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Van Marwijk: it begins now!
Comments(84)
Oranje will play today in a stadium where the average CL-participant doesn’t have to play anymore. The City Stadium of Skopje has a meterslong hedge next to the dug outs and one open side. With two cranes, to build a new stands. On the otherside, on the stands that resemble the old stands of Sparta Rotterdam, concrete rot is living happily ever after.
Four years ago, Oranje stumbled and tripped in this venue. The fans brought their megaphones and cheered the home team on and used it to verbally abuse the dark-skinned Oranje players.
Edgar Davids, Nigel de Jong and right winger Romeo Castelen were the target of all sorts of jungle sounds. The Dutch Federation learned that the FIFA scout had heard it and made a report of this disgusting affair.
“I’ve heard what they can do here,” says Huntelaar, the striker of tonight. “I expect a team full of little bull-terriers, fighting for every yard. We will have to fight back. Simple. If we do, our surplus of skill will have to tip the scales in our favour.”
Van Bommel and De Jong were both present, four years back. This was Van Bommel’s last match under Van Basten. He was subbed during half time and Landzaat was brought in to play Finland four days later.
One of the two goals was scored by Dirk Kuyt. “I remember the match well. It was my first international goal. The circumstances and the opponent aren’t really motivating, so you’ll have to find the inspiration and sharpness in yourself.”
Bert van Marwijk was pretty satisfied with the way Oranje trained, yesterday. “We worked very hard. If we play like we trained today, we’ll win.”
Normally, Van Marwijk will play the same players as he did against Australia, with Arjen Robben for Ryan Babel.
Van Marwijk says he can feel the importance of the game. “We played two friendlies and finally we can really start. If you do well here, you’ll be in the driving seat at day 1. We’ve come to win.”
This will have to happen on a mediocre pitch, with a counter-attacking opponent. “That’s how they played against Scotland. The defend thoroughly and when they get the ball, they counter with the two full backs, looking for danger man Pandev. That’s a good and dangerous player. I wasn’t surprised that they beat the Scots.”
Van Marwijk: “I’m glad we don’t have to play in the afternoon, like Scotland had to. In the evening, the circumstances weather-wise are perfect. That can never be an excuse.”
Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 84 comments.
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Holland looks to be regaining some control. Free kick for them 40 yards out, Afellay on for Robben.
Posted from 
Canada
Gudjohnson scores for Iceland on a penalty after Steve McManus gets sent off for a handball. Good decision. 2-1 Scotland, and Scotland with 10 men for the last 15 mins…
Heitinga hit hard in our box and on the ground waiting for the physio.
Corner for Macedonia.
Posted from Canada
Steks fouled and the Macedonia player gets a yellow.
Posted from Canada
whoa! howler from stek. good thing he saved it.
Looks like he was trying to be a Maradona 
Posted from Canada
Afellay turns his defender inside out but the play breaks down with Van Bommels ball hit too hard.
Posted from Canada
Robben – no howler, he was fouled by Macedonia’s hand of God 
Posted from Canada
Great pass by Huntelaar to Vaart in the box but a tame shot in the end.
Posted from Canada
England Croatia 3-0. 2 x Wallcott 1 x Rooney. Croatia with ten due to horrible elbow on J Cole who lost a litre of blood on the pitch…
England 3-0 up v Croatia
Posted from 
Netherlands
Huntelaar almost flicks the ball past Macedonia’s keeper… almost!
Posted from Canada
pffffffff .. important points, pretty decent 2nd half
thanks for the updates Caleb
Posted from Netherlands
Almost another goal as Macedonia is pushing forward, but no luck.
Final whistle blows, 2-1 for Holland.
Posted from Canada
Game over. Three points in the bag. Beauty prizes will be handed out at the WC 2010. Let’s make sure we get there first.
Iceland 1-2 Scotland. Final whistle
Pretty good game overall in my opinion. Could have scored a few more in the last quarter of the game, but Macedonia looked dangerous at times as well. Three points in the bag, like Jan said.
Posted from Canada
Table group 9 as of right now
Holland 1 3 2-1
Macedonia 2 3 2-2
Scotland 2 3 2-2
Norway 1 1 2-2
Iceland 2 1 2-3
good result, the game was ok,especially for the beginning. i watched it on the net,the quality was horrible…
Posted from 
Hungary
Heitinga’s becoming a real goal scorer. I knew van der Vaart would be the one to score too, because I figured he’d be the only one with room in Macedonia’s 6 man midfield.
Didn’t see the game, but did van der Vaart score with a chip, because he tends to try that a lot. Even when the keepers on the line.
Posted from Canada
i’m disappointed with the result and performance. we played like S**t today.
Posted from 
United States
MO – did you watch the game?? Definitely not sh*t today. I thought it was pretty good, and I can understand that some people are always less optimistic than me… but seriously, I don’t understand how you can call it sh*t. What are you expecting against a team like Macedonia??
Dirk – Not a chip, a regular shot into the top corner.
Posted from Canada
@ Caleb
i saw it on FSC(fox soccer channel). the match was boring, the defense is out of pace. wee need sneijder.
Posted from United States
Who started to train with the ball again…
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Macedonia putting on a lot of pressure..
Posted from
Canada