Posts Tagged holland
Euro2008 update: The Semi-Finals
One prediction I got right was Holland not winning Euro2008 and even predicting accurately how they would implode. However I thought it would be in the semis and not the quarter-final match against Russia. No one can ever discount the Hiddink factor, as with Germany, fortune seems to conspire with him (well not with Australia in the 2006 World Cup). Then there was my prediction that Spain, considering the relative average age of the squad, would not have the mental resolve to beat Italy (as is the history with these type of fixtures.) Again, Spain managed to win that match on penalties. This tells me that maybe, as widely tipped, this could be their year. Will they implode in the semis against Russia, as is typical with the nearly achievers like Holland and Portugal? Without doubt this match will be very different then their encounter in the group stages, and Hiddink will do his homework. It’s a very difficult one to call, but I think Spain will win this one, for the simple observation that unlike Holland they showed a solid defensive display against Italy and might be able to close down the attacking threat of the Russians (Holland’s defence was carved up by Russian play). Whatever they do, they will have to defend tight and keep their concentration, and maybe man mark Andrei Arshavin? Unlike the Dutch, they will have to prevent the Russians taking the initiative. Well that’s the observation of the Spain coach “We will have to play in a way which stops them playing and prevents them from counter attacking. We need to keep at them and give them less space.” We will see…
That leaves us with a potential final between Spain and Germany. I’ll leave that to a future post…
Add comment June 24, 2008
Euro 2008 update: Why Holland will not win the European championships
Holland defeated both France and Italy by emphatic score lines. It does not happen often, and I think both results flattered the Dutch. Holland rely upon deep defending with quick counter attacks, the strategy did work; but this considering that Holland took two early leads against the French and Italians. Their opponents seeing themselves behind were forced to take the game to the Dutch, only for Holland to then open them up with quick counter attacks.
Can such a style work against other teams in the knock-out stages? It depends on the opponents and the flow of the game, but it is a risky strategy to play. Against teams that are relatively younger (in defence) to both to the Italians and French it may not work, as they would more than likely have the legs to track back. Then teams like Spain and Portugal are more than able to control possession for longer periods, which means that the Dutch will defend deep in their own half for long periods of the game, if that happens then the initiative would be in the hands of the opponents, especially if the Dutch have to chase the game if they go behind. That’s why I think they will come unstuck in the later stages, and in that manner.
Just a quick note on Italy, I predicted they would triumph, as did Beckenbauer, but they have made such a slow start to the tournament. But I wouldn’t discount them at all, they are known slow starters, as they were in the 1982 world cup, which they went on to win. If they manage to get out of their group then they can grind out results, the same applies to the Germans. As for France they seem out of it, they are old, battered and lacking in spirit (something the Italians did not show at any stage against Romania)…
1 comment June 13, 2008
