somethings come to an end. I could have played on but decided against it.

Played on?

Yeah, I feel I could still have played in the Dutch Eredivisie. Sure.

But, you are 38 years old?

So? I left Qatar due to health issues of my wife. I wanted to return to Ajax, but their offer was such, that I don’t think they really wanted me back. I started the trainers-course in Zeist and thought, Oh well.. But I’m sure I could have cut it at Ajax.

So, you still think like a player?

Sure, I still play ball with the Ajax players at the training and I can still cut it. Not on match level because I haven’t really played for two years now, but in the core I still see the game, my timing is fine, everything still works.

Does this say anything about the level of the current players or about you?

I hope the latter…

What do you miss at Ajax at the moment?

The confidence is less at the moment. I point out that players at Barca or Arsenal can pass the ball into a mate who is surrounded by three opponents, but still they can handle the ball using their smarts, their body… If the pass is right of course. At those clubs, players aren’t afraid to give the pass nor to receive it. At Ajax nowadays, when a player is put under pressure, they opt for the long ball. And that’s not the way we play football. Some players tend to hide a bit when the going gets tough. It’s all about confidence. Sometimes you see in the Spanish team that Xavi is passed the ball, but when he’s under pressure he plays it straight back in one go. That’s confidence. If you do that for a while, the opponent will stop putting pressure on you because they can’t retrieve the ball and then the game opens up.

Maybe our players today lack the quality?

No, it’s not that. They have great skills. I was a good defender but definitely not the best. I wasn’t a killer. But my positioning was top notch. Nowadays, most center backs – look at Germany for instance – can only stop their opponent. That’s all they focus on. I think we should make a difference there. It struck me that whenever I coached, the movement up front was lacking. Huntelaar would be dormant, almost. When I played the second half as center back, suddenly players up front started making runs. I talked to them and Klaas Jan said: when you play, I know that ball will come. If you don’t, why bother? They won’t be able to reach me, so why would I even try and waste energy?

Is that the difference between good and world class?

Well, football is not just being able to pass a ball. You have to see it. I always had a great relationship with players like Overmars, Kluivert, Litmanen… Whenever I had the ball, they’d make a move and I could pass the ball to them always. Whatever the opponent did. At Barca, Iniesta and Xavi are always available. I don’t see that at Ajax. I do see it at FC Twente, though!

Will you go all the way as coach? First the youth, then Ajax and who knows…the Dutch team?

I’m not sure. We’ll have to see where my top is, really. I am not ambitious, like I won’t say upfront: this is what I want. I will have to like it, I will have to be good at it. Maybe I am the ideal youth coach, who knows?

Ronald said recently you have the makings of a top coach

Well, people say things. But I have to see whether that’s true, you know…

What would you miss?

I don’t know… It’s not about football alone. It’s creating this group dynamic, managing a team… All those ego’s (laughs)… I am doing well with the young kids, but that’s a different ball game.

You’re not a talker

I don’t mind talking or addressing groups… It’s just that I am still learning. There’s so much I may not see or pick up. Some coaches I worked with are tremendous psychologists. Van Gaal, Hiddink, Rijkaard… Currently, I am listening a lot. Learning and trying to take it all in. As a player, you focus on your own performance and you work with your mates. As a coach, there is so much more…

So, you won’t say that you’ll be the next coach of Ajax 1?

God no! I think I have my skills and abilities, but time will tell if I can do it all. I’d be proud if it happened, of course.

Will you be assisting Van Basten and Van ‘t Schip?

I had a talk with John and he said they wanted to use me for additional stuff for the Ajax 1 team. I’ve said yes to that. We’ll see what happens.

What do you think of them as new coaches at Ajax?

I think it’s great. It’s John, Marco, Danny Blind… Good bunch.

Are they ready for it?

I think so, yes. I’ve seen how John and Marco work together and John keeps Marco sharp.

At your first training as a player at Ajax 1, you nutmegged Van Basten. They called you “nutmeg” after that. Do you still talk about that?

No, I even think Marco doesn’t remember that. It was not a good move and I lost the ball after that. I was too slow. The only option I had was to do that nutmeg. With what I’ve learned since, I would have handled that differently. Sometimes players, like Emanuelson, make stupid mistakes through lack of experience. And sometimes those mistakes are costly. But at the same time, players leave younger and younger. Sneijder, Van der Vaart, De Jong and now Heitinga. What can you do? Ajax can’t play eleven 18 year olds sp you need to sign players from other clubs to allow the youngsters to get ready for the job.

Does this mean Marco van Basten has a mission impossible?

Not really. I hope Marco’s name and reputation will help us sign players who can make a difference and I hope that the good work we do at the youth level will help attracting the talents. 25 years ago, a Dutch talent would go to Ajax. Period. Some went to Feyenoord because they were Feyenoord fans and they do have a good youth system there, but any other talent would come to Amsterdam. In the beginning of the 1990s, that changed. Makaay, Cocu, Van Bommel, Robben… these players could all have played for Ajax but decided against it for some reason or other.

Can your ego handle being the assistant?

No problems. I don’t have a big ego in that sense. I know my place. I am very inexperienced in this and I can learn heaps from Van Marwijk. I love it. I can do the field work with Cocu and Van Marwijk will have his helicopter view, like Wenger, Ferguson… I look forward to it.

What do you think of Bert van Marwijk?

He is a very likeable man. Has experience, is balanced. He radiates confidence and harmony. I like him.

How do you handle criticism? Because Oranje will always cop criticism…

As a player, you get used to it. I always had criticism coming my way. When at Ajax, at Barca… In Spain they called me Son of Louis . And whenever the opponents scored, it was always: and where was Frank de Boer…

What do you think of Seedorf not going to this EC?

I can understand him. He wants to be important for the team. That’s how he is. If he can’t or if he isn’t used, he won’t be at his best. He knows that. Self knowledge is good.

What would yoou have done?

As a player? I’d go. I mean, an EC is a wonderful event. I think I would support the vision of the coach and I’d try to be there if he’d need me.

You worked with Turkish team manager Terim when you played for Galatasaray…

Yeah, that was quite a year. Istanbul is a wonderful city. But there was no discipline in that team whatsoever. I was faced with 7 opponents coming at me in several games. with a 18 year old center back next to me. Terim, I don’t think he is that good. He was very arrogant when I was there, a macho really. He never wore the same clothes. He was very involved in how he looked. A vain man.

And you weren’t impressed with Leo Beenhakker either?

He is a tremendous coach for two seasons, max. He is great at gelling a team together, in making a group, you know. But it wears off a bit. After two years, you’ve seen all his tricks.

And Louis van Gaal?

He is the best I’ve ever worked with. He is the benchmark in coaching. On every level. The only mistake he made as a team manager for Oranje was that he approached it as if he was a club coach. He demanded so much for qualification matches, while a team manager should focus on creating a team. Nothing more. All physical stuff is done at club level and in terms of team tactics, there is no time. You can do it once you’ve qualified for a big tournament. You can work for three weeks with your players, like Marco did at this EC. That was the only spot on his resume,
I suppose. At AZ last year, the balance was off. Too many new and/or young players. You need at least 5 experienced chaps in the squad. I think Van Gaal underestimated the value of Tim de Cler there.

What will Ronald do?

I think he’ll start a coaching career as well and I do believe he is the top coach of us both. He sees the game so well. The only negative of Ronald is that he is too lazy sometimes. He doesn’t have the tenacity I have.

Do you feel you got the recognition you deserve?

Oh yeah… I think maybe in the last stages of our careers people started to complain, but that was age I guess. I have received admiration everywhere I played. And recently people started talking about the “type Frank de Boer”. I was honoured! It was always the type-Neeskens or type-Wouters and now it’s me… I told them: at the time people didn’t realize it, but Holland was spoiled with a central duo Stam – De Boer, hahaha… I wasn’t a killer, I didn’t need tough challenges, but I was a good defender because I could think two steps ahead. My best game defensively was the Holland – Brazil game on the WC1998, that 2-2. I played against Ronaldo. But, recently they picked Dennis’ goal as the best ever for Oranje and when they show that you always here the commentator mentioning my name as the man with the long pass. So, as long as people watch that goal, I will be mentioned as well…

Do we need a type-De Boer in Oranje?

It would be handy, yes. I don’t see anyone demanding the ball at the back. And if you don’t have the players, maybe you should find a creative solution for it, but defending begins at the forwards and build-up begins in defense. I am convinced of that. It’s the mentality of wanting the ball, of wanting to win more than the other guys. I think mentally, Oranje has a lot to learn still. Been hakker was good at one-liners. He always said: mentality should always be in your sports-bag. It’s true. I had it too. After 1998, when I played for Barcelona, I didn’t have that sharpness anymore. I enjoyed life, Barcelona was great, the climate…you see it as some sort of big holiday. And you miss those last two percentage-points to be really top notch. I don’t wanna think about it too much now, because you’ll only give yourself headaches, but still…

Is football everything?

When I’m on the pitch, playing or coaching: yes. But there’s much more. Family, health.. When I can’t cut it as coach, fine. I’ll probably stay youth coach or something.

Or play?

No, Ronald said it recently. You can only fail if you play at this age. Why would you? To satisfy your ego even more? Everyone talks about our glory days in the mid 90s. Let’s keep it that way.
But, I do think I could still get along in Ajax 1, hahahahaaaaa…..

The EC is history. Spain won. So what? It’s old news. Bring on the new…

The next big thing will be the World Cup (have I lost you already? Us Dutchies know how to put heartache behind them and look positively into the future…).

We checked out the technical staff and the goalies in part 1. We tried to break down our defense and control our midfield in Part 2. Let’s look at strikers, systems and progress now…

Strikers
Holland has a bit of a history with strikers… Johan Cruyff, Dick van Dijk, Kees Kist, Ruud Geels, Marco van Basten, Wim Kieft, John Bosman, Peter Houtman, Patrick Kluivert, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Klaas Jan Huntelaar…

Ruud will be 33 years old in 2010. As will Pat Kluivert be… Who knows? But seriously, Ruud will play for Real Madrid some more and if he stays fit I’m not too worried about his motivation. Focus and determination are Ruud’s strong points, and recently he added the roulette to it. Danny Koevermans will probably not play a part next tournament. Jan Vennegoor might. Klaas Jan “Hunter” Huntelaar will, without a doubt. But, as was posted by many already, Robin van Persie is not a shabby striker either. Dirk Kuyt? Nah…Dirk will remain the right midfielder at Liverpool and I’m not sure if Dirkie will be part of the 2010 squad.

We will always come up with new exciting strikers and who knows, in 2010 we will be discussing yet another player. There’s some talent at Heerenveen, at Sparta and it wouldn’t surprise me if Ajax and Feyenoord have the next big thing awaiting in their junior teams.

It seems logical that the Hunter will become the next striker. Ruud may have to get used to a super-sub role. But, you never know with Van Gol and Hunter will still have to prove himself in a big league.

As for the system, I have said it before and will say it again: systems are overrated. It’s pretty obvious that Bert van Marwijk will proceed with Marco’s (well, not really Marco’s) 4-2-3-1. At Feyenoord, Bert played 4-4-2, with Tomasson and van Hooijdonk as the two strikers. Pierre playing deep, Tomasson coming from behind him (a la Bergkamp and Kluivert). I wouldn’t be surprised if Bert will repeat that, with Hunter deep and Van Persie prowling around him.

Robben on the left, Van der Vaar on the left and Sneijder and playing centrally. Or maybe not.

The good part of the EC, no matter how disappointing in the end for us, Marco did set a benchmark for Bert. It’s pretty logical to suggest that everyone – fans, media, the KNVB, the players and Bert himself – will expect nothing less than that level of performance. Maybe not during the qualifications, but with Spain, Russia, Croatia and Holland setting a new standard at the EC, Bert van Marwijk will have to focus at forming a football machine that can get results and play astonishing football.

The future does look bright. Wesley, Arjen and Ruud will further grow at Madrid, as will Kuyt, Babel and Van Persie in England. If Hunter stays at Ajax, Marco will teach him a thing or two and if he leaves, let’s just hope he picks the right club.

Nigel de Jong will develop at HSV Hamburg even more, under Martin Jol. Orlando Engelaar will move to Schalke 04, with Fred Rutten, and will surely develop as well. Ryan Babel, Afellay, Stekelenburg, Heitinga, all these chaps will have some big lessons to learn, in particular in winning mentality. In a way, all these players moving to big competition may be bad news for Dutch fans in Holland, but it’s great for the Dutch team.

Sure, we’ve lost Sar and we may lose Gio and Ooijer. But we will gain two years of experience for the rest of the team.

The downside? Marco van Basten was lucky to work with a young and eager bunch. Players like Engelaar, De Jong, Babel and even Van Persie, Sneijder and Van der Vaart were happy to be at this tournament. In two years, the progress of the players could work against them as well. Engelaar may fail in Germany. Van Persie, Sneijder, Drenthe and Robben could have won the Champions League in 2010 and Huntelaar may have become the Italian top scorer for the second time, for Juve. Will they still be hungry? Will Robin accept Sneijder’s role as chief free-kick specialist?

JC said it: every disadvantage has it’s advantage. It works the other way around as well….

Sneijder’s goal received 40% of all votes. Nihat’s late winner against the Czech Republic ended second with 14%. Arshavin’s goal against Sweden came third, with 12%.

What’s that? You missed this goal?

Here it is

Football mania has left the Swiss capital Bern, but they won’t forget the Dutch fans. Ever. Two weeks, the city was orange and the party went on for two weeks. The people of Bern found a way to thank the Dutch fans, via a website with photo’s and video-clips. The mayor also wrote a thank-you-note .

Here’s the url: http://www.oranjebern.ch/OR_SPLASH_NED.html

Thanks to Marc’s weblog!

Wesley Sneijder and Edwin van der Sar have secured a position in the UEFA star-squad, chosen by “a select team of football experts” (they didn’t consult me!!). 23 players in total and Spain dominates this group with nine players.

Xavi Hernandez is part of the group obviously, chosen as the best player of the tournament.

This is the EC2008 group”

Keepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Iker Casillas (Spain), Edwin van der Sar (Holland).

Defenders: Bosingwa (Portugal), Philipp Lahm (Germany), Carlos Marchena (Spain), Pepe (Portugal), Carles Puyol (Spain), Yuri Zhirkov (Russia).

Midfield: Hamit Altıntop (Tureky), Luka Modrić (Croatia), Marcos Senna (Spain), Xavi Hernández (Spain), Konstantin Zyryanov (Russia), Michael Ballack (Germany), Cesc Fàbregas (Spain), Andrés Iniesta (Spain), Lukas Podolski (Germany), Wesley Sneijder (Holland).

Strikers: Andrei Arshavin (Russia), Roman Pavlyuchenko (Russia), Fernando Torres (Spain), David Villa (Spain).

And a collection of goals, jokes, supporters, quotes, etc… This post will end the EC2008.

THE GOAL
Repeated ad nauseum by enchanted experts from all over the world: Holland’s second goal against Italy. The Gio-sprint, the Raf-pass, the Gio crosspass, the Kuyt header, the half volley by Sneijder. Alan Hansen said: “The perfect team goal.”

THE HOWLER
Petr Cech wanted to catch a simple cross against Turkey, but he dropped it as if it was a hot meatball. A crucial mistake, not much later Czech Republic would be out of the tournament.

THE WORST JOKE
Dutch comedian after the defeat against Russia: “I think the mourning armbands were too tight.” No one laughed.

THE SILENT FANS
There they were. Dressed in oranje clogs, with plastic cheeses on their heads. Looking at some point in the distant. Lifeless. When Oranje needed them, they were silent. Shellshocked. The conga line the day before in Basel was really fun, though.

THE QUOTE (1)
“I look forward to being Holland’s biggest traitor,” said Guud Hiddink before the Holland – Russia match

THE ASSAULT
Like a butcher, Mehmet Aurelio went for Nani’s leg. The Portuguese striker could still walk afterwards, miraculously and the Turkish player didn’t even get a free-kick against him. One of the few dark spots on this remarkable fair tournament.

THE COMEBACK
Black football boots. Weird coloured boots are suddenly out of fashion. Purists, rejoice!

THE LOSER
Turkey had beaten Czech Republic, but goalie Demirel thought it was handy to push Jan Koller on the ground, without a ball in sight. Dumb. Only seconds to play. Red card, two games suspension. End of EC. The Loser.

THE COMEBACK (2)
Three times, the Turks fought there way back. But the last one was the best. Croatian Ivan Klasnic thought he made history for his country in the 119th minute. Coach Bilic was already uncorking the champagne, but Senturk thought differently. Boom, goal!

THE MUSTACHE
Luca Toni would allow his mustache to grow until he scored on the EC. Every day, he looked more and more like Groucho Marx.

THE EXIT
Seldom would a title defender leave the tournament as honorless as Greece. The playing style is so old-fashioned even Socrates wouldn’t approve of it.

THE SUBSTITUTES
“That’s how I like to see Holland play,” said Gunther Netzer. Van Basten had seen how his team struggled to keep the lead against France and brought two super strikers to defend the lead. Both Van Persie and Robben would score in that match. “Genius.”

THE QUOTE
“Let’s be reasonable. We are much better than Germany.” Luis Aragones, one day before the final.

Lads, please finish this for me… There must be more….