Danes tame the Oranje Lion

May 29th, 2008 | by: Jan |

Ruud scores…

Oranje didn’t manage to beat the Danes. Denmark kept Holland at 1-1 in Eindhoven. Holland played a good first half, with Ruud van Nistelrooy scoring a nice goal after a skillful build up. In the second half, Oranje lost it a bit, partly due to six changes in the squad. Poulsen managed to score the equalizer. Kuyt had two chances to put Oranje in the lead, but failed. The Danes even had a chance to take the victory home late in the game, but they also squandered. The Oranje fans awarded the players and staff with a classic streaming whistle concert.

OrIt probably is the best counter goal this season. Ruud’s 31st Oranje goal was set up beautifully by Van der Vaart, Robben, Sneijder and Ruud van Gol himself. The whole Oranje creative line-up and the striker. A week before the EC, you’d say: hmm…looking good. But, that would be a tad too optimistic. Oranje created huge opportunities from turn around situations, but there were also phases in the game, when Oranje needed to create the play and with those creative players at the wheel, that didn’t result in any threat for the Danes whatsover. And the Danes were more dangerous than they intended to be, one would almost say.

Van Basten had changed the Ukraine team on five spots. Van Nistelrooy, Sneijder and Robben were among the new names.

Defensively, it was a test case for Mathijsen and Ooijer. In their rivalry with Bouma and Melchiot it seemed the two players didn’t do themselves any favours. Mathijsen was weak at the situation from which Poulsen scored, but more importantly, the HSV center back was beaten several times in the air. After the Austria nightmare, we don’t want to see that, a week or so before we play Luca Toni.

Ooijer didn’t make use of the space in the right channel. He is not the type of player to do that anyway, but the result was that Oranje leaned towards the left, with Robben and Gio supplying crosses into the box, while the right flank was impotent.

Oranje missed aggression in the second half, which isn’t strange for a team in training. But when four or five players forget to perform their defensive tasks in the second half, it’s no wonder the Danes could make use of the space in between the lines. Oranje thinks it can do well this EC, but that will only happen if Oranje plays like a team, prepared to fight like one. Yesterday, that didn’t happen and let’s hope the reason for this is fatigue and nothing else.

After the first half, Van Basten made six changes. Bothanje and Denmark could have won this match. Vennegoor got a chance, Rommedahl for the guests and Kuyt even got two.

Van Nistelrooy: “I’m disappointed we didn’t score more goals. We had the opportunity and we should have put Denmark on two or three goals difference in the first half. The second half was tough, because of the training intensity. I’m not too worried. My ankle did well and I’m happy to have scored my only chance of the game.”

Denmark coach Morten Olsen: “I think Holland is one of the faves for the title this EC. You could see snippets of their strength in the first half. If they play like that, no one can stop them. The second half wasn’t good, but that’s normal in this phase of the prep. I think they had a training session earlier today and Van Basten is obviously trying to get them all at the same fitness level. Once they are ready and play like they did in the first half, I will definitely tune in my tv and watch.”

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Comments

By Michel-Olivier | May 29th, 2008 at 5:45 pm

the dutch team was great and awful, with performance like that i fear for us.
i agree mathijsen had a bad game, but van der vaart was awful as a playmaker.
he had about ten shot on goal, none of them were on target. i hope robin vP is fit so he can play the playmaker role behind RVN. i do like the real madrid(Van Nistelrooy, Sneijder and Robben) combination.
if kuyt or robin was playing instead of van der vaart the score would of been different.

Posted from United States

By richard | May 29th, 2008 at 6:40 pm

Is Van der Vaart any good, really? Unlike the others, I haven’t seen him play in the German league, which let’s face it is a definite cut below the top European leagues. With van Persie–whom I think is the most talented Dutch playmaker–the Dutch might be a force in this tournament. The attacking talent is pretty formidable and in its prime. Without him, I doubt it. I too think Kuyt gives the team more than vdv, but he too has trouble finishing.

By Hup | May 29th, 2008 at 6:51 pm

VDV is talented. Probably more useful on teh wing however. Van Persie at full power is the most talented dutch international.

Posted from Canada

By Rob | May 29th, 2008 at 8:03 pm

Hmmm…so my thoughts on the game and player ratings:

I think Jan has it spot on. Mathijsen was really poor and, much as I hate Bouma I think he is the better option (or Ooijer at centre half and Melchiot at right back).

Van der Vaart cannot be played in the way he was. Behind Ruud has to be someone who will make the most of their chances and actually be able to score in a brothel. Watching Vaart in acres of space (the sort of space he won’t be afforded in the Euros) only to let the Danish defence catch him up and then fluff a tame shot at their keeper was depressing. Vaart could play more centrally, if Van Basten were prepared to sacrifice a defensive midfielder, his passing is of course very good.

De Zeeuw had a woeful game – constantly gave away stupid fouls. Mad a brilliant pass to Van Nistelrooy – but he’s in there to break up plays and all he did was give away foul after foul.

Overall – an indifferent performance. I do think it will be different in the actual tournament though – the defence looked too relaxed and the attackers toothless – I think that’s partly due to the friendly atmosphere. Jan is right though – far, far too little penetration. Despite Van der Vaart and Sneijder possessing great shots it was apparently only Robben who was prepared to have a pop , and went very close twice.

Posted from Japan

By Rob | May 29th, 2008 at 8:20 pm

Player ratings:

Van der Sar – looked solid as ever and yelled at Mathijsen – 8
Ooijer – decent defensively, unable to offer anything in attack – 5
Van Bronckhorst – didn’t offer much in attack but Robben was doing that – 6
Mathijsen – lost out in the air, turned inside out for the goal – 4
Heitinga – some shoddy marking but great tackles – 6
De Zeeuw – foul after foul, one great pass to Van Nistelrooy – 4
Engelaar – don’t think he lost the ball once in the first half and could bully players off the ball, quality performance – 9
Sneijder – didn’t offer any decent crossing on the right, but controlled the midfield well – 6
Robben – always available on the left – could improve his crossing but he was definitely the big midfield threat – 8
Van Nistelrooy – grabbed his goal, missed a few others, his hold up play and passing was terrific though – 8

Subs:
De Jong – looked fairly tenacious if a bit ineffective – he offers something different at right back – 6
Dirk Kuyt – missed a sitter, didn’t do too much – 5
Afellay – not really on long enough to judge, but his introduction lifted the crowd, he was prepared to shoot while others dinked it about on the edge of the area – 7
Tim De Cler – did ok – 6
Ryan Babel – looked a threat every time he got the ball – there should be arguments for this kid to play right wing because he’s prepared to beat people, cuts in too much though – 8
Vennegor – Didn’t do a whole lot or make an impact – 5

Posted from Japan

By Rob | May 29th, 2008 at 8:26 pm

I was also highly disappointed with the wide attacking in general. No-one could deliver a decent cross. Half the time there was only Van Nistelrooy to aim at. The Danes basically didn’t defend their wings at all, but Oranje couldn’t benefit from that. Very disappointing. This in itself is an argument to start Huntelaar and Van Nistelrooy against teams who leave space on the wing.

Posted from Japan

By sphinx | May 29th, 2008 at 9:05 pm

Firstly, it was really and firendly..especially in the second half.
But we can found out three different phases of the game.
first half was the real test by Basten. Attacking Party was well gel up and lethal and defence was equally open.
I garee with Bastens’ remark on importance of mid-field part on defence.
with sneijder and robben, instead of kuyt& Afelly we did lose the defensive support while attacking more dangerous. As Vaart wasting hell of opportunities it’s look we need a second smarter finisher like persie or Kuyt. Ooijer at the left flank produced nothing.
Then changes after break.
Kuyt for Vaart looked to be a right balance but Dejong for Ooijer make the defence more out balance. Kuyt and JVH wasted a perfect opportuniy once again…means..ruud or hunter are inrreplacable.
Third part is my worry on Basten …repalacing Snijder by afelly made no creative mid-fielder left.
then it was not the team any more like just struggling for a draw result.
I saw him sometimes he made silly decision at crucial moment.

Posted from Australia

By Kervin | May 30th, 2008 at 10:52 am

Put kuyt right back!! He just runs and runs!! and then misses in front of goal!!!! No joking this guy should have been a defensive midfielder or a side back!!! Jan was right!!! He just an average striker, but a very good player and has a good mentallity! However forget it for euro 2008, for world cup 2010!

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