Poll: Oranje’s starting line up

I can understand playing the same eleven as the last game but I think it’s a seriously bad move. Never mind Malouda (crap) – Evra will destroy Boulah if he stays at right back – no question about that, the guy is fast and skillful. I really hope Domenech keeps the faith with Abidal. I’ll be happier to see Henry up front than Benzema if I’m honest. That said, I think Johnny Heitinga or Wilfred Bouma are the perfect guy to mark him and one has to say that even despite being in a team playing very well against the Italians, Ooijer didn’t do a good job.

I wouldn’t replace any of the attacking players – they gelled well and if they play the same they can dismantle any team – let Robben and Van Persie come on to change the game if need be. Basically – same team for me, except Bouma centre half and Heitinga right back. That didn’t fit in the poll, so I just said replace Boulah, because I think that’s the most important one.

Posted from  Japan

Tinker: yes. Tinker too much: no.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he plays Robben like v. Persie last game: late sub, so that he’s not risking injury.

Boulahrouz’ performance vs. Italy convinced me that he should stay where he is (and a week ago I never would’ve imagined writing that).

Maybe switch Ooijer or De Jong. Possibly v.d.Vaart. But let’s hope we don’t get a mixed salad come tomorrow’s game.

Guys – I know a lot of you will say Boulah did great against Italy, but that’s because they didn’t have a skillful pacey winger against him. This is what happens:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_PiU0RaNBtM&feature=related
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=yvuBs6QdIaU&feature=related

He dives in and the winger gets right past him – he just can’t play there against France. No, no, no!

I can’t see any argument for replacing anyone past the defence for Oranje, because all those guys played perfectly together.

I’m actually really nervous about tonight’s match now. If Evra starts and Domenech changes the team, they’ll be much more of a threat.

Posted from  Japan

Interesting observations…
First of all why was Boula put in instead of Heitinga ? Marco said he needed pace on the right (so that argument is gone). If you put in Bouma you have 2 left legged centre backs, something that wont happen under Marco.
I prefer Bouma over Mathijsen defensively and certainly Heitinga over Boula for more than one reason. Having watched all the warm up matches I thought Ooier did very well at right back, especially coming down the wings.
All these are great arguments etc. But think Marco will reward his players with the same starting line up. Marco has luxeries,

Posted from  Singapore

Forgot to include my obligatory I-hope-Huntelaar-makes-an-appearance post.

I don’t think Boulha will have a problem with Malouda, he’s not that talented. If Ribery and him switch wings, then we’ll have a problem. I personally think that Heitinga should be in the line-up, instead of Ooijer, and even though Robben’s my favourite player, he should stay on the bench until one of our front 4 make a mistake.

Posted from  Canada

Agree with most of this. Although Evra will be picked up by Kuyt (is the game plan I guess). I don’t see why Ooijer gets the nod over Heitinga. No idea.

Rob is spot on with Boulah though.

Hunter won’t play, due to little injury. Unless we desperately need him but we won’t. Persie is the first to replace Ruud and then there is Long John.

Posted from  Australia

Glad to see that kuyt conviced everyone, even if according to me he was not as good as he was with liverpool.
govou is a wiered player we must be careful.
very athletic, fast, strong, not realy good actually, but able to go ahead anytime, very difficult to defend on him, gio may have some trouble.
malouda crap, that’s true, good news for us if he’s in the line up.
but the key will be: is sneijder able to do as well as against italians, with makélélé and toulalan ?
answer no. that’s why i really hope he still play on the left, cause sagnol is not really fit, and they talk about benching him.
about boulah i found him ok, even if i prefer heitinga.

but one thing that anyone seem not to see is we did not play well in the 2nd half against italy, our defense losing all the balls before the middle line.
3-0 is a score that make us blind about our weakness.
we must have a better construction from behind against france, otherwise french’ll take advantage of that.
( @jan, no of course domenech doesn’t make a team with tarot cards, thats just something said by french medias cause their relationships are sometimes strange. he only said he likes astrology.)

Posted from  France

my view: change one player for attack and keep boulah on while use heitinga instead of ooijer.

as Jan said, we need a goal as soon as possible. so robben and rvp is necessary. after that, kuyt will be useful. also i think marco has acknowledged his way to deal with herny after the game to Ukraine.

Posted from  China

I voted to replace Boulah and Oijer. Boulah is vulnerable against a real winger type, and Oijer is very static. I’d like to see Melchiot on the right back position, but I think he might still be injured? Can Bouma play on the right side (he did well on the left side at villa)? Heitinga might be a better choice in the middle for marking France’s forwards because he’s faster.

Posted from  Canada