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Oranje at the EC: the KNVB’s top 11

June 28th, 2008 | By: Jan | 18 Comments »

On the KNVB site – still no English version!! – a list of Top 11 items are published with regards to Oranje and this EC. I added my own choices: the worst Oranje moment, the funniest Oranje moment, the best analyst moment

11. Crazy about Oranje
Holland loved Oranje again. It took four years. The Dutch fans loathed the EC2004, with all the in-fighting between coach and assistant coach, this time. One of Van Basten’s goals was to restore the nation’s faith in the Dutch team. And it worked. Whole streets and building blocks were turned into Orange tempels and the orange products dominated the shops and supermarkets. Every thing that happened was the talk of the town. The tree beghind which Sneijder presumable got injured was a topic in news shows for days on end. Oranje fever!

10. Reputation of Holland internationally
The performance of Oranje in the group stages received a lot of kudos internationally. German icon Gunther Netzer – one of Holland’s biggest criticasters – called Van Basten a genius. The news papers from all over the world used words like “majestic”, “brilliant” and “never seen before”.

9. The Oranjekids
Oranje celebrated the win against France with the players’ children on their arms. The world world could witness how Shaqueel, Noelle, Lynn, Damian, Jessey, Luka and Nola captured the hearts of the football fans. The kids of the internationals became the symbol of their unity.

8. Group of Death
Oranje survived two groups of death under Van Basten. Who would have thought Oranje would perform like this against the world champs and the vice world champs? Oranje won all three matches and easily qualified for the quarter finals.

7. Goal Van Persie
Right at the moment when France settles in the game, Oranje scores. Robben penetrates the French third of the pitch to cross to Van Persie, who leaves Coupet without a chance. Two golden subs. Robben with the assist, Van Persie with the goal. Robben would score the fabulous 3-1 not much later.

6. The Oranjefans
So you think Switzerland is neutral? Not during this tournament. Tens of thousands of Oranje fans traveled to the Alps to support the Dutch team, based on special Oranje camping sites. And all of them went to party before and after he games. Bern and Basel were Dutch cities during the tournament. And the Swiss fans caught the virus.

5. Marco van Basten
During the qualifications, 50% of the Dutch fans thought Van Basten should resign. During the EC, he was the hero. Oranje played attractive, the team performed like a….eh…a team, the vibe was good and we won three times in a row against tough opponents. Suddenly, Van Basten was a top coach using golden subs when the match needed it.

4. Goal Sneijder
The second Oranje goal against Italy was a phenomenal goal. It all happened in 17 seconds. Gio cleared from the Dutch goal line. Van der Vaart picked the ball up and saw Gio run deep. His pass was perfect in Gio’s stride. Van Bronckhorst opened with a cross pass on Kuyt, in Italy’s box-area. Kuyt headed the ball to Sneijder, unmarked in the box, who beat Buffon at the near post with a half volley.

2. Edwin van der Sar
Sar played his last game for Oranje against Russia. He defended the Dutch goal 128 times and has proven his value time and again. At this EC, Edwin confirmed his hero-status. After his last match, he quipped: “It has been good.” And it has, Edwin…

1. Nederland – Italië
Ooranje was on fire. In the first match against Italy, Oranje presented it’s ambitions. For the first time in 30 years, Oranje won against Italy. This would be Holland’s best match in a long time and the world champs were humiliated with 3-0. What should have been the first of a series of 6 games…

Worst moment:
The worst moment during the Oranje campaign was undoubtedly the death of Boulah’s baby daughter Anissa. Born too early, three days before the Russia game. A dramatic moment, overshadowing football or any other worldly event. On the football pitch, I picked two moments. They will have to share the honour for worst moment and in both cases Robin van Persie plays the main character. Both moments are from the Russia game. Holland takes a corner kick in the second half. We’re 1-0 down. Robin takes it short, (can’t remember with whom) and receives the ball back. In offside position. What a waste, part 1. Later in the second half, it’s chief free-kicks Wes Sneijder preparing to shoot the equalizer behind the Russian goalie. While he is concentrating, Van Persie decides to have a go and misses the mark by meters. Sneijder is distraught and won’t touch another ball during the official 90 minutes.

Funniest moment:
For the whole world to see: Rafael van der Fart scores one, while on the bench during the Romania game.

Funniest analysis:
Gay tv-stylist Maik de Boer gives his opinion on the Oranje players. “Dirk Kuyt looks like a porn star from the 80s”, “Robin van Persie is the cutest of the Dutch”, “Nigel de Jong’s forehead could use some botox” and “I love to see Afellay in speedo’s”…

Tags: Euro 2008, Gio, Kuyt, Robben, Sneijder, Van Basten, van Persie

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Comments

By goose | June 28th, 2008 at 11:38 am

Highlight;
the Italy game and everything around it; the joy of the supporters, the pride cause the way we performed, the surprise!! the hope it gave me for the rest of the EC… i should have known better

Highlight Surprise;
the performance of Nigel de Jong; a personal choice cause i hate the guy…but i think he and vdSar were the best overall performers at the EC for Oranje

Worst moment;
realising after 7-8 minutes in the Russia game that we were never gonna make it to the semis, that we would play a lousy game

Worst moment2;
waking up and realising the fun was over…

Worst moment3;
Germany winning the EC with a 92 minute goal

btw; dont know why but i really dont like it when athletes takes their kids with them to celebrate (like Amstrong did it the tour) i dont care about the Oranje kids

Posted from Netherlands

By HUP | June 28th, 2008 at 12:31 pm

R U tellin gme you never celebrate with you gooslings?

Posted from Canada

By Junior | June 28th, 2008 at 12:46 pm

Yeah…I never fully comprenhended during the game why Van Persie took that free kick which was so close to the goal. After all I knew Sneijder was the expert…Thanks to you guys, now I realize what happens!!! Van Persie can be annoying at times it seems. He ought to change his behaviour a bit…for instance during the world he quarelled with Robben because Robben was the “man of the match”, and criticized him publicly for being too selfish with the ball, and that they could not win the world cup with Robben alone. Of course Van Basten took care of the matter.
I hope he matures, and stops being a “Golden Boy”. That free kick was Sneijder’s and Sneijder’s alone.

Posted from United States

By Foreverzidane | June 28th, 2008 at 1:31 pm

with all due respect I would edit your narrative of the goal by Robben on France.

3. Goal Robben
France comes back into the game. Henry scores the 2-1. France seems to celebrate the goal a wee bit when Holland kicks off. Sneijder passes onto Robben who seems to end in a cul-de-sac. Pressured by Thuram Robben fires the ball from a difficult angle beyond “a clueless goaltender caught like a deer in the headlights, who should’ve cut the angle a lot better for such an elementary shot to get, a shot that a varsity keeper would’ve saved:3-1 Match over. There, that is what I, and many other people watched!

By goose | June 28th, 2008 at 1:40 pm

@HUP; sure, but im not gonna take my kids to class so they can hear from my students how great a teacher i am…(sorry, bit of a lame methafor)
im just not ‘in’for that…leave the kids out of it is what i want..but eh; i knows there are more importent issues to discuss than that one

Posted from Netherlands

By Bob | June 28th, 2008 at 3:29 pm

Jan, I continue to be disappointed with the KNVB website. You have made several inquiries as to when that site would have a useful English version, and promises continue to be made and broken. You attempts at information and a positive response from the KNVB are much appreciated. However, I have regretfully come to the conclusion that the KNVB is not a well managed or well operated organization, and their lack of effort and broken promises is consistent with that view.

I would also like to tell you that whether or not the KNVB has an English section no longer matters. Why? Because of the excellence of your work with this blog, and the great responses you continue to receive by all of the bloggers sending in their thoughts. This is a place where, if you want to learn about Netherlands football and have those lessons in English, this is the place! There is no way that the KNVB could cover the subject as well as you do, nor provide the venue for allowing a variety of expression and opinion that results in real learning and real growth by all of us. So, thanks again, and let’s never mind any more about the KNVB.

Posted from United States

By dirk v.d.berg | June 28th, 2008 at 4:04 pm

Apparently we have a friendly against Lebanon on September 6th, in Amsterdam. I really hope our form keeps up, so we can win like 10-0 or something.

Posted from Canada

By Jan | June 28th, 2008 at 5:54 pm

ForeverZidane: well said

Goose: I’m with you on the kids thing

Bob: My company actually worked for the KNVB some years back and it’s an incredibly amateuristic outfit. The amateur football division rules, the pro-division doesn’t seem to interested with fans and communication. There’s huge politics happening and I remember them picking some sort of software-system for their website that wouldn’t work at all (this is maybe 8 years back!) but the company who pushed the software (IBM) would become a sponsor, so the IT-department was told to shut up and do as they’re told.
Very frustrating!

I do however have some connection with the press-ladies, they really seem willing, but are limited by those circumstances. So, who knows what will happen. We’ve done this without them for two years so I’m sure we’ll be around in 2010, thanks to you all!

By kmhui | June 28th, 2008 at 6:17 pm

Jan,

I like the team shot. This is exactly what I requested you for in one of the post. The highs and lows, …etc.

Best goals scored by ORANJE? There’s alot!

1. Sneijder’s 2nd against Italy, stunning buildup,the ball from Brockhurst flew across from the left wing to the right, picked up by ???, popped back to Sneijder and whala!!!

2.the 4th against France, the way Snijder turned with his back towards goal, snapped, the ball flew and dipped into the top far left corner…wow!!!!.

3. Van Persie’s against Romania, excellent knockdown control and volleyed! Absolutely no chance..

4.Robben’s 3rd against France. It reminded me of Dennis Berkamp’s goal against Brazil (qtr or semi’s WC 1994), working his way on the left edge, beating 2-3 Brazilian defenders. On that thought, what’s Dennis Berkamp doing these days? Will he be ORANJE’s coach some day?

Guys, if your memory’s still good, just replay those goals frame by frame in slow motion in your mind. It will transport you back to glory, the joy of how beautiful those will executed. It’s almost like Nike Adidas commercial!

Posted from Singapore

By kmhui | June 28th, 2008 at 6:29 pm

Pardon the misspelt.

Posted from Singapore

By Van Basten | June 28th, 2008 at 7:21 pm

@ kmhui: Dennis Bergkamp is expected to being his coaching career with Ajax. He will be part of Van Basten’s staff as soon as the new season begins. According to skyports :”Bergkamp would serve the apprenticeship as part of his professional coaching course with the KNVB.”. Van Basten is very excited to working with him.

Posted from United States

By Dr.Mansur | June 28th, 2008 at 11:24 pm

Who will be the next Dutch captain. I’ll vote for Snieder, although he played a very bad game against Russia(but who played well except Van Der Sar).
Off topic, I was reading a report from the NASA predicting that Bangladesh,Florida and Holland will be submerged into the ocean by the end of this century. Holland should win the world cup before that!! ha,ha.

Posted from Australia

By Van Basten | June 28th, 2008 at 11:32 pm

By seniority rule, if Van Nilsterooy is still part of the squad then he will be the Captain; of course, I am assuming that Gio Van is no longer part of the team.
If any continent or country is to be submerged into the ocean by the end of century it will be Australia b/c it is “The Land Down Under”. Jan, you better move to America or Holland!!!

Posted from United States

By Jan | June 29th, 2008 at 12:23 am

I have done my homework guys and bought a house on a hill! When it happens, my house will be beachfront and worth gazillions hahahahahahahaaaa (mad scientist laugh)

By JacksonVK | June 29th, 2008 at 12:55 am

On the topic of future captains I’d say Gio (if he plays) Ruud (same applies/I think this is most likely) otherwise Sneijder. Big responsibility for such a young guy but I think he seemes like a good quiet leader; by example if you will. Though perhaps the Dutch need a real asshole leader to keep their egos in check.

Posted from Australia

By kmhui | June 29th, 2008 at 1:11 am

@ Van Basten: Thanks. Hoping to see Dennis Berkamp make his mark soon.

Posted from Singapore

By Carlos | June 29th, 2008 at 2:17 am

Please dont be surprised if Raf becomes captain.
He was captain at Ajax and is captain at HSV.
As for Holland going under water, it has been below sea level for over a century. If we were still cave dwellers we would be under by now, but luckily we have the best water engineers in the world to “prop up” the land. Did you know these 2 very important facts (not necesarily in order of importance)
1. Amsterdam has more canals than Venice
2. Holland had more Real Madrid players than Spain at Euro2008

Posted from Singapore

By Jan | June 29th, 2008 at 3:16 am

And more Arsenal players than England, hahahaha…. Cool trivia though…

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