This will make it six consecutive appearances for Netherlands at the European Championship finals. They won the tournament twenty years ago in Germany, made it to another four semi-finals (76, 92, 00, and 04) and lost at the quarter final stage in 1996.
How they qualified The Dutch relied on their wonderful home record in Euro qualifying that has seen them go unbeaten since losing to Luxembourg in 1963. Six wins and a draw in Group G extended the Dutch streak to 41 games without a loss over the last forty-five years.
Both losses in Group G came away from home with the set back against Belarus coming after qualification had been guaranteed. The Netherlands finished three points behind Romania (the other loss) and one ahead of Bulgaria. Robin van Persie scored four times for the Dutch.
The Coach Regarded by many as the greatest centre forward of all time Marco van Basten made sure that there was long pause between his injury enforced retirement and his return to the game as a coach.
The appointment as the national team coach after Euro 2004 was his first senior position after working with youth players at Ajax. After the tournament in Switzerland and Austria, van Basten will take over the coaching reins at Ajax and will be replaced by veteran Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk.
Key Players The conclusion of the tournament will see the Netherland’s most capped player goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar retire from the international arena. Captain of the Dutch team van der Sar is coming off of a European-Premiership double and his performances in qualifying kept the Ditch goals against to only five in twelve games.
Rafael van der Vaart is the pulse of Hamburg of the Bundesliga and if given the chance by van Basten his midfield promptings and an eye for a long range shot could prove valuable to the Netherlands.
With the likes of Robin van Persie, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink you would think goals would flow freely but a return of only fifteen goals in twelve qualifying games tells a different story.
Great Euro Memory With losses to the home nations at both the 1974 and 1978 World Cups fresh in the memory the Dutch finally won a major championship when they beat the Soviet Union 2-0 in the European Championship Final of 1988. No one who saw Marco van Basten’s goal will ever forget it – a classic.
Synopsis Many fans second favourite country in big tournaments based on the quality of the football they consistently deliver… up until the last couple of years that is. However, the Netherlands only have the 1988 European Championship to show for all their efforts hence the reason for Marco van Basten’s more pragmatic approach over the last few seasons.
The back four looks to be little more than competent while the midfield may turn out to be light weight. One of the big name forwards (that is not necessarily a reference to Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink) has to be provided with quality service and hit a hot streak of form if the Dutch hope make it out of this GROUP OF DEATH let alone reach the last four.
Coming Up in World Cup Qualifying Slotted into Group 9 alongside Scotland, Norway, Macedonia FYR, and Iceland.
Romania qualified for the finals in 1984, 1996 and 2000. They were knocked out by Hungary in a replayed quarter final in 1972.
How they qualified Romania’s only loss came against Bulgaria after qualification had been secured. Romania won Group G and finished three points better than the Netherlands and four better than Bulgaria. Adrian Mutu was their leading scorer with six goals.
The Coach Victor Piturca played most of his football for Steaua Bucharest and was part of the 1986 European Cup winning side. He was in charge of Romania during the qualifying stages for the 2000 European championships but was fired seven months before the tournament finals after a dispute over the distribution of bonus payments to players. He was recalled as the national team manager to replace Anghel Iordanescu in December 2004.
Key Players There are lots of very good players in this squad but Adrian Mutu who has resurrected his career with Fiorentina after a disastrous spell with Chelsea is the main man for Romania. Mutu often plays in tandem with pacey forward Ciprian Marica who moved to Stuttgart from Shakhtar Donetsk for big money last summer but a return of two goals from 28 appearances (13 as substitute) was poor.
Cristian Chivu made an impressive debut at Euro 2000 as a teenage left back before moving to a central defensive position. But lately Chivu has been providing defensive cover in midfield for the national team and has not looked out of place. Steaua Bucharest stopper Dorin Goian adds some steel at the back but can also pop up with goals at set pieces.
Great Euro Memory Romania failed to win a game at the finals in 1984 and 1996 and the first two games at Euro 2000 only brought a draw and a loss. Facing England in the final game of Group A play in Charleroi Romania needed a win to qualify as runners-up to Portugal while England needed only a draw to progress.
Alan Shearer opened England’s account from the penalty spot just before half time to tie the game at 1-1 after Cristian Chivu has put Romania into the lead. Michael Owen then popped up to give England an unexpected half time lead but right after the break Munteanu leveled the score.
With time running out Philip Neville fouled Moldovan in the penalty area and Ganea struck home the winner from the spot. Italy beat Romania 2-0 in the quarter final through goals from Totti and Inzaghi.
Synopsis This will be Romania’s first appearance at a major final since 2000 but this squad is a very good emerging side that must be cursing its luck after being drawn in the GROUP OF DEATH. However, Romania may be the banana skin that upsets one or even two of the other three teams. This is a side whose chances of making it out of the group should not be underestimated.
Coming Up in World Cup Qualifying Drawn in Group 7 with Austria, France, Serbia, Lithuania and Faroe Islands.
LosAngelesChelseaFan - Is your take on Peter Kenyon that Abramovich has lost the interest to create the best team in the world, or do you think they may be playing games with the market?
Bobby – I don’t think I would read too much into anything Peter Kenyon says.
Henry14 - Q1 read an interesting quote fro the mirror that Foster will be first next season at Old Trafford, your thought. l feel it the English media campaign Q2.Do you feel Becks has done enough to get a recall albeit one or two games Q3.Can you say Kanoute is for real, has he developed into one of Europe’s top strikers or it a season show like Forlan? Q 4 What do you make of Jose’s statement do you want to enjoy the game or after the game, even if he wins the quad next season, do you see him at Chelsea beyond 2010 with that style of play?
Bobby – Q1 Unless van der Sar and Kuszczak both get injured I don’t see Foster starting on a regular basis. Q2 – He should not have been dropped in the first place. It was case of McClaren trying to position himself as a new brush. If McClaren recalls him I will be surprised as it would mean a massive loss of face. Q3 – I don’t think Kanoute has done enough to be considered one of Europe’s strikers. Even then he is still a far better player than Forlan. Q4 – I don’t understand the first part of the question. How many current managers do you see still being around in three years time.
RINGO - Who are the only team to reach the champions league final, without ever being champions of their own country? And who where the first English team to play in the European Cup?
Bobby – Bayer Leverkusen and Manchester United?
Simba9 - With respect to Chelsea - A lot has been said about their lack of entertaining football, and this has been duly blamed on Mourinho. How exactly does a manager make a team play "exciting football"? Doesn't it really depend on the players and their individual strengths and skills? What is the definition of "entertaining/exciting football" and how much of that is as a direct result of the manager? And with that said-- honestly tell me why you think Mourinho "will be gone before the start of the new season.”? Who will be his ideal replacement that will deliver this "exciting football" and why? (This is a genuine question I have asked before, which has not been answered; I seriously would like to know your opinion... so please engage me.
Bobby – Exciting football comes from committing a team to attack and taking the game to the opposition rather than sitting back and looking to counter or even worse just waiting for the one chance that always comes along. It is a direct result of the manager. I think Mourinho will be gone before the start of the season because I don’t think he will regain control of who Chelsea signs. Mourinho dictated who was signed during his first two summers at Stamford Bridge but that was not the case last summer. Ideal replacement – Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, Roberto Mancini, Carlo Ancelotti, Frank Rijkaard to name five. You said ideal not possible.
rwonfootball - Q1 - Even if Real Madrid wins the title, they have to retool for next year. What do they need to do? Q2- What is the key one-on-one to watch in the UCL final? Or key tactical element?
Bobby – Q1 Real Madrid are probably further on than you might think. They have a solid core of younger players that they can build from. Capello started the change with his winter signings. Q 2 – Whether or not Kaka can run free.
davard - Rafa Benitez has taken a lot of heat for obviously focusing on the Champions League once he realized this season's Premiership title was beyond his grasp. My question is - Is it worth more to do what United did - win the Prem, get knocked out of the Champions League at the Semis - or do what Liverpool did - finish 3rd, and (not yet, but for the sake of argument) win the Champions League final?
Bobby – It will likely be close. We will have to pay until the final pay outs are announced.
Henry 14 - What do you make of Wenger's comments that arsenal will win the league, my head say we will be fourth or third, but my heart wants to say first, l just can not see us winning the league, l fancy Chelsea.
Bobby – The bookies have made Chelsea the favourites to lift next season’s Premiership. IMO there are too many things that will happen over the next three months to start picking winners and losers.
Gongatore – Q1 - What do you see Barca doing in the off season to strengthen the side? Q2 - In your eyes what will be the most significant signing in the EPL, La Liga, Serie A and Bundesliga this summer? Q3 - The hype surrounding David "####e" is already nauseating and I live in SF. Do you think he will make an impact on the pitch for the MLS? I think his signing is a good marketing strategy.
Bobby – Q1 Firing Frank Rijkaard. Q 2 – Sorry I’m not a psychic, you have to ask after the signings are made. Q3 – yes and yes.
I am a bit behind this morning. We went to see country music legend Don Williams last night and so I am going to have to watch the EPL highlights show and the FSWR on tape.
Another wild and woolly weekend. It could not have turned out better for SAF (my thoughts on Fergie the greatest ever can be read tomorrow). Meanwhile we are still waiting to hear why Terry got sent off. Watching the replays of the incident during the match there is something very untoward about it. Terry and a Spurs player (King?) get tangled in the penalty box but there is nothing unusual about that. Then when Terry gets up and starts to move away some of the Spurs players are livid. A ruckus ensues then Terry gets called over and sent off – he says nothing which given what is becoming Chelsea’s natural reaction to referee’s decisions is surprising. Terry did something (I have read elsewhere that he threw a punch but I have yet to see it) otherwise he and the other Chelsea players would surely have reacted. Maybe Terry can come clean and tell Jose.
Anyway on to some weekend articles.
Anthony Stokes is on loan from Arsenal at Falkirk and he is currently the hottest player in Scotland.
Michael Grant on the club that the then Alex Ferguson left twenty years ago. It was a move that all but brought to an end an era when the Old Firm was firmly second class citizen in Scotland.
One of the British games great characters Tommy Docherty (the original man who has had more clubs than Jack Nicklaus) has just released on new book “The Doc, Hallowed Be Thy Game.”
Some interesting observations from Stewart Robson on the ability of Jens Lehmann and Edwin van der Sar to start attacks with excellent distribution.
Steve Tongue makes some astute observations about Chelsea. I find it interesting that on a number of occasions since he took over at Stamford Bridge Mourinho has been compared to Brian Clough. It seems to me that Mourinho has more in common with Don Revie. Revie’s Leeds team of the 60’s and early 70’s, although widely admired for the football that they were capable of playing, was widely despised for the cynical win-at-all-costs approach.
…….and now that I have brought up Leeds. After losing on Saturday to Barnsley, Leeds now sit 23rd in the 24-team Championship. Six years after playing in the Champions League semi-final. Leeds and new boss Dennis Wise are facing a relegation battle to avoid what is really Division Three.
Peter Risdale may have lived the dream, but he has the left Leeds to face the nightmare.
The Miguel vs. Robben battle is a well-matched affair. I don’t think I have see a better right back than Miguel at this World Cup so far. It’s interesting how Portugal is defending Robben. It looks as if Miguel is being given free rein to nip in front of Robben when a pass is delivered with Carvalho tucking in behind in case it fails.
Gabriele Marcotti described Pauleta as possessing the mobility of Ayers Rock in an article yesterday – cruel but perhaps more than an element of truth.
The Dutch have gone with three at the back and four in midfield to match the Portuguese midfield.
What a cracking wee player Maniche is. He arrives late in the box and creates a little bit of room for himself then hit a rocket beyond EvdS.
It looks to me as if Big Phil is playing Deco on van Bronkhorst from time to time. I thought Gio was a very decent midfield player but I have never found him to be a convincing full back.
How many countries that can replace someone like Ronaldo with Simao? What a great run from van Persie about 8 minutes from half time.
Costinha is fortunate to be still on the field – others referees would have cheerfully given him a second yellow card. Re-write this piece. He’s gone this time – he was red card waiting to happen.
A fantastic save by EvdS off Pauleta just on half time. That save kept Holland in with a shot in this game. The chance came from the left side of the Dutch defense again.
With Portugal down to 10 men this game is finely balanced.
Well this one turned out to be a big disappointment. It sounds as if the IC vs. S&M would have been a better choice.
I'm not sure what we learned from this game. Both defenses were almost water-tight with both attacks being largely restricted to efforts from long-range.
I would say that Van der Saar was the busier keeper and Argentina did have the shot that came back off the post in the first half. However, the Dutch finished more strongly.
It looked like Argentina missed the intelligent running of Crespo and Saviola in attack.
The Dutch and Portugal seems to be a well matched pair while Argentina will surely have to much for Mexico.
EVDS is hurting and everytime the ball goes to him it is a potential problem. However he does well to grab a cross and sets up a quick attack which ends with Robben firing wide.
Robben flys down the left side and is body checked just outside the penalty area. Gavrancic yellow card and free kick to the Dutch but nothing comes of it. We are now into injury time.
Whistle goes and Holland starts with a win. The Dutch were clearly the better team while S&M looked like a team better equipped to grind out a scoreless tie than to chase a game after going a goal down.
S&M has now taken off their two first choice strikers - Kezman and Milosevic - but to date it has not made a difference. At some point soon S&M must push other players forward to support the front two.
Netherlands take off RVN who has been playing a slightly different role than we normally see and Kuijt is on.
Koroman strikes a wicked shot from the edge of the penalty box that Edwin van der Sar (EVDS?) gets down well and gathers at the seconmd attempt.
S&M looks like a team that has no idea how to come from a goal down. They are devoid of ideas - and short of numbers up front. If they are going to get one back it might have to be a set piece.
RVP goes ever so close with a left footed that just bends around the far post after a free kick on the right side.
Edwin van der Sar shows what an advantage it is to have a keeper who can also play a bit as he brings an ackward passback down on his chest and then he cooly clears.
It has just struck me what is "odd" about this Dutch team - neither of the de Boer twins are playing. I know they have been gone for a couple of years but they were around for so long that I became accustomed to seeing them whenever the Dutch played.
The Dutch conceed a corner and they only have one post manned. God I can't understand why teams to that.
Van Bommel off and Landzaat (AZ) on. The obvious difference between the two teams is still Robben. He is the flair player that S&M just don't have.
I am the soccer analyst for the Fox Soccer Report and appear twice a week - every Monday and Friday at 10:00 EST. I have also been a regular contributor to the Fox Soccer Channel website since the summer of 2004. Over the last twenty years I have contributed to various radio and television programs throughout North America as well writing about the game for newspapers, magazines and websites.
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