I only watched the first half live, taping the 2nd half …. without wanting to sound gloating or condescending to the Russian fans, it’s obvious that Russia was a class below Spain. Our Oranje must have really stinked on that unfortunate Saturday.

–H

As a hater of the German team, I’m gradually gathering respect for these guys. This “winning mentality” that Jogi talked about is exactly what jong Oranje need if we want to take it to the next level. As much as it pains me to compliment the Gerries, it is obvious that we have to learn from them in this “mental” department.

I told my German buddy when we watched this match during lunch at the first half, “dude, this has Russia – Holland written all over ….. your team looks like they are in deep trouble ……” He couldn’t even look at the TV screens in some of the Turk’s attacking sequence. I was pretty much convinced Germany was going to lose. Obviously I was wrong.

–H

*****

Löw hails ‘winning mentality’
http://en.euro2008.uefa.com/tournament/matches/match=301697/report=rw.html#low+hails+winning+mentality

Joachim Löw praised Germany’s winning mentality after they produced a 3-2 victory from a UEFA EURO 2008™ semi-final which at times looked to be slipping away from them. Turkey’s Fatih Terim, meanwhile, could only applaude the efforts of a team he described as being the “most colourful in the tournament”.

Joachim Löw, Germany coach
We are absolutely delighted to have won this semi-final – an incredible feeling. The players themselves are thrilled to have won a game like that. It was a fantastic fight, a great drama, and with the late goals it had everything. After conceding their second goal, we were strong enough mentally to come back and it was an excellent move that resulted in the third goal. It was hard to take conceding at 2-2, but it was a clear sign of our strength of character that we then produced an excellent attack and a brilliant finish. I think we played very well, and I also think they played very well. Technically they are excellent and there were spells in the match where we struggled. It was difficult, but we were clinical and scored three goals which made the difference, from fewer chances than against Portugal in the quarter-final. We showed a winning mentality. Early on, we gave the ball away easily and lost our rhythm. They kept possession well and we ended up hitting long balls. Second half, we might have benefited from a second striker to help keep the ball up front, but the five midfielders were important as they stopped us from being overrun – because Turkey passed the ball really well through midfield. I coached in Turkey and I know that once they get into the groove in a game or in a competition, they are hard to stop. They have great enthusiasm and are fantastic technically. We were worried, but we were lucky to score in the 90th minute. Congratulations to Turkey for a fantastic show.

Fatih Terim, Turkey coach
It has always been important for me to have a team who enjoy what they are doing, who are creative and who score goals. Maybe we haven’t always been so exciting in this championship, but today we had it all. I told the players in the dressing room that I am very proud of them. We are leaving as the most colourful team in the tournament, having very nearly made it to the final. If the game had gone to extra time, I think we would have been attacking them again and things would have been different. But unfortunately we suffer from giving away easy goals. These things happen in football – you don’t always score, you sometimes concede. I think we were the better side, though, and we have reminded people about Turkey. We were full of energy, which really pleased me, and despite having a young side we showed great spirit when things went against us. Germany are a good team, they are formidable opponents and I wish them luck in the final. But, more than anything, I am proud of my players for showing the world what good players they are.

How do we suck? How do we seed racism again?

Please enlighten us my friend…

–H

As an Oranje fan, even if I say I want the Oranje to win at any cost, I don’t think the Oranje can win that way. In 20 or so years I have followed this team, there was never an occasion that we play in “negative” or “boring” ways. The closest to this was probably that ugly match against Portugal in the last WC 2006. Even with the mediocre squad and result that year, we still showed some flash of geniuses in the match against fellow orange Ivory Coast and Serbia/Montenegro (remember Robben’s sprint, dribble and score run?)

When Ruud equalized in the 80+ mins. against Russia, my German friend called me, “dude, what’s wrong with the way your team is playing? They play ugly, I know they’ll win at the end”. I told him, “we’re learning to win ugly, just like your team is good at”. At that time, I was 99% convinced that we would win the match and FINALLY, we can win ugly. But how wrong was I? The Oranje is just not shaped this way, I don’t think.

So, I really hope this “mental” aspect will be addressed by van Warwijk. One team that we probably should pattern our team on is Brazil …. they are now playing a bit more “rational” but still look like they are having fun, attacking and being creative; plus looks like they managed to be strong and have a champion mentality (they also managed to beat us in PKs against one of our best squads in WC 1998). This differentiates their style than Germany or the rougher style of Argentina or for that matter, the Oranje.

As I have posted last night, I still believe that Holland is blessed with non-stop supply of technically gifted players – to contrast, we have van Persie and Robben, the Germans have Neuville and Mario Gomez (*YUCK*) – but I am rather convinced that while van Persie and Robben give 90-95% each match, Neuville or Gomez will give their 110+%. This is the main factor that makes the difference …. again, these are all personal theories I came up with.

To answer this thread title “How do we feel now” ….. I still feel gutted and depressed 3 days after that ill-fated Saturday. I can pretend outside that I’m still interested in this tourney and discuss the tourney with my friends/co-workers, but inside, I really do not care. I only care to read the progress of the Oranje squad’s preparation for WC 2010 qualifiers and see their result. This blog and passionate discussions of the Oranje by the fans actually is one cure for the pain.

–H