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Holland crushes the World Champs: 3-0!

June 9th, 2008 | By: Jan | 58 Comments »

Mate, where to start???

It’s tempting to start with “I told you so” but I won’t. It would be directed to our friends at the Italy blog too, and why bother. So I won’t.

It’s also tempting to start with: it was not off side! But with the 3-0 on the boards, I don’t think people would want to defend the position that Holland didn’t deserve this win.

I also don’t want to begin this post with: our defense doesn’t look shabby at all….

Let’s start with: WELL DONE BOYS!

Because whatever you can say about the game, our boys did very well, worked hard, were alive and hungry and most importantly: they looked the business! They looked like they new NOW was the time to step up, so let’s do this.

I am truly impressed.

As an Engelaar fan, I’d even like to promote him to Man of the Match, but I could say the same about Sar, Gio, Van der Vaart and Boulah…

Van Basten deserves the compliments. He was never in panic, when striker after striker got injured in the run up and came with a well-balanced team and very good substitutions.

From the first minute on, it was clear Oranje meant serious business. The Italians didn’t start too shabby either, but one has to be honest here… We played well, but our opponent tonight – the World Champs, apparently – didn’t have it. Defensively, they looked weaker that Mathijsen and Ooijer after a spliff and magic man Pirlo wasn’t able to connect with his forwards at all.

After a first chance for Van Gol – the fact that he didn’t dive like C Ronaldo or Inzaghi would have makes him the class act he is – it was in the cards that Holland would score. And of course everybody thought it was off side. Even the dimbwitted commentators on Setanta (including Bolo Zenden!!) thought it was, but Panucci was behind the goal line (after Buffon smacked him down) and according to the rules (look it up), he broke the off side. A clear 100% goal by the Man, kudos to the linesman.

The second goal will definitely be in the top 10 of best EC2008 goals! If you haven’t seen it: Gio cleared the ball from the line after an Italy corner kick. The 35 years young one sprinted along the channel, Raf van der Vaart played a perfect pass in his stride. Gio saw Kuyt at the far post, who in turn saw Sneijder unmarked in the box. His header connected and Sneijder half-volleyed the ball behind Buffon: 2-0. A classic goal!

So, was Italy really impotent?

Well, they weren’t. They did get space to build up on the flanks and with some more luck, determination and skills they could have gotten back in the game, with Van der Sar forced to make a save. But Toni was hard to reach and the Italian midfield looked slow and tired, overpowered by the invisible but hard working De Jong and the very visible and hard working Orlando Engelaar.

In the second half, Italy had the better of the game, putting pressure on the Dutch defense and forcing Van der Sar to save some more. A Pirlo shot was brilliantly stopped and sub Del Piero had a good chance to score but saw his ball stopped by the CL winner as well.

In the meantime, Oranje taught Italy what counter-football is. With Robin van Persie for Van Nistelrooy and later Afellay for Kuyt it was pretty clear that Oranje would put one more behind Buffon. But it wasn’t the Arsenal wonder boy or the PSV talent – who did hit the cross bar with a shot from a difficult angle.

Gio van Bronckhorst, again, broke out offering Kuyt a chance to score, who took the rebound and crossed the ball back into the box, allowing Gio to what might be his first header goal ever. Buffon did not look comfortable there…

The Italians were broken. Cassano, Toni, Del Piero, I had the idea that even if Italy was allowed to play 2 hours more they would never have scored….

I am stoked that so far my predictions come true (ok, France didn’t lose but a draw isn’t really a hoot either). I am happy for the team and the staff and in particular with the quality of play, both attacking and in defensing.

We’ve also seen a new star being born and Schalke 04 could consider selling Engelaar already with a profit to the likes of AC Milan or Juventus (just kiddin’ of course…).

I will visit the Italy blog later, to have some fun there and will see you soon. Gotta run now, but will do so with a huge smile on my face…

But: still two more to go and then some…

Tags: Cruyff, Euro 2008, Gio, Gullit, Holland, Kuyt, Netherlands, Oranje, Sneijder, van Nistelrooy

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 58 comments.

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By Dean | June 9th, 2008 at 7:55 pm

First of all, congratulations from the Greeks to the Netherlands for an INSANELY well-played match. Anyone who thinks Italy ever posed a threat to them is delusional. Watching Holland thrash Italy around scared the crap out of me – I hope Greece never meets you in the quarterfinals!!!!!!

By martijn | June 9th, 2008 at 8:14 pm

its a funny thing, football.. everyone that used to talk in a negative way about van Basten and holland, now love both of them. Typical dutch mentality. Great match to watch, loved sneijder and kuyt play aswel as gio. bit disapointed in van nistelrooy, he had 2 great chances , but failed to score, but still, WE BLIJVEN VAN ORANJE HOUDEN!! (atleast i always do)

Posted from Netherlands

By Zicklin | June 9th, 2008 at 8:31 pm

Just wait till they meet Portugal in the third-place match. We’ll see more martial arts kicking and fouling ala 2006. Van Basten was lucky today cause Dondon is a fool.

Posted from United States

By Tama Roesli | June 9th, 2008 at 8:47 pm

very effective play from Holland. Now I understand what with your discussion about how to block the opponent midfielders before the they pass it to their attackers. Dutch attacking and midfielder players implemented that perfectly.

I am happy today

Posted from Australia

By drunvalo | June 9th, 2008 at 8:55 pm

ok ok ok…i just hope it WAS oranje skill and not a desheveled italian defence, cause italy needs oranje to beat the french.

Posted from Canada

By Ono | June 9th, 2008 at 9:21 pm

Never watched Affelay before and I thought he was overrated, but that shot almost killed Grosso and Buffon. Hup Holland hup !!

Posted from Japan

By Dustin | June 9th, 2008 at 9:27 pm

I did not have much faith in Van Basten when he took over but to be fair to him, he insisted that the team would not be ready for the WC and this Euro would be the tournament in which they would shine.

Thanks Marco, for putting up with all the insane expectations we have as fans, and for delivering the start, hopefully, of a great Euro.

Agreed on the ‘offside’ goal, Italy have always rode their luck, and are the masters of winning undeservedly, through blatant dives (against Australia in recent history) and gamesmanship, the goal was legal and I think it’s good karma from Van Nistelrooy not going down when he could’ve easily done so for the penalty.

Posted from Singapore

By Jan | June 9th, 2008 at 10:16 pm

I’m happy with all your comments on Ruud not going for the penalty! I forgot to mention that and it does show what a class act he is!

Posted from Australia

By Jan | June 9th, 2008 at 10:18 pm

And thanks for your kind words Chris, we may meet again later in the tourni?

Posted from Australia

By Richard | June 9th, 2008 at 10:29 pm

Fantastic game! Second goal was an absolute ripper. The french are sh*tting themselves, I bet.

Wish I was in Holland right now and party. Jan, maybe we can catch up and watch the Holland – Germany final somewhere on the 29th, have a few beers with bitterballen. I’m only half an hour up the road from you. I have a Dutch mate here, who would also join us.

Posted from Australia

By Albo | June 9th, 2008 at 10:56 pm

Congrats to Oranje for such a display of skillful and effective football.
Saludos

Posted from United States

By Miguel Rosado | June 9th, 2008 at 11:12 pm

It was a great performance but we also had some luck. This result will give them a lot of confidence.

Gio’s runs were insane and Edwin is magnificent!!!. Engelaar outplayed Italy’s midfield I am impressed by this player.

Sneijder and Vaart understood they are the new leaders.

8 years ago everything went wrong against Italy but tonight everything was perfect. If Holland keeps playing focused like tonight we might go a loooong way!!!.

By Rob | June 9th, 2008 at 11:37 pm

@martijn: You’re totally right. I’m sure I wasn’t the only person raising eyebrows at the line up before kick off – no Affelay or Van Persie, Boulah right back, Ooijer centre back, Mathijsen, no Heitinga?! Where did this come from?! If we’d lost I would have completely turned on Van Basten and blamed him solely. Thankfully, he knew the team better than me and chose the right guys mentally to do it. Boulah looked imperious throughout (though against France I’m not sure…), Kuyt was very good, Heitinga looked poor when he came on – all the calls were right (except Ooijer). Van Basten deserves a lot of credit – I praised him when he had the balls to get rid of dopes like Van Bommel and Seedorf – I hope the world praises him for having the balls to pick players on their mental strength and current ability and passion for Oranje, because the beautiful football we saw is down to Van Basten’s no nonsense reign. Well played Marco.

Posted from Japan

By aj | June 9th, 2008 at 11:50 pm

haha…world champions who???? lol v did teach them a thing or two about football..

Posted from India

By Joemaica | June 10th, 2008 at 12:11 am

Well done the Dutch. I hope you carry that form on when you play the French. Great to see the Oranje perform. I’m hoping that will be Italy’s worst performance at the tournament. It seems Donadoni could learn from Van Basten.

Posted from New Zealand

By Ilya | June 10th, 2008 at 2:34 am

Stanley Lejuez, omg, please read what I said. I said it was ONside, NOT OFFside.

Posted from Germany

By Lou | June 10th, 2008 at 4:16 am

The World Cup was 2006, as in 2 years ago. If this was 2006, Holland would have stood no chance, but lots can change in 2 years. Italy has a new, incompetent coach and some of its players have lost a step or 2. Don’t oversell the Dutch performance. Holland may have looked good, in part because of Italy’s incompetence and laziness, but the Dutch have a tendency to self-destruct in major tournaments so while you gloat now, this one win doesn’t prove anything. Sure, Holland deserved the win BUT if the 1st goal was not offside why hasn’t any UEFA official or any expert on tv or in print been able to clarify the legitimacy goal? Even Van Nistelrooy and Dirk Kuyt believed the goal was going to be called off.

Posted from Canada

By lars | June 10th, 2008 at 4:41 am

great game, holland were pretty awsome however i do think that the italians could have scored a couple, we were still a little shaky, i reckon take out ooijer and put in heitinga then should be alright!!

Posted from United Kingdom

By Frans | June 10th, 2008 at 4:48 am

The most importent thing about holland.
They play the most beautifull football in the world, they can beat every team when they are in good shape. Sure they do not always win, but they always let you enjoy great football. The italian team is normaly very effectif but that doesn’t mean it’s great to watch.
When the dutch team loses but they played great, and the opponent team scored a goal, but defended like pussies for al the matcht in my opinion the Dutch win.
THE DESERVE TO WIN BECAUSE THEY WANT TO FOOTBALL, NOT TO FAKE A INJURY OR THE DEFEND FOR AL THE MATCH LONG WAITING FOR A GOAL.
AND THAT’S WHY THE DUTCH RULE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted from Netherlands

By Frans | June 10th, 2008 at 5:02 am

To Lars,

The euro 2008 isn’t the same without England.
I regret that the team didn’t make it, but i didn’t thought they were that poorly. Normally England is also one of the footballing teams and i hope that in the next tournament we face each other would be a great match.

Posted from Netherlands

By Pepebeck | June 10th, 2008 at 7:13 am

Wow… what a classic night that was.. Have been reading Dutch newspapers all day, just to stay in this euphoric state of mind…
Some say the Italians played poor but I don’t agree. This time (and, lets be honest, last time in 2000 as well) we completely confused them and that’s why they looked poor.
I think those kemp pretty boys should pay a little bit more attention to there game instead of their looks…
Olanda…. VENI VIDI VICI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By martijn | June 10th, 2008 at 7:51 am

@ ROB

The only thing i was surprised about was that heitinga didnt play. I would have rather had him in (before the match started) than matthijsen. I hoped he would play boula so so so badly. When he came in against denmark he played so solidly, hes a pure defender and we need him. I dont find melchiot that reliable. Putting kuyt in instead of van persie or affelay is only logical because holland needs some one that is everywhere, especially against the physical iti’s.

Posted from Netherlands

By Frank | June 10th, 2008 at 8:04 am

great modern football from holand vs old uninspired guys from italy.

Very good performance and a plesure to watch. after this match as a german i am very lucky that we could only play against the netherlands in the final and that´s still a very long way to go.

By kimika | June 10th, 2008 at 9:21 am

Oh! I still can’t believe it’s true…
We beat the world champion!

BTW: I watched the game in a bar which some friends, from time to time we shouted loudly… Someone in the neighbourhood called the police because of the noise. But… the policeman might also be a football fan and he did nothing to us…

Posted from China

By Caleb | June 10th, 2008 at 10:44 am

Great game! Great attacking play! I’m very happy now.
And, it wasn’t offside. Period. It doesn’t matter how the player got off the field. If the ref didn’t specifically allow him off the field he is still considered in the play.

Lou – you want proof, here it is:

http://en.euro2008.uefa.com/news/kind=1/newsid=711341.html#uefa+supports+dutch+goal+decision

And I’d just like to point out that I had said before the euros that I was feeling good about the Dutch team and Van Basten.

Posted from Canada

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