Comments on: Sneijder leads, the team hunts…

By: ferenc

ferenc — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 14:46:58 +0000

but sacchi was one of marco’s masters:-) (johan,rinus,capello – he had very good teachers)

By: Jan

Jan — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 14:33:22 +0000

@Caleb, you’re right. Thanks for pointing that out Peter. I saw footage from AC Milan taken from above the pitch and it was awesome how it worked, but…Sacchi had the players every day to work with and perfect it. Van Basten doesn’t have that luxury.

By: Peter vdL

Peter vdL — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 14:10:32 +0000

Accordian in Dutch is Harmonika =) Same in German… Danish…

By: Caleb

Caleb — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 13:57:31 +0000

Jan – do you mean harmonica or do you mean accordian? Sounds more like an accordian

By: Miguel Rosado

Miguel Rosado — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 04:53:42 +0000

I really liked what Edwin said about adopting the “do or die” mentality and I totally agree with him. Italy is known for doing that, they wait and wait but when they have 1 opportunity they take it so Holland has to adopt this mentality right away!!!.

By: Jan

Jan — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 21:55:07 +0000

Great points, all. I think Holland plays more counter-attack than we realize. The successful domination play was seen in 74 and 98 but in 1988 we also played more counter attacking football. It’s been said by Sneijder and others that “we” don’t want to play counter attack as a standard game play, but that in turn around situations we’re more likely to find space and therefore have more chances to outplay the opponent. Which makes sense, coz they are out of position already (defensively speaking). As I said before: AC Milan played this game in the days of Gullit, Rijkaard and Van Basten. In ball possession they played 3-3-4, if they lost possession, it was 5-4-1 with Van Basten as only striker. Even Gullit fell back to support midfield. The harmonica they called it. When the opponent built up on the left, the Milan team would “tilt” their positions and press to that side, making the playing field smaller. When they gained the ball back, they would spread out like a harmonica, making the opponent dizzy…

By: Rob

Rob — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:28:37 +0000

I agree – most teams seem to be using the counter attack effectively nowadays. I think the key is to try to dominate possession and when that isn’t working, be ready to counter. Oranje can do this as well as any team – there’s great passers everywhere, and in Robben a guy who can pick the ball up and run from the halfway line, as he did in the World Cup. Van Persie would undoubtedly add to the counter attacking potential too.

The funny thing is that when Oranje aren’t counter attacking, we find it very difficult to break through the opponent. As soon as they come onto us, we can pick them off. Maybe our perceived “weak defence” could work to our advantage and make teams commit more than they should?

By: Caleb

Caleb — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:44:19 +0000

The article has a good point, but I don’t think we should turn our game into a counter attacking game. We can still play our creative, dominating play, but look for the quick counter when the other team turns it over.

Stefan – Playing counter attacking football doesn’t necessarily need a good defense, just a team that is able to defend well as a team. We often recover the ball with our midfielders and then we are set for a good counter. But I agree, with our defense it’s still dangerous.

By: richard

richard — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:37:53 +0000

Thanks for a very interesting article. It DOES seem that counter-attacking in transition is the ideal way to score these days! I see teams control the ball, I watch buildups with fascination–always wondering how the team with the ball is going to beat a defense with all its men back. And guess what? They almost never do! Buildups and ball control are part of football, but the game reminds me of ice hockey so much–lots of offensive talent but few scores unless one individual makes a magnificent play. So the whole point of this article makes great sense to me.

By: sphinx

sphinx — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 10:14:33 +0000

counter attack..it’s the only game delvering effectiveness nowadays.
So pleased to hear the fact what we badly need to accept now.
I watched two friendly games our good friends Portugals and Swisses humbled by italy and germany. Our friends opt an agresssive pressing game against well experienced opponents and have the results desreved.
The gib guns just stay back wait for their mistake and take the opportunity effectively.
C.ronaldo just running like a hopeless kid..what a pity.
all we have to focus is our efficieny on scoring. it worried me alot, we need 10 chances to score once!
hope Basten wouldn’t be stupid like Scholary to paly a pressing game with Italy.