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Reasons, reasons, reasons (but no excuses…)

June 22nd, 2008 | By: Jan | 73 Comments »

It’s 14 hours after the horrible exit of Oranje. Is it time now to look at our performance objectively.

Let’s find out.

Psychological / Mental
Holland came into the tournament as an outsider. Being in the Group of Death and all, everyone would have understood if Italy, France and Romania would prove to be too difficult. Most Dutch fans did not have high hopes and only 4 months ago 50% of the respondents in some poll wanted Marco out.
When Holland won the Mother of Groups – not without champions’ luck – Oranje proceeded into the quarter finals as the EC’s favorite. Opponent Russia was the underdog this time. This chance of status will have had it’s impact on the group.

Secondly, and I don’t want to use this as an excuse, the Boulahrouz’ family tragedy will have had a negative impact on the “flow” and “momentum” of the team. For at least two days, if not longer. I guess I don’t have to elaborate on this.

Tactical
Johan Cruyff criticized Marco’s 4-2-3-1 system long before the tournament. And was ridiculed about it. His argumentation: “If Oranje plays an opponent with footballing skills (as opposed to tight counter-teams) the space between defense and offense is too big. The field will be too long for out pass and move game and the opponent will find space in between our lines to explore.”
He was dead right. Against Italy and France, we got ahead early in the game and play counter-football. Against Russia, it seemed our defense was insecure and our forwards couldn’t make themselves available. Thus, it looked like we were too slow and not working hard and all that. At the end of the day, chasing opponents and the ball is more tiring than having possession. The defense didn’t push forward and our forwards couldn’t change the tactics during the game.
Hiddink’s tactical trick was to block Oranje’s build up on the left, leaving Boulah the free man to build up on the right. Boulah is many things, but definitely not the best build-up player. Oranje couldn’t play itself out of that situation and Van Basten didn’t seem to try to correct this situation either.
Furthermore, Van Basten didn’t have a solution to take Arsjavin out of the game with a special shadow.

Coaching
I can’t say Guus did anything wrong. Marco should have reacted to the way we were played to bits. A change back to 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 would have been more appropriate. Tighter, closer together. I don’t believe his changes were crucial to our loss. Boulah was subbed because of an injury and Heitinga played a lousy game after playing extremely strong against Romania. Marco couldn’t have known. I do feel Robin van Persie should have played centrally when he came on, but there’s no proof we would have won if he had. Bringing Afellay was bit over-enthusiastic. I would like to have seen Vennegoor in this match, against the shonky Russian defenders.

Quality of individual players
With all the above being the case, if our players would have had the form of the day, then maybe maybe we could have won. But Sneijder was invisible in the first half. Van der Vaart had an off day. Kuyt was useless. De Jong and Engelaar tried. And our back four was totally lost. Van der Sar and Van Nistelrooy were the only ones showing some class, although it was the latter who clumsily lost the ball in the run up to the Russians scoring 2-1. The discipline had left the team in the second half. The players senses the game play failed and all forwards bar Van Nistelrooy tried to force the issue themselves with potshots from all angles (Van der Vaart, Sneijder, Afellay, Van Persie) or silly dribbles (Van Persie, Afellay).

Physical
It seemed the Russians were much more fit than our boys. And yes, the Russian competition has just started and all that, but come on! A professional with three great games in the pocket should actually be able to play 120 minutes like Mel Gibson in Braveheart. But they couldn’t. Why is that? I think we’re talking “blocking” here. The flow was gone. The team was insecure. The passing didn’t work. We were under pressure and the players must have sensed that this would be a dreadful night. Some players gain energy in those situations (Van Nistelrooy?), others block up. You could easily tell that our boys were desperate, what with all the silly shots from 18 meters or more. Did you notice how Sneijder failed to get any shot on goal? And notice how specialist Sneijder allowed Van Persie to take that free-kick in the second half? We were struggling and that must have caused a drainage of energy. That and the tragic disruption of our preparation, I’d say.

Order of goals (I don’t know the exact term for the Dutch word “score-verloop”)
If my aunty had balls she’d be my uncle. Or something like that. Holland never had to chase a game until yesterday. Playing counter football with 4-2-3-1 is great. Chasing a game is harder. In any system. We were lucky with our first goal against Italy, countering our way to 3-0. We endured pressure from France until we scored our 2-0. When Henry scored, another counter led to 3-1 almost immediately. Against Russia, De Jong, Van Nistelrooy and Sneijder had chances to score 1-0. But they didn’t. When Russia scored, we gave it our all – not with great football mind you – to chase the game and we did get that goal, but in the meantime, Russia could have and should have scored two or three themselves.

Referee
I don’t think the good man can be held responsible. He didn’t blow a great game, but he was better than most of our players. The yellow/red card incident was stupid though. If the ball is out of play (which it wasn’t) then still you should give a player a card if he breaks someone’s leg. Waiving the card away was ridiculous, but….I don’t think that challenge deserved a card in the first place. So, all in all, the man in black was fine.

The Weather
Only if Russia played their game in another climate-zone the weather can be held responsible.

Orange Angel
Here we go . She wasn’t at the game! It was her fault. She is Lithuanian, and her real loyalty is with Russia. She wore a Russian jersey last night and was dubbed the Russian Angel…

Conclusions:
We had a shot at the title, maybe, but we failed miserably when the going got tough. Ajax will thank the KNVB for educating their new coach. In two years our stars will have grown even more (Robben, Van Persie, Sneijder, Heitinga, Engelaar, De Zeeuw, De Jong) and we may have found new players for the spots that need one (Velthuizen, Vlaar, Marcellis, Drenthe?).

Amd, as a comsolation….we did play some magic football in the Mother of All Groups of Death.

Your views?

Tags: Basten, Cruyff, Euro 2008, Hiddink, Holland, Nistelrooy, Oranje, Sar

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 73 comments.

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By Mario Rosado (Dutch admirer) | June 22nd, 2008 at 4:47 pm

WC 2010

1- Stekelenburg
2- Kromkamp
3- Heitinga
4- Bouma/ Hofland /Mathijsen(watch out for Marcellis and van der Wiel)
5- De Cler
6- van Bommel
7- Sneijder
8- de Jong
9- Huntelaar
10- van Persie
11- Robben

Important players to consider: Drenthe, Afellay, van der Vaart, Babel, Engelaar, Emmanuelson, Schaars, De Zeeuw, Venegoor and so on.

By dave | June 22nd, 2008 at 4:51 pm

Michel-O, interesting mix– its definitely a more athletic and energetic backline overall than the one we just saw.

Posted from United States

By dirk v.d.berg | June 22nd, 2008 at 4:53 pm

Strangest thing is, that our first friendly with van Marwijk will be against……….Russia on August 20th. A bit of revenge hopefully, especially once van Bommel’s back.

@Mario Rosado
I forgot about Marcellis good call, but I don’t think van der Wiel would be ready by then.

Posted from Canada

By dave | June 22nd, 2008 at 5:01 pm

Hey! Lets not forget Ryan Donk at center back!

Posted from United States

By Michel-Olivier | June 22nd, 2008 at 5:05 pm

@ dave
the dutch need athletic and energetic backline. defense always win tournament.
@ Mario R
Mathijsen, Heitinga, Kromkamp, and Bouma are not good enough. but i do like players like Hofland, Marcellis, der Wiel, and also vlaar. They will bring pace and strength in the backline. if the dutch had these players they could of stop players like arshavin, henry, and other pacy forwards from scoring.
why do you think the dutch always win under 21 tournaments.

Posted from United States

By Mario Rosado (Dutch admirer) | June 22nd, 2008 at 5:08 pm

Jason:

Hiddink´s jobs lately are pretty easy. For a guy with his experiencie everything is without pressure. He gets into countries that have not so much potential as Brazil, Argentina, France, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Holland and England. He even rejected England because he prefers to work now without the pressure to win titles and being in Russia that hasn´t done anything lately is only positive for him because if they lose is normal but if they win he is the man. He is a great coach and my respects to what he has done but with Holland at 96 and at 98 he couldn´t win the tournaments. I wonder if he coaches Holland with this same players if he would be able to win gold.

Anywat I hope some day he returns for at least one tournament to guide Holland and let´s see what happens but I don´t that will ever happen. Now we got v Marwijk, de Boer and Cocu two inspirational leaders on and off the pitch so that will be great for the new Oranje team.

Van Basten reign had some positive notes because he introduced many young players that already know what is a World Cup and a Euro but in terms of results in the tournaments where it counts he was very far to achieve the objective of being champion. Quarterfinals in 2008 and just getting out your group to reach the round of 16´s is not good for Holland. It is true that Holland is a small nation in terms of population but in football quality we have always been among the top ten since the era of Johan Cruyff. So if van Basten thinks he did a decent job for me he achieved nothing, he had some nice games but he was not even close to reach any title and he had two chances.

Man, when will we celebrate some gold???. van Basten shut my mouth after the first round but after watching the game vs. Russia I realized how much he still has to learn. I´d say give van Marwijk a chance but if he starts badly then there is a Frank Rijkaard who is out of job…Anyone agree with me?

By richard | June 22nd, 2008 at 5:56 pm

Hiddink certainly was lucky when he coached S.Korea and they beat Spain to go to the Semifinals, as I recall. The koreans were the beneficiaries of some really terrible calls in that game.

Horray for Spain–they deserved to win. They were aggressive and yet played beautiful defense as well. They are a much more honest team than Italy, which can do nothing but send crosses in to Toni and hope he can head one in! They are cynical too–Toni is too much the actor, and the referee was terrible–did Spain no favors at all. And yet they got through and must beat the russians again. Spain has a TON of quality–front, back and middle. They are bad on set pieces because their players are all tiny(!), but they are quick, very fit and so good with the ball–none of which the Dutch were yesterday!

By bunchapooha | June 22nd, 2008 at 6:26 pm

“Thus, it looked like we were too slow and not working hard and all that.”

I only saw rapid movement when losing the ball, the pace in the attacks was non-existant, only when we lost the ball two or three people would hunt the ball down and the defence would, un-organized, move back frantically. They worked hard, but did so in a panick, it wasn’t organized, positionally outclassed by the Russians.

Oh well. On to the olympics. Let’s hope Foppe can bring back some gold, it’ll be a consolation prize though..

Posted from Netherlands

By Marc | June 22nd, 2008 at 6:32 pm

mario rosado… i disagree with u on van basten… i think he has been a great coach and particularly unlucky. i have always admired his tactics involving attackin dominating displays of football. He has gotten rid of the infighting which holland had and has rejuvenated a team into a young and hungry bunch who want to play attractive. Although it seems that the quality was lacking during the qualifiers, he has had the most attempts on goals with players just lacking the finnishing touch which they finally found entering the euro. So far he has made holland the best team results wise in europe which earned him a top seed spot as head of group at the euro. With that being said i think that the lack of luck was also in the portugal game 2 years ago where we deserved a win given the game we played and would have then marched on to face england. then who knows what might have happened with the immense talent we had. I thnk we should all hail marco van basten for his achievements. I have always beleived in him when many others thought of van gaal, and that old git of advocaat. If ever bring abck cruyff and then we start talking. people would have worshiped him if he had mad the finals this year… guys stop crying… its not his fault anymore that the fighting spirit was no longer there when facing russsia after boularhouz terrible incident. No offence meant. just thought u guys should be more considerate with him. enjoy the olympics cuz we might see some good football then. Hup Nederland!

Posted from Switzerland

By bunchapooha | June 22nd, 2008 at 6:32 pm

Mario, please explain your choices for Hofland and Kromkamp. I’m a Feyenoord supporter myself, but Hofland has dissapointed in every aspect, same with Kromkamp at PSV. I really wouldn’t want those guys in defence, it already looks shaky now, but add these two into the mix and you’ll have to buy a pacemaker.

Posted from Netherlands

By --HedonistiX | June 22nd, 2008 at 8:00 pm

Interesting that some posters posted something about “defense wins championship”. I do NOT agree with that at all. Germany and Italy are great tournament teams, not by playing defense (Italy yes, because that’s all they can do other than Luca Toni flopping every 5 mins.) …. Brazil won World Cups NOT by playing defense. We won in 1988 NOT by playing defense.

I do not understand what happened to the lads in yesterday’s match but “mental” had always been our problem, mainly playing from behind. It’s like whenever we lead by 1 goal, we’d be 10x a better team than we actually are and if we’re behind by 1 goal, we’d be 10x a worse team. With that said, yesterday’s display was worse than just this. The players did not seem to have any energy or enthusiasm to move, not unlike this year’s France squad that looks really old and tired, even before Russia scored the first goal. It’s amazing to see how much of a turnaround after only 2-3 matches. I do not buy the Boulahrouz family tragedy argument either, if anything, players should have been more motivated to play better to win for them.

I also have to disagree on your assessment about Kuyt, whom I think one of the more decent players out there yesterday. Engelaar probably was the worst, along with Heitinga, Ooijer and Mathijsen. It’s ironic when the match did not count against Romania, Heitinga played great. Also Bouma and de Cler. And it’s just sad that Robben had to get re-injured when it really counts. Should he have sat on the match against Romania? I don’t know ….. lots of things and nonsense floating inside my head now about our loss. Not only we lost, we were totally outplayed by this young Russian squad.

I also just finished watching my dvr on the Spain – Italy match and saw that the Spanish players just wanted it more, ran after the ball, excellent passes, etc. This match also negated the notion of “defense wins championship” ….. as shown by the Italians. They were nowhere to be found only some minor chances here and there. I knew they would be in trouble without their best player Andrea Pirlo and I was not sure why Camoranesi just came as a sub (the guy was amazing, first touch almost a goal, very cool in taking PK). If a team decides they’ll just defend, eventually it will get to them.

Spain had always been criticized as “not a tournament team”, not unlike the Oranje. I guess this kind of criticism will only get into the players’ head if they think like that. This year’s Spanish squad looks real solid and ready to beat Russia, to challenge Germany (yes, I think they’ll pass Turkey) in the final. Not a coincidence that the Spanish league has been one of the best in recent years. And no, they do NOT “play defense”. With Spain going to the semi, at least I have some level of interest, seeing this attacking and exciting team play. Like the Oranje with red jersey (added bonus that Torres plays for my fav. club, Liverpool).

After this week, looking ahead already to WC 2010 ……….

HUP HOLLAND!

–H

By lowiesje | June 22nd, 2008 at 9:21 pm

Van Marwijk has alot of rebuild work to do. Hopefully our youngster doing well at the Olympics and gain a lot of experience, the excitement and pressure of an important and large-scaled tournament, so he can use them for the A-team. Marcellis, Zuiverloon, among others. He should certainly skip Matthijsen. He lacks the agressive man-to-man defence play what Boulahrouz or even Marcellis has. And what’s that with Boulahrouz playing RB? He did well, this EC, I give him credit for that, but he is no RB and he had no support at all from the midfielders in Russia’s game but he had no support at all from the midfielders in Russia’s game. Wasn’t there no alternative? Heitinga certainly isn’t, the ones that could play there stayed at home… (Zuiverloon) and Melchiot came back from an injury. Bad decisions and wrong choices, picking up the guys he didn’t need. A lousy coach and I’m glad his reign is over. The first two games I was glad I saw the Oranje we all knew, attractive play, but what’s worth if all teams from the “Group of Death” are all out?

Posted from Netherlands

By Tjeerd | June 22nd, 2008 at 9:51 pm

I am not sure if this was mentioned, but the Toronto Star reported that Van Persie pushed himself over Sniejder on a free kick that sailed over the net. Wesley glared at Van Persie following the miss. I spoke with my Dutch cousin after the game and he said that Van Persie did the same thing when he was with Feyenoord.

By Kerry M. B. | June 22nd, 2008 at 11:17 pm

dutch needs to work on defense. no doubt they have good players: de jong, van persie, etc..I’m still supporting the Dutch to win the WC in 2010 and hope to be there..I also hope that Interntional football would catch on in the U.S…..Go DUTCH>>

By bobotoh | June 23rd, 2008 at 12:00 am

It’s clear that Holland needs a good holding midfielder and good central defenders. In attack, there’s no question about it. For WC 2010, in attacking, Holland will depend on Sneijder, vdv, afellay, Robben, and Babel. I think van persie should be back to striker position or supporting striker, not a winger. In defence, the current squad must be replaced.

Posted from Indonesia

By Mario Rosado (Dutch admirer) | June 23rd, 2008 at 12:00 am

Marc:

I don´t think that van Basten period didn´t bring anything good. I recognize he brought some young talent to the team but it was about time to do it anyway. After Euro 2004 many stars retired like Stam, De Boers, Reiziger, Overmars and Kluivert, Zenden and others weren´t considered. And of course new talents like van Persie, Kuyt, Heitinga, Robben, Sneijder, van der Vaart would have to fill those shoes. With all due respect to our youngsters getting to the quarterfinals is not a great result and we lost to a small nation being outplayed. Would somebody have remembered the 1988 team if in the final they would have lost to the USSR like we lost against Russia?. Of course not!

So it is time our new generation starts winning something or at least being in a semifinal or final because since Euro 2004 we have been very far because he haven´t even reached a semifinal spot. Yes, van Basten qualified the team for the World Cup and the Eurocup but that has to be mandatory for every Dutch squad. We have plenty of quality and we shall feel obligated to enter the tournament and fight with passion for the first place, be the champions. I think van Basten will be a great coach someday because in this Euro he made some nice movements in the first round and he learned of his past mistakes by listening the players and changing tactics before the tournament and that is a positive point for him. He also made peaces with Ruud and Seedorf but unfortunately Seedorf never convinced in Oranje and he rather quit the team because his pride would not let him be benched. Yes, van Basten had good things but for a team like Holland it is everything or nothing. I think that a real Holland passionate fan should demand gold now. We have waited long and although a nice game or a nice tournament makes us happy we have had that a lot in the past and we are waiting to reach another trophy and it has been 20 years now. I mean, we have the players, coaches, facilities, skills, knowledge and many other things just to be happy to reach the quarterfinals. Holland needs to win a trophy with this great generation we have now. 4 years ago they were pretty young but now that they have more experiencie the pressure grows and they have to deliver. Let´s wait with patience till 2010 if we get there and see what happens. Van Basten reign in my personal view didn´t acomplish the expectations he created. He had phases of nice football but very few and when the knockout stages started at the World Cup and European Championship he and his team couldn´t win a single game. Is that good enough???…Well, but it is not all his fault.

Why Kromkamp?. I like the boy, he attacks, he has more build up than Heitinga and Boulah and is still young. I don´t know why so many people don´t like him including van Basten. I don´t know if he is arrogant or a bad person but in terms of football he seems a good option for the right back spot, at least I don´t see a better option than him. About Hofland I haven´t seen him in a long time but I think that if van Marwijk brought from Germany to Holland is because he likes his play. I saw him play a few years ago and he seemed ok to me but now I don´t know his game status now.

By scorps | June 23rd, 2008 at 12:42 am

Mario Rosado (Dutch admirer): Man, I would love to see Frank Rijkaard back. He is a great coach so far we have now (except Hiddink but he will be my second choice after Frank). At least with Frank Rijkaard, it will be very likely that we’ll get back with the 4-3-3 formation and play real total football. Seriously, Marco was the greatest striker that we’ve ever had but I dont like his coaching style. He gets too much influenced by his former coaches such as Arigo Sacchi or Capello. With Marco, we did not play total football but rather counter-attacking style like Ac Milan at the beginning of 1990s. I would like to see we dominate the game even if we loose on the penalty and such. I have never seen we were pinned back on our own half like we were in the last quarter final game since 1988.

For the reasons why we lost:
- For over 4 years, Marco still did not know what kind of formation system that we would or should play. Remember before the tournament, we were struggling to find the right system. 4-3-3 did not work. 4-2-3-1 seemed to be too good to be true against France and Italy, but then it failed against Russia. Maybe we just got luck that we scored first against Italy and France and that formation did work really well for counter-attack. But when we gotta chase the lead, that system looks too weak in offense.
- The most obvious thing is that our mentality was not well prepared in any competitions. When we played against Italy or France, we were the underdogs. Therefore, it would be very normal if we lost so no real pressure were put on us. But then after 3 winning games, we became favourites for the title and that’s where the problem of mentality came. Our players were overconfident perhaps because they have never experienced with such a feeling like that before. The media and the fans just gave too many compliments and praise on them. Now the pressure has been put on us. They became too nervous. They were afraid of losing. But also they underestimated the Russians. They did not expect the Russians could play that well. Then they got frustrated because they could not play the way they wanted. Everything just went wrong.

Posted from United States

By russian-exile | June 23rd, 2008 at 1:01 am

I’d like to say the following

#1) Arshavin. Yes I love him, I always love play makers in any sport, because that is the type of player I am when I play. In basketball for example I like the point-guards… Gary Payton, John Stockton. Moreover Zenit is my team.. and so on. But comeon, he should not of had the man of the match. It was a team effort! And giving it to one man, especially on the basis of his talent rather than his performance, is a shame. Diving at any ball that might danger the team, Semshov, Kolodin, Anuykov, these people stopped the Dutch. This was not an easy task, and it was a very long match! We did not win 5-4, we won 1-3, so defense won the match, not Pavluechenko and his poor finishing.

The Man of the Match should of went to the 12th man, the fans. They were out-numbered and never stopped supporting the team. This gave them a boost.

Hiddink is a great coach, but the players on the pitch win or lose a match. Guss prepared the squad well, and got rid of the politics which often hamper sports, especially football in a big tournament, when led by a domestic manager. Russian football is coming back and Guss helped remind it this is the 21st century now. However in this game he played a bigger part than usual. Knowing the Dutch better than they know themselves, he knew how to stop them. But transferring your knowledge to the rest of the squad is another matter. And once more.. this isn’t Argentina.. players like Semshov and Kolodin would have to rise to the occasion. The team did so and their extraordinary performance should not be taken for granted as a Dutch “off-day.”

thats what i think/thanks for reading

Posted from United States

By lowiesje | June 23rd, 2008 at 3:06 am

@Tjeerd; the analists on Dutch TV noticed and discussed Van Persie taking that freekick. I myself was also surprised, the camera zooming in on Sneijder, the concentration on his face; for a moment I thought he would score a goal… I knew, I felt, he could do it. The analist noticed Sneijder didn’t touch any ball after that little, but important, incident. Van Persie didn’t make any friends there…
It was obvious van Persie was searching for glory, eager to prove himself; nothing wrong with it if he would have scored. But isn’t Sneijder the man who should take those freekicks? I mean, that’s the team agreement, I assume. Was it a sign of a crack in the teamspirit that came to surface?

Posted from Netherlands

By Jason | June 23rd, 2008 at 3:47 am

Rijkaard is an excellent option.

Posted from Canada

By Jason | June 23rd, 2008 at 3:51 am

@ Marc

You’re right I was being dumb. Dutch football is sacred, a foreign coach would be a joke just like England -just kidding England fans (you guys clearly needed an overhaul)

Posted from Canada

By richard | June 23rd, 2008 at 8:43 am

Van Persie is an excellent taker of free kicks, as everyone knows. Both he and Sneijdner are good, so in football terms I don’t this was a mistake at all.

Posted from United States

By kws | June 23rd, 2008 at 10:50 am

Excellent analysis and reporting.
Bravo…

Posted from Jordan