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“Holland has resilience of World Champion!”
The international media mainly praise the Dutch resilience after the win over Brazil in the quarter finals. “The response to Mathijsen’s injury and the comeback after that hopeless first half is telling for a big team. A team that can take the gold!”.
“Holland ousts Brazil after a remarkable and unpredictable comeback,” says The Guardian on their website. The Manchester based quality paper didn’t praise Sneijder – responsible for two goals – but Arjen Robben. “The ever increasing powers of the Bayern sensation were decisive for the Netherlands”.
“Robben had his impact in both goals. For the first goal, he challenged Bastos who fouled him, allowing for a free kick. The same Robben instilled fear in the Brazil defense resulting in a corner kick. Robben took the corner, delivered it on Kuyt’s head who flicked it through to Sneijder.”
Journa Richard Williams knows that Holland doesn’t play the type of football that the world is used to seeing. “Both Van Marwijk and Dunga feel that total football and samba football are outdated.”
The German Kicker saw a totally different second half. “Before the break, Brazil got a well deserved lead, but after the tea Holland exposed Brazil’s vulnerability at the back. Oranje was forced to take more risks in the second half and they got what they deserved.”
Rival tabloid Sportbild emphasizes Filipe Melo’s role: “Melo was Holland’s best player. First he scores Holland’s first goal brilliantly, and after that he stupidly steps on Robben’s leg, with seventeen camera’s exposing it from all angles. After his red card, Brazil was without a chance and the Netherlands could have and should have scored more.”
The Italian Gazzetta Dello Sport counted eight times for Holland in the first half. “Like a beaten up boxer, the Dutch were down but not out yet. Brazil forgot to hand out the knock out and the Dutch came back with a vengeance in the second half.” The pink Sports Bible went on: “Holland normally dies in beauty. Wonderful football, great combinations and brilliant players but not the will to win. This Holland has it all and combines vicious and focused football with a business-like attitude. A winning combination.”
“Holland was mentally strong, despite the last minute injury of Mathijsen. The Robinho goal may have resulted from the presence of the static Ooijer, but apart from that Oranje was very well organized at the back.”
And the French L’Equipe: “Dutch Samba! We were all hoping for this wonderful fixture with 22 artists on the pitch to be dazzling and we were not disappointed. Michel Bastos was subbed after an hour and not for nothing. Robben destroyed him and he needed many tough challenges to stop the Bayern winger. He copped a yellow and ecaped his second yellow. Dunga did the wise thing to take him off the pitch.”
Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 105 comments.
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I was so happy to see Sneijder and Van Persie hugging and talking to each other that will kill off all that press crap. This team is very united.
Bert has been magnificent so far. I was afraid he’d play Robben on the left but NO he did the right thing. Kuyt is such a great player he’s a little bit like Davids he inspires the team with his hunger. Finally Van der Wiel attacked as we all know he does!!!.
I am so sick of everyone saying we don’t know how to win a WC. We deserve a title and now we are very close our boys have to keep focused till the very very end!!!.
Good news about Robin and Joris!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8785713.stm
Posted from 
Poland
Its great to see Suarez suspended… i think that will help Holland alot but they need to focus. Im happy with the defence because I cant remember one thing Luis Fabiano did??? Kaka is finished, Melo shouldnt even played because he was a flop last season and then had the guts to say Robben faked it when it was so clear that he struck his thigh. I have lost total respect for brazil… i feel sorry for rivaldo, ronaldo and ronaldinho.
Posted from 
Australia
Hib ? You feel sorry for Rivaldo ? The guy who was hit with a ball in the shins and then faked a face massage at WC 2002 ? Sorry there is only one real gentleman of the game in Brazil – Socrates ! he apologised to all the Dutch people for Melo and Brazils poor behaviour. His ‘82 team ranks with me as No2 as the best team not to win the WC. Great football – too much Samba let them down against Italy.
Posted from 
Singapore
@ Steve
Dang, that’s funny shit.
i’ve been thinking that the reason we looked so much better in the second half yesterday was simply because we pushed up and attacked more, thereby putting more pressure on brazil who couldn’t ever relax. this is exactly the same thing that germany has been doing that has made them so effective this world cup (in my opinion they are very strangely similar to the Oranje of the last EC.). Germany when they break, break with 6 players running full tilt towards the opponent’s net, spreading the field with a couple of those runners staying wide and allowing others to cut in and exploit the holes which start to appear as the other teams defence is forced to readjust so quickly.
Posted from 
Canada
Holland 2
Uruguay 0
Germany 3
Spain 2
World Cup Final
Germany 3
Holland 1
Posted from 
United States
about the Argentina game, i think that maradonna made a few mistakes that helped germany along (eventhough they were always the better team).
maradonna waited way too long to make his substitutions, his team came out much stronger at the beginning of the 2nd half, but grew frustrated, they were created the chances but their shooting was either weak right at the keeper or in row Z. Higuain was spending more time yelling at the linesman instead of focusing on the chances he kept missing. in this instance i think bringing a good finisher who can use half chances well in the form of milito would have been the right move. they were creating chances so there really wasn’t any need to look to bring on a creative player. but maradonna waited and then it was 2-0 and too late.
and when he did make the change, he altered the formation (playing with 3 at the back) to one that was more vulnerable to quick counter attacks down the wings, which is exactly what germany was looking to do in the first place, so he really set up his team to get hammered with those extra goals at the end.
Posted from Canada
For the real Nederland supporters in this post, not the fake ones posing and/or other teams hearts that we broke, listen we’re all smiles to holding the long awaited cup over our heads. As a team we are stronger than ever, not easy coming back on Brasil despite them getting too heated too quickly, etc. As 11 + BVP + as a nation and real fuckin supporters we stood by each other, improvised a new plan and held out. Melo is a c*** as was Cavarlho was when he did that to Rooney in the last prem game to WC (I’m a passionate Chelsea supporter as well). He knows what he did and Ronaldo told him not to come back home during his vacation. I agree that it’s not about total football, samba, etc; we find and use winning tactics and at times even though it’s hard to, we won’t get mad keep our composure and smile through. Despite all the critics and other talk we haven’t and won’t implode as usual. We can suds out the real and fake shit at this point,
For the real Nederland supporters in this post, not the fake ones posing and/or other teams hearts that we broke, listen we’re all smiles to holding the long awaited cup over our heads. As a team we are stronger than ever, not easy coming back on Brasil despite them getting too heated too quickly, etc. As 11 + BVP + as a nation and real fuckin supporters we stood by each other, improvised a new plan and held out. Melo is a c*** as was Cavarlho was when he did that to Rooney in the last prem game to WC (I’m a passionate Chelsea supporter as well). He knows what he did and Ronaldo told him not to come back home during his vacation. I agree that it’s not about total football, samba, etc; we find and use winning tactics and at times even though it’s hard to, we won’t get mad keep our composure and smile through. Despite all the critics and other talk we haven’t and won’t implode as usual. We can suss out the real and fake shit at this point and from my angle, we beat the best in proper fashion, were the best to never win it and this is our year. When I have my first child, If I’na boy he will be named Wesley or Arjen, if I’m blessed with a daughter will be Chelsea!!
Bloed Oranje & Blauw!!!
I will name my dog Ooijer 
@ City Poundind.
quote:
“In the evening match, when Suarez got sent off, I was thinking – ‘please Ghana miss, and Uruguay get through the shoot-out, so Holland can play you without Suarez and Fucille!’ And it happened!”
We have been thinking the same thing!
I wanted so much to have Uruguay in the semis, bcs against Ghana it would have been tricky. They would have the moral support of all Africa, and I have some nightmares about past games with this kind of teams against Oranje.
On the other hand, Ghana is a phisycal team, I dont think these kind of teams would suit us. Or maybe I just dont like that kind of play.
Uruguay seems perfect. Now in Africa they would hate them. They have already the pressure of Suarez act against them, him missing, and we just have to make sure to do the job on the day.
Then in the final, if its allowed to talk about it… I prefer Germany.
Posted from 
Greece
@jan
You are right, Ozil does play at lot like Jari Litmanen.
Germany played wonderful today! Spain was lucky with Paraguay.
Uruguay without Luis Suarez….. even then the Dutch team must really avoid been complacent about this one. Cant wait for this game!
@finn, haven’t you received my QF lists. I am stuck at 42 still. think I had got a couple right. 
Posted from 
India
Agragami. You are correct. I made a data entry mistake on your scores. You are credited with another 8 points (50 total now). Sorry about that
Again we are not the favourites in the final four. Germany and Spain are. That’s good. Let’s continue focused match by match and i’m sure we can throw in the greatest surprise in the final. Finally i’m seeing the mental strength, luck and team unity that we missed so much in previous tournaments.
no worries, Sir Finn…you doing wonderful in keeping all engrossed and involved. cheers
Posted from India
DIRK KUYT NAMED IN TEAM OF THE QUARTERFINAL!
DIRK KUYT NAMED IN TEAM OF THE QUARTERFINAL!
Holland shows their class
Coach – great tactics – what a plan to call back Mathisen and sending Oiejr-inviting Brazil to attack-and Brazil truly acknowledged the invitation-a big risk- they gave everything on orange-but the orange managed to hold on for first half then in second half went on offensive!
Brazil lacked stamina!
That was clearly exploited in the second half-what a game.
And Robben – everyone expecting him to make the run! what he did – coach should have told him that- keep the ball-wait-invite tackles and get free kicks and frustrate BRAZIL?!!!
Great – tactics-Sniejder’s brilliance+teamwork-that is New Orange!
Posted from India
Holland was very luck… Felipe Melo was the 12 player for sure!!! Brazil’s coach helped a lot too not bringing the amazing soccer players they have currently. Although Brazil is still my favorite team, I think Germany will take this cup home…
Posted from United States
Haha no chance Uruguay, we deserve to be in the Finals it has been 32 years! I preferred Spain as opponent, the Germans will always give that little extra something against Holland. Nevertheless Spain has a brilliant team, but I really think we can win this!
Posted from 
Netherlands
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@JBarre,I don’t think the players will be thinking this way, Bert just has to show them a video of 1992 and they will focus on Uruguay.