Comments on: Matchday 5. What did we learn?

By: Robert

Robert — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 01:34:04 +0000

Jan, Marco wasn’t the only one that was pissed with the Dutch press; Sneijder gave them a piece of his mind too about the way they portrayed Robben as if he was made of crystal.
I have to say though that many of these reporters are truly obnoxious

By: Jan

Jan — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:50:32 +0000

I read in Hugo Borst’s column that Marco van Basten was very negative and crude to the Dutch press. After some papers made up stories about horrendous challenges on the Dutch secret training sessions, he gave the Dutch press the cold shoulder on one of the press conferences.

Borst felt unjustly attacked by Marco (maybe we should write about challenges by coaches on journo’s at secret press conferences ) and writes that some press people decided to ban Dutch press conferences!

Great! I remember that coaches use this external enemy to create unity in their group. Once it were the Dutch officials, in Italy it’s always the media, etc etc. If it works, it works. I won’t complain!

By: Stan Lee, Los Angeles

Stan Lee, Los Angeles — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 20:30:56 +0000

Holland all the way biatchesss…..it’s time for some total beautiful football and may the Brazillians of europe reign!

By: Matt C.

Matt C. — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:22:36 +0000

For the first game, the Dutch had the benefit of low expectations. Not so against France now, but I’d rather they be the next opponent than Roumania. Provided Roumania can keep Italy on edge and we beat France, it’s smooth sailing.

By: Bart

Bart — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:09:01 +0000

Germany just lost to Croatia!!
2-1, this is huge

By: finnster01

finnster01 — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:04:40 +0000

And after a smashing performance today by Croatia, looks like Portugal may play Germany in the quarter final!!! Which means that at least one of my most hated teams will not reach the semi’s.

I know there are quite a few other Oranje fans grinning right now and sharing my sentiments:-) HaHaHaHaHa. Absolutely brilliant!!!!

By: finnster01

finnster01 — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:47:56 +0000

What is this? Portugese lovefest all of a sudden on the Oranje blog of all places?

@Pedro, you can take all your El Divo’s and stuff them very far up a certain place where the sun doesn’t shine too often, even in Portugal. I could not give a rats arse about Deco, the worlds best diver Ronaldo, or any other midgetsize footballer wishing they were Spanish and played for Real Madrid.

We still have a very unsettled score with your guys and don’t think for a moment that a lot of Holland fans have forgotten that. I certainly have not, and nothing would be better for me personally than to send you crashing home with your Chelsea coach and Ronaldo crying on the bus again.

By: Pedro

Pedro — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:24:02 +0000

Thanks for the compliments back at our blog, Jan.
The same back to you on your victory against Italy – you broke their defense and then they weren´t so big anymore…
Deco is really great. We call him “O Mágico” – I guess this one doesn´t need translation. Scored one against the czechs and created two more, out of nothing.
All the best for Oranje too.

By: Bob

Bob — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:29:45 +0000

The France match now becomes very important for the Dutch, now that they have so wonderfully defeated the Italians. Here’s why–If Italy defeats Romania and France defeats Holland, then France moves to first place and Italy ties with the Dutch. If Romania defeats Italy, and France wins, then France and Romania tie for first…The conclusion is that in this match with France, “we” should either tie or win to make it possible to be first or second in the group. I am operating on the assumption that “we” will defeat Romania, although that is not a given and Romania could go through as well. What great and interesting times now in the tournament!

By: Frank

Frank — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:53:21 +0000

Regardless of the BBC a huge number of English fans support Oranje in this competition.