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My Crystal Ball, part 2…

June 11th, 2008 | By: Jan | 26 Comments »

I am still holding on to the original Crystal Ball. It seemed my premonition wasn’t too far off. I wrote, if Oranje scored in the first 25 minutes we’ll score one or two more… HHAHAHAAAHAAAA (mad scientist laugh).

Anyway. I took out my ball and looked long and hard at it and whispered the name of the one person the whole nation follows: Sylvie Meis, Sylvie Meis, Sylvie Meis….

OOPS, sorry…. Wrong internet blog…

I went: Marco, San Marco… (Editor’s note: we deleted all this humbug)

…so essentially we’ll see a different match. Altogether. France will have to get a result, although they will also look at the Italy – Romania result. If Italy loses, it will be different for France then when Italy wins. Anyway, I’ve tried to get this scenario-tree going with all the different outcomes… Maybe later.

The French play differently. Where Italy’s build up comes from the center of play (Pirlo) it seems the French build up over the flanks. With Ribery and Malouda – to name only two – France has very capable boys on the flanks, capable of going deep and cross balls in and capable of drifting and dribbling. To me, Marco will need to play different defenders. I hope for Melchiot on the right and Heitinga for Ooijer. The rest of the team may remain the same as far as I’m concerned.

I expect a fierce match. A battle on midfield, hardly any space and yellow cards. The logical outcome would be a tight and tense draw ( 0-0 ) but which ever team scores first – if any does – that team will be able to play a patient game. Waiting for the mistake and breaking out.

This is how the U21 team with Huntelaar took on the French in 2006.

I can’t tell you exactly how my Crystal Ball does it, but I do see a tough Oranje match, with a defeat or a draw.

France is a warned team and they count for two (very old Dutch saying).

Romania by the way, I said this many times, could be the laughing second in this. Italy will need to play away the shame and will attack. Donadoni will play a different team and these boys will want to prove their coach wrong in not letting them play against Oranje.
And Romania loves that .

Scenarios:

1. Oranje wins against France:
1. Italy draws. This means: Italy 1 point, Romania 2 points, France 1 point, Holland 6 points.
Italy and France will need to go for it, a draw is too dangerous. Romania will need to go for
glory as well. Holland likes that… In this scenario, Holland is through.

2. Oranje loses against France:
1 . Italy draws. This means: Italy 1 point, Romania 2 points, France 4 points, Holland 3 points.
Italy will need to go for it, France can end with a draw. Romania will need to go for
glory as well. Holland has enough points when they draw.

3. Oranje draws against France:
1 . Italy draws. This means: Italy 1 point, Romania 2 points, France 2 points, Holland 4 points.
Sort this one out yourself, but a draw seems to be enough.

I am getting sick with this Crystal Ball. The conclusion? Anything goes. Watching sports is more fun than trying to make what-if scenarios. Bugger! How much more time till the game?

Back to France… I think Holland will fight like lions, but it doesn’t gel. Kuyt drowns and is replaced by Van Persie who will demonstrate his lack of rhythm. Sneijder will be kicked out of the match (not seriously fortunately) and will be replaced by De Zeeuw. Van Nistelrooy fights for what he’s worth and Van der Sar again will be the saviour. Man of the Match will be – hang on! – Mario Melchiot.

Holland will gain more sympathy and the French will be booed off the pitch.

Right after this picture he actually attacked Marianne Timmer (Mrs Henk Timmer)

At the end of the match, our crown prince Willem Alexander runs on the pitch with his silly orange wig and doesn’t know how quickly he needs to jump on….Sylvie Meis, giving the poor girl a hamstring injury and a torn ligament. The French physio comes to the rescue but he will be promptly knocked down by Boulahrouz who winks into the camera, mouthing: For you, Cristiano…”

[Again, the blog editors appologize for this bunch of drivel and if Jan's performance doesn't improve we will replace him by Romashield!]

Tags: Engelaar, Euro 2008, Holland, Kuyt, Oranje, Sar, Sneijder, Van Basten, van Persie

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By bunchapooha | June 11th, 2008 at 11:34 pm

“The French physio comes to the rescue but he will be promptly knocked down by Boulahrouz who winks into the camera, mouthing: For you, Cristiano…”

btw, v Gelder said something about this a few days ago, apparently it’s not re-run on the net cause of the rights “someone” has over it. It’s shown the next day on the telly though, if you can get Ned 1 where you are, probably not, lol.

Posted from Netherlands

By Jan | June 12th, 2008 at 1:17 am

Gotcha… That’s just stupid eh? I always loved to watch those shows. Ah well, we’ll just have to make do with the gorgeous Aussie beach gals, the bbq, rugby and boomerangs then…

Posted from Australia

By ayl | June 12th, 2008 at 1:20 am

Speaking of crystal balls….
Guess how much money i made on this game?? any guesses??… NO?!

…Over $900 from a $40 outlay!!

I picked Netherlands as a head-to-head and i picked the correct score at 3-0 (two seperate bets). I’d put the bets down a couple of months ago and had almost forgotten about my corrcet score outlay… just got the money in my account today. One of the best days ever!!

So, my crytal ball for The Netherlands v France……

I’m splitting $40 more on the Netherlands to win head-to-head and to win by 1. Get on it fellas, it’s a sure bet haha.

But seriously, i can see The Netherlands slicing open France on the counter attack late in the game as the Frence push foward for the win (because Italy WILL win). A well structured and composed 1-0 to the Netherlands with a goal from the substitute Van Persie in the 83rd minute.

At least that’s what i’m hoping for.

By goose | June 12th, 2008 at 2:02 am

@Jan; we have no internet at home at the moment; **&%&^$%^&$&*(
so little time, so much to share

nothing missed about Jack’s show…it sucks!

ill have a look around

Posted from Netherlands

By Jan | June 12th, 2008 at 2:58 am

Thanks buddy… I miss you in these glory days. You stuck with me for two years and now your internet is down? Do you have an Italian providor

Posted from Australia

By Carlos | June 12th, 2008 at 3:01 am

OK here’s a quickie….
Who said the below quote after Holland beat his side 3-0 not too long ago ?

‘I can only congratulate the Dutch, they were the better team and deserved to win. We gave away possession far too easily.

‘They controlled the game, they were quicker to every loose ball and we have to analyise what went wrong.’

Answer : Bilic – Croatia Coach also at Euro 88
sounds familar – did anyone watch the game a few months back ?

Posted from Singapore

By Carlos | June 12th, 2008 at 3:24 am

hmmmmm getting beside myself, dont think Slaven Bilic was playing at Euro88 – WC 98 he was !

Posted from Singapore

By rosenoor | June 12th, 2008 at 3:40 am

I always loves orange but Iam still worry … that ducth will always fail at last (WC argentina 78, WC france 2002, execp if the team at least have an idea to come to indonesia … so Indonesian people will forgive dutch that cloniced 350 years….. ORANGE WILL CHAMP….

Posted from Australia

By Caleb | June 12th, 2008 at 9:36 am

“The French physio comes to the rescue but he will be promptly knocked down by Boulahrouz who winks into the camera, mouthing: For you, Cristiano…””
Haha! I really liked that one, along with bunchapooha

But Jan, are their really people who edit your blog?

And what’s that about the picture, who is that guy who attacks Mrs. Timmer? Or is that just something you saw in the crystal ball?

Posted from Canada

By finnster01 | June 12th, 2008 at 9:50 am

Speaking of money, it is very early yet, and I am certainly not counting my chickens yet, but the 500 Euros I laid down on Holland to win at 14-1 just looks a lot better.

France will be very difficult, but I was appalled by their lack of creativity against a very well defensively organized Romanian team. I say if we can bottle up Ribery (i.e. Kuyt) and somehow mark Benzema properly, I think we will be playing the womens team against Romania.

Posted from United States

By Caleb | June 12th, 2008 at 10:02 am

finnster – 500 Euros!?! If you win that bet you should be buying us a new website or something with those winnings

Posted from Canada

By finnster01 | June 12th, 2008 at 12:03 pm

@caleb, you only live once and although 500 Euros is a lot to plunk down, I like the sound of 7000 Euros even more should I win.

On the other hand, I can cope with losing 500 Euros, just means less eating out and drinking for a bit here in New York, which in my case is not a bad thing either

Posted from United States

By martijn | June 12th, 2008 at 1:16 pm

I hope holland wins against france, and italy draw against romania, so it al come down to the last matchday for the remaining 3 teams. i hope san marco has somethin up his sleave

Posted from Netherlands

By Igor | June 12th, 2008 at 2:56 pm

wow, and i thought i had a good pay day when i made $30 in a friendly pool at the pub for correctly predicting that van Nistelrooij would score the first goal of the game against Italy…but really compared to finnster and ayl i’m talking chicken scratch here.

Posted from Canada

By finnster01 | June 12th, 2008 at 3:05 pm

If it makes you feel any better, as a Plan B, I also laid down 100 Euros on Russia to win at 33-1 and it sure looks like I can kiss that goodbye…

Posted from United States

By finnster01 | June 12th, 2008 at 3:05 pm

If it makes you feel any better, as a Plan B, I also laid down 100 Euros on Russia to win at 33-1 and it sure looks like I can kiss that goodbye…

Posted from United States

By Jan | June 12th, 2008 at 4:25 pm

Cool Finn

I think you’ll find some interesting posts when we win (see: I said when, not if!).

Caleb: you want a new website? Not happy with this one eh?

Posted from Australia

By Caleb | June 12th, 2008 at 4:31 pm

Haha, not at all Jan! But I was thinking that with those proceeds we could hire ourselves a full time web developer and make ourselves the best sports blog on the internet

Posted from Canada

By Caleb | June 12th, 2008 at 4:32 pm

^ best sports blog in terms of site structure/features/etc., not based on content – based on content we are already the best!

Posted from Canada

By Jan | June 12th, 2008 at 5:00 pm

I bow my head Caleb, thank you

Which reminds me… What exactly would you change, add to the site? In terms of structure, features, etc? Love to know…

Posted from Australia

By ayl | June 12th, 2008 at 8:27 pm

Haha, I’m no high roller Igor. I only put on $40… $500 is another league. The most i’d ever put on is $200. I’m just a poor UNI student, i can’t afford to risk too much.

By Sol | June 12th, 2008 at 10:14 pm

http://ek2008.nos.nl/

That’s the site where you can find videos for Studio Sport Zomerstudio with Jack van Gelder.

Posted from Netherlands

By Jan | June 13th, 2008 at 12:00 am

Thank you!

Posted from Australia

By Caleb | June 13th, 2008 at 8:54 am

Jan – actually, I’m not sure what I’d change… maybe give the commenters a little more functionality, like at a forum… but I can’t think of too much else we really need. But then again, if we had a full time web developer we could get a lot of things we don’t need but that would look cool

Posted from Canada

By curt adalbert | June 14th, 2008 at 10:45 am

Too bad Ayl you’d be rich by now…

Posted from Netherlands

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