Comments on: Marco van Basten: superstar again!

By: peyman

peyman — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 22:33:31 +0000

i like netherland

By: Sol

Sol — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:23:45 +0000

Then van Basten never made any mistakes

I usually just watch the football, guess I remember it wrong about the facts. I do remember both games though. And Portugal was the stronger team in 2004, although we came close (that’s why I still wonder what would have happened if he left RvN and added Kuyt and taken off a midfielder or defender).

In 2006 we were the stonger team.

By: Caleb

Caleb — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 01:29:30 +0000

Sol – I think you got your dates a little confused. Advocaat was still the coach in 2004, and mistake you were talking about (Kuyt for RVN) happened during the Portugal match in 2006. And correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think Holland ever had less men than Portugal. It was Portugal with 9 and Holland with 10 until our second player was sent off. You are spot on with your analysis of Portugal’s play in that game though.

By: Sol

Sol — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 01:09:42 +0000

What I particularly like this year though, is that he’s playing the exact players I would have chosen, and making the exact subsitutions and changes I was thinking in the game against both Italy and France (I was so glad he chose Bouhla to replace Babel, and I’m even more glad with how Bouhla performed, allthough he can do better).

I didn’t think he would do it, move vd Vaart or Sneijder back to add Robben and take out one of the DM (obviously Engelaar who was making mistakes), but I was thinking it before the match.

I was also thinking about options of adding v Persie without removing Kuyt (but I guess that would have been over the top, taking out de Jong who played his position perfectly). Kuyt is a key player on counters often (as is RvN).

By: Sol

Sol — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:46:59 +0000

The only mistake I saw van Basten make was replacing RvN for Kuyt against Portugal in 2004, but it was his first appearance, so I guess I never really blamed him.

In 2006 he did nothing wrong in my book, neither did the Dutch team against Portugal. It was Portugal who played the ignorant referree perfectly and they prevented any play in the latter part of the second halve by making foul after foul, diving, pretending injuries, trying to provoke Dutch players, using every trick in the book to stop play. Cause they were being outplayed, even with 9 Dutch against 10 Portuguese players Hollland was still creating chances in the short moments of actual football/play.

Then they lost to Italy or France in the semi’s just because they had spent all their energy on the game against Holland (and I think they couldn’t field some key players because of yellow/red cards, was Ronaldo injured during the game?).

Holland and Portugal were the better teams than Italy and France 2 years ago, and now Holland has proven that. Germany was overrated and still is, a Holland – Portugal rematch would be great, with a fit Ronaldo and everyone in form it would be a great and fitting end to an already great tournament.

Spain looks strong and confident this year though…

I’m so glad Greece is out, if there ever was a more underserved winner of the EC I wouldn’t know about it. They don’t even play to win, they play to draw, blahhhh. They won the whole tournament on defence (and a lot of pushing and pulling), not even risking anything on counters.

At least when Italy and France play on defence, they are willing to risk something on the counters, or start pushing at the end of the game if it’s still 0-0.

By: HappyChappy

HappyChappy — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 13:07:56 +0000

Despite getting good results (lots of wins, few losses) Marco van Basten (MvB) has been criticized all this time. I think everyone in Holland was agreeing that MvB was not doing a good job. It is funny to see that now after 2 (good) games he has become the national hero already. As if he has won the cup already. It is a bit hypocritical. But I suppose it is the same everywhere. If you win you’re the man, if you lose then you’re worthless.

By: lowiesje

lowiesje — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 11:25:29 +0000

That’s right JC, its tempting to lose against Romania and avoid Italy and/or France. But for good sportsmanship sake, lets beat the Romanians since we couldn’t win against them in the qualifications. Besides that, I am glad that van Bommel isn’t in the squad. He would have made some awful errors with his annoying attitude on the pitch…

By: JC

JC — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 10:28:47 +0000

If i was in charge of the netherlands, I wud lose to Romania, so that Both Italy and France get eliminated. Coz one of them, cud bite the netherlands asses in the semi’s, if they qualify..

By: John

John — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 10:12:03 +0000

Actually, van Basten has been statistically the most successful bondscoach for quite some time. I don’t see why he’d have gotten fired. It was only a matter of time for them to begin to play like this, the players just needed to grow and mature. Van Basten didn’t do a whole lot wrong. He kept doing what he was supposed to be doing: winning.

By: Jan

Jan — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 06:56:47 +0000

Bullshido: I agree with your first post. I’m actually going to post a piece that will enrage most fans soon

Looking forward to that too!

Don’t agree with your second comment. Dickie is not a real coach (in my view). Despite his Zenith success. And you could be right about Marco being sacked if not status etc. but he wouldn’t be in the job in the first place then.