World

Europe

Netherlands

Van Basten: we make too many mistakes!

June 15th, 2008 | By: Jan | 13 Comments »

What? Did Marco say this? Or is it a typo, maybe? Was it actually Jurgen Low?

No, at last Sunday’s press conference, a seemingly grumpy Marco van Basten said: “I am very happy and proud with our performance and results, but I see too many structural mistakes and I won’t rest until those are ironed out. I can see many points of improvement.”

The international press reacted flabbergasted!

Which mistakes are you referring to, Marco? “I won’t go into detail. Don’t want our next opponents to get too smart. But the players know exactly what I mean, and so do most people who look with a critical eye to our play. I also don’t want the media to put more emphasis on it, but as a team, we still have some work cut out for us.”

Aren’t you being too harsh on your team? “No, I’m not. I am not punishing them or anything. We enjoy our wins and all, and everyone has done their utmost. Again, I am really happy and proud but we want to remain sharp and we want to improve even more.”

Marco’s Romanian counterpart saiid even less on the press conference. He kept all options open and said: “We want to do the best we can.”

Van Basten responded to questions on the line up for the Romania game. Will he rest players? “That is an option. There are some reasons to do this. Someone can be tired, has a yellow card or maybe received a knock on the legs. Maybe one of our players is working really hard at training and we want to give him a chance to go out there.”

It seems De Jong and Ooijer will be rested. Arjen Robben however, although he is just back from injury wouldn’t want to be rested. “Arjen is fit and he wants to play.”

Van Basten didn’t want to call this game “less important”. “Absolutely not. We may be qualified, but this game is one in a series. We treat every game as a finals. We may not play the same players as we did against Italy and France, but that doesn’t mean the game doesn’t count. All our 23 players are capable of playing this type of football and they are all hungry.”

Russia team manager Guus Hiddink couldn’t escape questions on his former team. “Holland playes truly beautiful football. But, playing wonderful is one thing, unfortunately it isn’t enough. You can masturbate all you want over your own fancy play, but the trick is to use it as weapon to win matches. And that’s exactly what Holland is doing now. They play the most effective football and the most beautiful football. For me, at the moment, they are the best Europe has to offer.”

Hiddink’s Russia is still on track to qualify and then meet Oranje in the quarter finals. “I watched them play on tv. It looks very fresh and really wonderful. A couple of people have succeeded in bundeling and gelling the potential of some amazing talents. All those big names and huge players finally work together as a unit. No one is looking for the star-role and as a result they’re all stars. Marco van Basten’s biggest feat is exactly that.”

He picked a couple of individual players to compliment. “Van der Sar has never been better. Andre Ooijer is extremely important and look at Wesley Sneijder. At Ajax, he sometimes was a bit sneaky and snotty, now – after one year in Madrid the boy became a man.”

Is Oranje favorite for the end title? “Why not? Some people did some great work with this group. Tactics are good, skills of the players are great. Mentally, they seem strong. Holland is being praised from all over the world. People love to see football played like this. I just have to say it again: this Holland really impressed me big time.”

Tags: Euro 2008, Hiddink, Low, Ooijer, Oranje, Persie, Robben, Sneijder, Van Basten

Netherlands World Cup RSS Feed

del.icio.us:Van Basten: we make too many mistakes!

digg:Van Basten: we make too many mistakes!

newsvine:Van Basten: we make too many mistakes!

reddit:Van Basten: we make too many mistakes!

fark:Van Basten: we make too many mistakes!

Y!:Van Basten: we make too many mistakes!

stumbleupon:Van Basten: we make too many mistakes!

Comments

By julien | June 15th, 2008 at 10:03 pm

Well your defense could use a little work. “You can masturbate all you want over your own fancy play, but the trick is to use it as weapon to win matches” (Guus Hiddink). Wow Guus!

Posted from United States

By --HedonistiX | June 15th, 2008 at 10:47 pm

Jong Oranje should watch the tape of Czechs Republic vs. Turkey very closely. That was a sick match! Hat tip for the heart of the Turkish players, they never quit and deserve to move on. We should really avoid the meltdown like the Czechs today, hurt so much especially after leading 2 goals up.

GO ORANJE!

–H

By Prabal Rakshit | June 16th, 2008 at 12:39 am

Hedonistix…well said. Could not help reminiscing the fact that we lost to Czech republic in a similar way in Euro 2004.

By Rob | June 16th, 2008 at 5:46 am

Well, thank God Marco’s seeing it, because it’s seemingly eluded most Dutch fans. Clearly Marco understands that had luck and finishing been on the opposition side, the scoreline could have been reversed in both matches. He should be seriously pissed with his defence – who regularly made schoolboy errors – not closing down, letting their man go free – as unbelievably good as some attacking has been, some aspects of the defence have been unbelievably bad. Both centre-backs were seriously at fault for the Henry goals, as well as the left flanks. In both games Henry and Toni have been allowed clean through by a shoddy offside trap. I want a team that closes men down in the final third next match – I’m sick to death of seeing the Oranje midfielders and defenders invite world class opposition to thump shot after shot at Edwin.

Posted from Japan

By lowiesje | June 16th, 2008 at 5:52 am

I think van Basten is just realistic here. Perfect matches don’t exist and it is good that he wants his players and team sharp as a razorblade. It would be awful if the squad would walk-in-the-clouds and drive away in arrogance. Keep focused, lads!

Posted from Netherlands

By Dutch | June 16th, 2008 at 7:11 am

Well, some mistakes were rather easy to identify IMO. Like that CK after RvN almost headed one in over the goalie. CK was stopped, but they got back possession from the right. At that point there were 4 dutch guys in the box, there was also someone left of Van Persie free but Van Persie decides to run in from that impossible angle and easily lose the ball. That was a huge opportunity wasted.

Robben made 2 mistakes as well, one where he got the ball easily stolen from midfield and gave France a chance to counter fast. The other when he made a break for it and Bouma was completely free on the left while Robben had 2 guys right in front of him and he still decides to take a shot at it (and miss). In fact, Robben’s first goal was also where he ran himself into a deadlock and miraculous made that shot in.

It’s easy to forget those kind of mistakes when they’ve made the goal, but statistically, we had a higher chance of goals if they simply passed the ball to people who where free or closer to that goal. I was really annoyed when Van Persie decided to go in by himself with 4 dutch guys in front of the goal.

By Juan | June 16th, 2008 at 8:17 am

“You can masturbate all you want over your own fancy play, but the trick is to use it as weapon to win matches. ”

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

By footbal girl | June 16th, 2008 at 10:53 am

Marco, add this mistake too, beat the romanians that will be a terrible mistake. I have a bad feeling about this.

Posted from Netherlands

By Marc | June 16th, 2008 at 11:09 am

i always said we should be warruy of those wins against italy and france… despite our huge offensive display we were vulnerable in the defence and the buildup from the midfield in the second match vs france. The french ressed heavily on engelaar and de jong and thus our goals came from the wing or a pass back from the attack. Despite being amazed and satisfied with the result i must agree with van basten and i am gla d that he has found the mistakes. Hope they improve even mores so that they can finally clinch the euro 2008. but 1st the quarte finals vs either sweden or russia… both teams capable to surprise….

Posted from Switzerland

By goose | June 16th, 2008 at 12:24 pm

@Rob;nah,we just needed some time to party, were back to reality now and we all have seen that we have had ‘the Gods’with us..

ive seen the replay of the france match for the full 90 minutes (thanks german tv!) and the frensh had 5 or 6 good shots on target/changes, it just all went well for us

but dont forget that we have played 2 amazing games! whatever happens; at least we have these 2 matches

vBasten just tries to keep the team focussed, and rightly so

but eh; as long as we have vdSar, as long as we have our amazing attack, as long as we make at least 1 more goal than the opponant..WELL WIN!!!

Posted from Netherlands

By frenchnetherlandsfan | June 16th, 2008 at 7:51 pm

damn .. i agree with rob
and to answer u goose, i think we hadn’t play 2 amazing games, but 2 amazing first half (or thrity minutes), then looked the world cup finalists beeing holding the ball.
lucky to see them far of their peek perf and then counter them well.
i didn’t see holland like 98, able to defend with two lonely guy.
i see six guys unable to defend surely

Posted from France

By lowiesje | June 16th, 2008 at 9:01 pm

It is obvious that we don’t have top-notch defenders like the Italians or the French, but they had 3 and 4 goals against them… They were completely disorganised with most of the Dutch goals… In perspective our defenders doing well…

Posted from Netherlands

By dawgy | June 17th, 2008 at 5:08 am

Well the boys have displayed breath-taking talent, defeating two 2006 world cup finalists in a week is splendid. Keep it up guys. However with the cracks i have noticed in the team, i can say it won`t be wise letting one of Italy or France because payback is the hardest blow…Be easy on Romania, when it comes to knockout stage, do it all like its a finale.
Big ups to Marco, he is not only tactical, he is the best, the substitution, the starting 11 and discipline. no one can deny that the Dutch are on top.

Comments are closed