Holland V France

Best of luck to both teams in the Wa_nkd orf tonight.

D
[EDIT] Pesky automod.

4-1 baby! 😀

haha oh wow,

'group of death'? 😛

Originally posted by schakuhr
haha oh wow,

'group of death'? 😛

Holland (and Portugal) is my favorite after Turkey of course. 🙂

WHOO HOO!
Gaat je goed Holland!

My boys are doing awesomey well.

If Italy and France draw (quite likely in this all or nothing match), Romania can still progress with a loss of no more than two goals, right?

Originally posted by Aiko
If Italy and France draw (quite likely in this all or nothing match), Romania can still progress with a loss of no more than two goals, right?

Feeling mighty confident, aren't we?

Fortune favors the bold

Marco Van Basten, currently the coach of Holland's national soccer team, was a magical footballer and perhaps the best striker of his generation. Raymond Dommench, currently the coach of French national soccer team, was a cynical (and many would say dirty) defensive- minded midfielder. Today, the two faced each other in a riveting Euro 2008 match. The Dutch, coming off of a shocking 3-0 victory over defending world champions Italy, were looking for a win that would put them into the quarterfinals after only two games. France, coming off of a disappointing 0-0 draw to Romania, was looking to put itself in contention to advance in the next game.

Both teams started out with similar formations. In particular, both had two defensive midfielders: for France, Makelele and Toulalan; for Holland, Engelaar and De Jong.

Holland jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, which it held through the first half. Thus, to the extent that either team might remove a defensive midfielder in the second half, you would have thought it would be France, the trailing team.

However, it was Van Basten who opted to add attacking flair for the second half. He did so, moreover, in the form of Arjen Robben, the fabulous winger, who came on for Engelaar. Dommench stayed with Makelele and Toulalan.

The results were quite dramatic. Robben promptly set up a second goal for Robbie Van Persie (another attack oriented sub). Then, less than a minute after France had pulled back a goal, Robben made it 3-1 with a stunning strike. At the final whistle, it was 4-1 to Holland. And Makelele and Toulalan were still trudging around for the French.

The title of this post notwithstanding, in soccer the Dommench's seem to get the better of the Van Basten's more often than not. That's why we fans get so excited when it works out as it did today.

Originally posted by Palynka
Feeling mighty confident, aren't we?

See you in the final😉

Originally posted by Sake
See you in the final😉

We have to get there first, but what a battle that would be!

Originally posted by Scriabin
The title of this post notwithstanding, in soccer the Dommench's seem to get the better of the Van Basten's more often than not. That's why we fans get so excited when it works out as it did today.

Manchester United beating Chelsea in the Premiership and Champions League puts paid to that theory.

D

Originally posted by Scriabin
Fortune favors the bold

Marco Van Basten, currently the coach of Holland's national soccer team, was a magical footballer and perhaps the best striker of his generation. Raymond Dommench, currently the coach of French national soccer team, was a cynical (and many would say dirty) defensive- minded midfielder. Today, the two faced each other in a riveting ...[text shortened]... 's more often than not. That's why we fans get so excited when it works out as it did today.

Remarkable.

Someone posted exactly the same text at http://www.powerlineblog.com/print.html

Originally posted by Scriabin
Fortune favors the bold

Marco Van Basten, currently the coach of Holland's national soccer team, was a magical footballer and perhaps the best striker of his generation. Raymond Dommench, currently the coach of French national soccer team, was a cynical (and many would say dirty) defensive- minded midfielder. Today, the two faced each other in a riveting 's more often than not. That's why we fans get so excited when it works out as it did today.

Yes, excellent post, but you haven't won anything yet.

Italy played better against Romania than they did against the USA in the WC 2006, same stage of the tournament, slightly different circumstances but on the pitch, same objective.

If Italy get through the group, touch and go, it will take a very good side to stop us.

OK, that could be Holland, and if it is they'll deserve it, but nobody should be resting on their laurels yet.

oops, you found me

Originally posted by Aiko
If Italy and France draw (quite likely in this all or nothing match), Romania can still progress with a loss of no more than two goals, right?

As I understand it, if teams have the same number of points, the decisive factor is on who did better in the head-to-head, if that was a draw, I think it comes down to goal difference then?

Anyone confirm or deny?