Ajax v Vitesse
AZ v Groningen
PSV v De Graafschap
VVV Venlo v Heracles
Twente v Heerenveen
Excelsior v Feyenoord
ADO v Roda JC
Utrecht v NAC
Willem II v NEC
Table-toppers De Graafschap have a tough task on their hands to retain that position after the second round of fixtures. They're away in Eindhoven against fellow first round winners PSV. It's unlikely that De Graafschap will find the PSV defence as generous as Excelsior's last week and it should be the hosts who emerge two-for-two rather than the team from Doetinchem. Heracles, however, look good to remain up at the top by backing up an opening day 3-0 win by inflicting a second loss on VVV Venlo. Feyenoord were also winners on day one and take on Excelsior this week. Anything other than a big win for Feyenoord seems highly unlikely, especially given more than half of Excelsior's squad this season are Jong Feyenoord players. NEC won last time out and travel to Tilburg to take on Willem II where an away win is the favoured outcome, but Vitesse have a stern test to remain undefeated as they travel to face Ajax.
Twente were held last week and face Heerenveen at the weekend. This is always a tough battle and there have been some tight games between the clubs in recent times. Twente shade it on paper and, as champions, should certainly fancy beating the Friesians on home soil. AZ drew last week and face another side on one point, Groningen, who came from two behind against Ajax to secure their point. Moussa Dembélé hasn't quite exited stage left yet, Birmingham failing to secure the Belgian striker, but Fulham are the latest Premier League club to show an interest. Either way, he doesn't look likely to feature for the Alkmaarders any time soon. Groningen looked sharp last week and need to make hay while they've a full-strength side out. Once injuries bite, they will struggle, so best to chalk some points up now. ADO take on Roda JC in Den Haag - a low-scoring draw is the place to put your money on this one - while in Utrecht, there's a battle of the prudent and the profligate. NAC are deducted a point having paid players late, one of a number of measures the KNVB have brought in to try to make sure clubs live within their means. Willem II came close to a deduction and some of the big boys - Feyenoord especially - are also in the mire. Not Utrecht though who, like Twente, make a major issue of the fact they carry no debt and are run on strictly commercial lines. Following his goal on opening day, Utrecht striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel made his Oranje debut in midweek as Bert van Marwijk gave his first team a rest and the 21-year old looks set for a big season.
The home of football sarcasm
Friday, 13 August 2010
Monday, 9 August 2010
How the style icons of Europe are dressing
You know us here at Euroballs. We've long been recognised in our field as purveyors of fine fashion, our field populated only by us and a few raggedy scarecrows of course. Anyway, here's our run through of the top designs adorning the torsos of Europe's footballers.
A surprise pick for our first entry, the Arles away kit. A dusty, almost pastel pink number with a broad, grey stripe down the middle doesn't sounds appealing, but they've pulled it off. Mated with grey shorts and socks of the same shade as that stripe, they blew Sochaux off the park in the style stakes in round of Ligue 1 if not on the scoreboard. Mind, when it comes to zany clobber, Arles have previous.
Lyon switched from Umbro to adidas for this season and boy oh boy have they gone to town. The home shirt has the traditional stripes at a nice jaunty angle with lion motifs down them, but it's the change strip that really catches the eye. What is the French for avant garde anyway? The third kit looks more like something straight off the back of a Tour de France rider, but is none the worse for that.
In fact, we'd go so far as to say that Lyon are going to be the most elegant side on the continent this season, but that would be to overlook the fashion capital that is the industrial north of Germany, Hamburg in fact, home of St Pauli. It's their centenary as well as the first time back in the top flight since 2001 and they've gone to town. The change kit is one thing, an elegant white number with old school collar, but it's the alternative that really catches the eye. It's reversible with an interesting copper colour on one side and an intricate design on the reverse featuring scenes from down the years. It's out there, it's ambitious, but it works. Truly a work of art.
Toulouse don't vary much from the traditional lilac and white stripes, but it's a classic and you don't tinker with it. Airness are a new company to us, but it's no doubt the very height of science with some sort of sweat-be-gone technology. Still stylish though.
Our final pick comes from the Eredivisie which isn't something you'd expect to hear. After all, it's pretty much a monotone league. Twente: red. AZ, Ajax, Feyenoord, PSV, Utrecht: red and white. However, Utrecht have gone out on a limb with an orange and black change kit. Tasty.
Supporters of these clubs can be happy they're quite the dandies. The rest of you: well it's either a change of allegiance you need or a strongly-worded e-mail to your club to tell them to buck their ideas up.
A surprise pick for our first entry, the Arles away kit. A dusty, almost pastel pink number with a broad, grey stripe down the middle doesn't sounds appealing, but they've pulled it off. Mated with grey shorts and socks of the same shade as that stripe, they blew Sochaux off the park in the style stakes in round of Ligue 1 if not on the scoreboard. Mind, when it comes to zany clobber, Arles have previous.
Lyon switched from Umbro to adidas for this season and boy oh boy have they gone to town. The home shirt has the traditional stripes at a nice jaunty angle with lion motifs down them, but it's the change strip that really catches the eye. What is the French for avant garde anyway? The third kit looks more like something straight off the back of a Tour de France rider, but is none the worse for that.
In fact, we'd go so far as to say that Lyon are going to be the most elegant side on the continent this season, but that would be to overlook the fashion capital that is the industrial north of Germany, Hamburg in fact, home of St Pauli. It's their centenary as well as the first time back in the top flight since 2001 and they've gone to town. The change kit is one thing, an elegant white number with old school collar, but it's the alternative that really catches the eye. It's reversible with an interesting copper colour on one side and an intricate design on the reverse featuring scenes from down the years. It's out there, it's ambitious, but it works. Truly a work of art.
Toulouse don't vary much from the traditional lilac and white stripes, but it's a classic and you don't tinker with it. Airness are a new company to us, but it's no doubt the very height of science with some sort of sweat-be-gone technology. Still stylish though.
Our final pick comes from the Eredivisie which isn't something you'd expect to hear. After all, it's pretty much a monotone league. Twente: red. AZ, Ajax, Feyenoord, PSV, Utrecht: red and white. However, Utrecht have gone out on a limb with an orange and black change kit. Tasty.
Supporters of these clubs can be happy they're quite the dandies. The rest of you: well it's either a change of allegiance you need or a strongly-worded e-mail to your club to tell them to buck their ideas up.
Sunday, 8 August 2010
Caen spring early surprise: Ligue 1 reviews
Auxerre 2-2 Lorient
Lens 1-2 Nancy
Lyon 0-0 Monaco
Marseille 1-2 Caen
Nice 0-0 Valenciennes
PSG 3-1 St Etienne
Sochaux 2-1 Arles
Rennes 1-1 Lille
Toulouse 2-0 Brest
Montpellier 1-0 Bordeaux
On the opening Saturday, not one of the title favourites managed a win. Auxerre, Lille and Lyon were all held to draws, but the big shock was newly promoted Caen going to the Vélodrome and turning Marseille over. The Normans played really well and didn't give Marseille any time on the ball and went ahead after winning the ball in midfield in just those circumstances. The skipper Nicolas Seube found the ball at his feet and, as the defence backed away and backed away, unleashed a low fizzer from 25 yards past Steve Mandanda and into the bottom corner. Marseille were level quarter of an hour from time thanks to a defensive mix-up, goalkeeper and defender each leaving the other to clear and Mamadou Samassa nipped in and poked the ball home, but Caen found a winner late in the piece, Youssef El Arabi left completely unmarked at the back post to nod in for an unlikely three points. Auxerre came from behind to lead before being pegged back by Lorient. Sigamary Diarra showed some neat footwork before firing home in the seventh minute to give Lorient the lead. Yann Jouffré almost made it two, but his shot came back off the post before a low, driven cross found Benoit Pedretti for the equaliser. Anthony Le Tallec put AJA ahead early in the second half, somehow finding a way to goal from the edge of the box, but Lorient got a deserved point thanks to Arnold Mvuemba's stunner which looped over Olivier Sorin in the AJA goal. Lille had to come from behind in an open game at Rennes for whom Ismael Bangoura got the opener, springing the offside trap and blasting it past Mickael Landreau. Moussa Sow went close to an equaliser in the first half, but did get it in the second, heading in at the back post. Lyon couldn't find a way past Monaco in a goalless encounter. Bordeaux lost the Sunday evening game at Montpellier who pick up where they left off last season. Just the one goal in it, right back Garry Bocaly with a tidy flick of the head to divert a free-kick just beyond the reach of Geoffrey Jourdren.
Arles took an early lead against Sochaux, but couldn't hold on for the win. In a very natty pink and grey number - it does work, honest - Franck Djadjede headed them in front after a high, hanging cross was missed by the home defence. The lead lasted just seven minutes when Edouard Butin's shot saw the keeper dive over it and allow it through and Jacques Faty got the winner with a near post header from a corner early in the second period. Brest went down to Toulouse who were ahead late in the first half thanks to Daniel Braaten's cool finish. Braaten won a late penalty which Paulo Macahdo dispatched in style, but only after TFC had lost André-Pierre Gignac to a nasty looking ankle injury. Nancy escaped with three points from Lens in a dramatic finale. Julien Feret had Nancy in front on the half hour, a great, late arrival in the box to meet a well-timed cross and crack it past the keeper for 1-0. Toifilou Maoulida levelled it twenty minutes from time, stabbing in from close range before it became the Pascal Berenguer show. The Nancy skipper started the move and followed in to power a shot home from the edge of the box to restore the lead with seven minutes to go. In the last minute of the game, Berenguer pulled down Henri Bedimo just inside the box and picked up a second yellow. The penalty wasn't great from Issam Jemaa and it was saved. Nice had the better of a goalless draw with Valenciennes while St Etienne went down heavily in the capital. Mevlut Erdinc had PSG in front inside five minutes, but Les Verts were level five minutes from half time as Dimitri Payet shaped to shoot, allowed the defence to part and then fired home. The lead lasted barely two minutes though as Stephane Sessegnon's overhead shot came off the post and the back of St Etienne keeper Jérémie Janot's arms and in for an unfortunate own goal. The points were sealed eight minutes from time by Nene as Les Verts were caught on the counter once too often.
Lens 1-2 Nancy
Lyon 0-0 Monaco
Marseille 1-2 Caen
Nice 0-0 Valenciennes
PSG 3-1 St Etienne
Sochaux 2-1 Arles
Rennes 1-1 Lille
Toulouse 2-0 Brest
Montpellier 1-0 Bordeaux
On the opening Saturday, not one of the title favourites managed a win. Auxerre, Lille and Lyon were all held to draws, but the big shock was newly promoted Caen going to the Vélodrome and turning Marseille over. The Normans played really well and didn't give Marseille any time on the ball and went ahead after winning the ball in midfield in just those circumstances. The skipper Nicolas Seube found the ball at his feet and, as the defence backed away and backed away, unleashed a low fizzer from 25 yards past Steve Mandanda and into the bottom corner. Marseille were level quarter of an hour from time thanks to a defensive mix-up, goalkeeper and defender each leaving the other to clear and Mamadou Samassa nipped in and poked the ball home, but Caen found a winner late in the piece, Youssef El Arabi left completely unmarked at the back post to nod in for an unlikely three points. Auxerre came from behind to lead before being pegged back by Lorient. Sigamary Diarra showed some neat footwork before firing home in the seventh minute to give Lorient the lead. Yann Jouffré almost made it two, but his shot came back off the post before a low, driven cross found Benoit Pedretti for the equaliser. Anthony Le Tallec put AJA ahead early in the second half, somehow finding a way to goal from the edge of the box, but Lorient got a deserved point thanks to Arnold Mvuemba's stunner which looped over Olivier Sorin in the AJA goal. Lille had to come from behind in an open game at Rennes for whom Ismael Bangoura got the opener, springing the offside trap and blasting it past Mickael Landreau. Moussa Sow went close to an equaliser in the first half, but did get it in the second, heading in at the back post. Lyon couldn't find a way past Monaco in a goalless encounter. Bordeaux lost the Sunday evening game at Montpellier who pick up where they left off last season. Just the one goal in it, right back Garry Bocaly with a tidy flick of the head to divert a free-kick just beyond the reach of Geoffrey Jourdren.
Arles took an early lead against Sochaux, but couldn't hold on for the win. In a very natty pink and grey number - it does work, honest - Franck Djadjede headed them in front after a high, hanging cross was missed by the home defence. The lead lasted just seven minutes when Edouard Butin's shot saw the keeper dive over it and allow it through and Jacques Faty got the winner with a near post header from a corner early in the second period. Brest went down to Toulouse who were ahead late in the first half thanks to Daniel Braaten's cool finish. Braaten won a late penalty which Paulo Macahdo dispatched in style, but only after TFC had lost André-Pierre Gignac to a nasty looking ankle injury. Nancy escaped with three points from Lens in a dramatic finale. Julien Feret had Nancy in front on the half hour, a great, late arrival in the box to meet a well-timed cross and crack it past the keeper for 1-0. Toifilou Maoulida levelled it twenty minutes from time, stabbing in from close range before it became the Pascal Berenguer show. The Nancy skipper started the move and followed in to power a shot home from the edge of the box to restore the lead with seven minutes to go. In the last minute of the game, Berenguer pulled down Henri Bedimo just inside the box and picked up a second yellow. The penalty wasn't great from Issam Jemaa and it was saved. Nice had the better of a goalless draw with Valenciennes while St Etienne went down heavily in the capital. Mevlut Erdinc had PSG in front inside five minutes, but Les Verts were level five minutes from half time as Dimitri Payet shaped to shoot, allowed the defence to part and then fired home. The lead lasted barely two minutes though as Stephane Sessegnon's overhead shot came off the post and the back of St Etienne keeper Jérémie Janot's arms and in for an unfortunate own goal. The points were sealed eight minutes from time by Nene as Les Verts were caught on the counter once too often.
Champions held: Eredivisie reviews
Roda JC 0-0 Twente
NEC 1-0 VVV Venlo
De Graafschap 3-0 Excelsior
Heracles 3-0 Willem II
Heerenveen 1-3 PSV
Groningen 2-2 Ajax
Feyenoord 3-1 Utrecht
Vitesse 3-1 ADO
NAC 1-1 AZ
Twente utterly dominated the opening game of the season in Kerkrade, but were unable to find a killer touch. Bryan Ruiz had a couple of opportunities in the first half, but resolute defending from Roda kept them at bay. The best chance fell to Mads Junker whose looping header came crashing back off the top side of the crossbar, but Roda were grateful to goalkeeper Premyslav Tyton for securing a point with an outstanding save from a curling Nacer Chadli effort nine minutes from time which looked set for the top corner until a strong arm from the Polish keeper pushed it away. PSV were being held goalless by Heerenveen at half-time, but Ola Toivonen got their challenge up and running six minutes after the break. He won the ball with a strong challenge midway inside his own half and set off upfield. He passed wide for Stanislav Manolev, but continued his run, arriving in the box just in time to meet Manolev's return to slam home the opener. Heerenveen were level soon after with a powerful header, but late goals wrapped it up for the Eindhoveners, Toivonen with an absolute screamer from all of 35 yards in the 82nd minute and Orlando Engelaar added gloss with a firm left foot drive from 20 yards in stoppage time.
Feyenoord won 3-1, coming from behind against Utrecht. Ricky van Wolfswinkel put the visitors ahead after a free-kick was parried into his path by Erwin Mulder, but it was rather against the run of play though Utrecht did enjoy a strong spell afterwards. Feyenoord were back into it early in the second half with a comedy own goal, Alje Schut sliding in at the back post to prod it past his own keeper. Quite a finish which turned the game. A Luigi Bruins thunderbolt made it two just after the hour and Leroy Fer wrapped it up, heading in a free-kick with quarter of an hour to go. A double on his Ajax debut from Mounir El Hamdaoui wasn't enough for the Amsterdammers to see off Groningen who came back at them. His and Ajax's first came five minutes into the second half; very much route one stuff, but with a deft finish off the outside of the boot. He's paid for all the boot, so the outside is as good as any other part and it was the same patch of leather that saw him curl a second past the hapless Luciano (archetypal South American flap-merchant) in the Groningen goal on the hour. That should have been that, but Groningen finally came to life and dominated the last 20 minutes, a brief one-man pitch invasion notwithstanding. They laid siege to the Ajax goal and a neat lay-off saw Tim Matavz blaze through a crowd scene to pull one back. The equaliser arrived four minutes from time from a corner, disputed for an obvious foul of Demy de Zeeuw in the build-up. Maarten Stekelenburg could only parry the first effort and Nicklas Pedersen was on hand to bundle it in. Erik Falkenburg gave AZ the lead in Breda, played in by a neat through ball by a NAC defender, but the home side earned a draw late on when Matthew Amoah tapped home from close range as the AZ defence went AWOL.
Vitesse were another side to come from behind as they saw off ADO to sit unusually high on the league ladder at this very early stage. Lex Immers turned in a low cross for the opener for Den Haag, but they were pegged back on the stroke of half-time as Wiljan Pluim demonstrated that good touch for a big man, rolling his marker and slotting the ball past the keeper. Two second half penalties from Lasse Nilsson sealed the win, one for handball, one for a foul. The first was allowed to stand despite some laughably obvious encroachment, but the second was pulled back for a retake for the same reason, despite the offence being no less subtle. All three kicks were confidently placed to the keeper's right. He wasn't getting anywhere near any of them. Ramon Zomer got the only goal for NEC as they beat VVV Venlo. A free-kick looked to have been dealt with, but the VVV defence was pulled this way and that before Rens van Eijden stood a cross up to the back post where Zomer powered in a header. Concerns over Excelsior's defence took just eight minutes to be realised as they allowed Rydell Poepon to head home from six yards and they were missing in action for another two De Graafschap goals in the second half. Muslu Nalbantoglu fired in from a tight-ish angle and Steve de Ridder's long range shot took a slight nick on it's way through a forest of legs. Excelsior look really poor as do Willem II, given a lesson in support and passing by Heracles. Marko Vejinovic got the first goal of the Eredivisie season just three minutes in as Heracles broke with pace and Willie Overtoom's shot was parried into the path of of the young striker. Glynor Plet made the game safe with a late brace, the first a free header at the back post, the second a delightful drive into the roof of the net after showing off some ball juggling skills and it's De Graafschap and Heracles that top the table.
NEC 1-0 VVV Venlo
De Graafschap 3-0 Excelsior
Heracles 3-0 Willem II
Heerenveen 1-3 PSV
Groningen 2-2 Ajax
Feyenoord 3-1 Utrecht
Vitesse 3-1 ADO
NAC 1-1 AZ
Twente utterly dominated the opening game of the season in Kerkrade, but were unable to find a killer touch. Bryan Ruiz had a couple of opportunities in the first half, but resolute defending from Roda kept them at bay. The best chance fell to Mads Junker whose looping header came crashing back off the top side of the crossbar, but Roda were grateful to goalkeeper Premyslav Tyton for securing a point with an outstanding save from a curling Nacer Chadli effort nine minutes from time which looked set for the top corner until a strong arm from the Polish keeper pushed it away. PSV were being held goalless by Heerenveen at half-time, but Ola Toivonen got their challenge up and running six minutes after the break. He won the ball with a strong challenge midway inside his own half and set off upfield. He passed wide for Stanislav Manolev, but continued his run, arriving in the box just in time to meet Manolev's return to slam home the opener. Heerenveen were level soon after with a powerful header, but late goals wrapped it up for the Eindhoveners, Toivonen with an absolute screamer from all of 35 yards in the 82nd minute and Orlando Engelaar added gloss with a firm left foot drive from 20 yards in stoppage time.
Feyenoord won 3-1, coming from behind against Utrecht. Ricky van Wolfswinkel put the visitors ahead after a free-kick was parried into his path by Erwin Mulder, but it was rather against the run of play though Utrecht did enjoy a strong spell afterwards. Feyenoord were back into it early in the second half with a comedy own goal, Alje Schut sliding in at the back post to prod it past his own keeper. Quite a finish which turned the game. A Luigi Bruins thunderbolt made it two just after the hour and Leroy Fer wrapped it up, heading in a free-kick with quarter of an hour to go. A double on his Ajax debut from Mounir El Hamdaoui wasn't enough for the Amsterdammers to see off Groningen who came back at them. His and Ajax's first came five minutes into the second half; very much route one stuff, but with a deft finish off the outside of the boot. He's paid for all the boot, so the outside is as good as any other part and it was the same patch of leather that saw him curl a second past the hapless Luciano (archetypal South American flap-merchant) in the Groningen goal on the hour. That should have been that, but Groningen finally came to life and dominated the last 20 minutes, a brief one-man pitch invasion notwithstanding. They laid siege to the Ajax goal and a neat lay-off saw Tim Matavz blaze through a crowd scene to pull one back. The equaliser arrived four minutes from time from a corner, disputed for an obvious foul of Demy de Zeeuw in the build-up. Maarten Stekelenburg could only parry the first effort and Nicklas Pedersen was on hand to bundle it in. Erik Falkenburg gave AZ the lead in Breda, played in by a neat through ball by a NAC defender, but the home side earned a draw late on when Matthew Amoah tapped home from close range as the AZ defence went AWOL.
Vitesse were another side to come from behind as they saw off ADO to sit unusually high on the league ladder at this very early stage. Lex Immers turned in a low cross for the opener for Den Haag, but they were pegged back on the stroke of half-time as Wiljan Pluim demonstrated that good touch for a big man, rolling his marker and slotting the ball past the keeper. Two second half penalties from Lasse Nilsson sealed the win, one for handball, one for a foul. The first was allowed to stand despite some laughably obvious encroachment, but the second was pulled back for a retake for the same reason, despite the offence being no less subtle. All three kicks were confidently placed to the keeper's right. He wasn't getting anywhere near any of them. Ramon Zomer got the only goal for NEC as they beat VVV Venlo. A free-kick looked to have been dealt with, but the VVV defence was pulled this way and that before Rens van Eijden stood a cross up to the back post where Zomer powered in a header. Concerns over Excelsior's defence took just eight minutes to be realised as they allowed Rydell Poepon to head home from six yards and they were missing in action for another two De Graafschap goals in the second half. Muslu Nalbantoglu fired in from a tight-ish angle and Steve de Ridder's long range shot took a slight nick on it's way through a forest of legs. Excelsior look really poor as do Willem II, given a lesson in support and passing by Heracles. Marko Vejinovic got the first goal of the Eredivisie season just three minutes in as Heracles broke with pace and Willie Overtoom's shot was parried into the path of of the young striker. Glynor Plet made the game safe with a late brace, the first a free header at the back post, the second a delightful drive into the roof of the net after showing off some ball juggling skills and it's De Graafschap and Heracles that top the table.
Friday, 6 August 2010
Ligue 1 round 1 previews
Nice v Valenciennes
Sochaux v Arles
Marseille v Caen
Rennes v Lille
Toulouse v Brest
Lyon v Monaco
Lens v Nancy
Auxerre v Lorient
PSG v St Etienne
Montpellier v Bordeaux
After the horror of the World Cup campaign, France returns to league action this weekend. It's like no-one really wants to admit it, so quiet has the off-season been. Clubs spent their money last year while this time around it's been a case of trimming squads and getting rid of super-annuated ageing plodders - by which we mean Marseille have got rid of Fernando Morientes.
So to week one of the new season and the champions have a gentle opener against Caen, newly promoted. It's a stunningly young squad up in Normandy, but there are a few gems there, notably young defender Thomas Heurtaux. They won't be a match for Marseille though, even if Mamadou Niang gets his wish and exits stage left. Lyon look good to push on for another championship this time around and begin against Monaco at the Gerland. The Monagasques have lost a lot of players, including the influential Nene and look like struggling to make the top half while Lyon have retained the bulk of the squad that got them so far in last season's Champions League. Midfield tyros Miralem Pjanic and Maxime Gonalons are both a year older, wiser and stronger and we fancy them to make a big difference. Auxerre also retain most of their side that did so well last time around, but they'll have to look after exciting young midfielder Kevin Gameiro if they're to see off Lorient on opening day. Last season's surprise package Montpellier have a tough start to the season against Bordeaux, now under Jean Tigana's stewardship. There's no Victor Montano for Montpellier this time - he's at Rennes - so where the goals come from is a mystery. Bordeaux still have plenty of talent, but Tigana has to get it all working for him in a way that Laurent Blanc couldn't once the announcement that he was leaving was made public. We fancy Lille to do well this season, again having retained all the players others were looking at, especially Eden Hazard. They take on Rennes this week in a tricky opener for the northern side.
Caen will be among the favourites for the drop, but not as iron-clad certainties as the other promoted sides. Arles travel to Sochaux for their opening game and while Sochaux don't look any great shakes themselves, they'll be upset losing this one. Brest have a squad thinner than a dieting supermodel and they're at Toulouse. It's been a cost-cutting exercise for TFC this summer, but they've still a core of capable players and it recent history is anything to go by, they're due a decent year.
Elsewhere, the ageing legs of PSG - albeit with added Nene and Mathieu Bodmer - take on St Etienne who look too good to go down if not anything more than that. Lens and Nancy face off in what looks like being a mid-table battle while Nice and Valenciennes both look in trouble from the off and either one taking three points here will steal an early march on fellow relegation candidates.
Sochaux v Arles
Marseille v Caen
Rennes v Lille
Toulouse v Brest
Lyon v Monaco
Lens v Nancy
Auxerre v Lorient
PSG v St Etienne
Montpellier v Bordeaux
After the horror of the World Cup campaign, France returns to league action this weekend. It's like no-one really wants to admit it, so quiet has the off-season been. Clubs spent their money last year while this time around it's been a case of trimming squads and getting rid of super-annuated ageing plodders - by which we mean Marseille have got rid of Fernando Morientes.
So to week one of the new season and the champions have a gentle opener against Caen, newly promoted. It's a stunningly young squad up in Normandy, but there are a few gems there, notably young defender Thomas Heurtaux. They won't be a match for Marseille though, even if Mamadou Niang gets his wish and exits stage left. Lyon look good to push on for another championship this time around and begin against Monaco at the Gerland. The Monagasques have lost a lot of players, including the influential Nene and look like struggling to make the top half while Lyon have retained the bulk of the squad that got them so far in last season's Champions League. Midfield tyros Miralem Pjanic and Maxime Gonalons are both a year older, wiser and stronger and we fancy them to make a big difference. Auxerre also retain most of their side that did so well last time around, but they'll have to look after exciting young midfielder Kevin Gameiro if they're to see off Lorient on opening day. Last season's surprise package Montpellier have a tough start to the season against Bordeaux, now under Jean Tigana's stewardship. There's no Victor Montano for Montpellier this time - he's at Rennes - so where the goals come from is a mystery. Bordeaux still have plenty of talent, but Tigana has to get it all working for him in a way that Laurent Blanc couldn't once the announcement that he was leaving was made public. We fancy Lille to do well this season, again having retained all the players others were looking at, especially Eden Hazard. They take on Rennes this week in a tricky opener for the northern side.
Caen will be among the favourites for the drop, but not as iron-clad certainties as the other promoted sides. Arles travel to Sochaux for their opening game and while Sochaux don't look any great shakes themselves, they'll be upset losing this one. Brest have a squad thinner than a dieting supermodel and they're at Toulouse. It's been a cost-cutting exercise for TFC this summer, but they've still a core of capable players and it recent history is anything to go by, they're due a decent year.
Elsewhere, the ageing legs of PSG - albeit with added Nene and Mathieu Bodmer - take on St Etienne who look too good to go down if not anything more than that. Lens and Nancy face off in what looks like being a mid-table battle while Nice and Valenciennes both look in trouble from the off and either one taking three points here will steal an early march on fellow relegation candidates.
Thursday, 5 August 2010
Eredivisie round 1 previews
Yay, we're back! Hope you all enjoyed the football feast through the summer and come back refreshed and ready to go again. The first of our leagues kicks off this weekend so here we go with the first look at the new Dutch season.
Roda JC v Twente
NEC v VVV Venlo
De Graafschap v Excelsior
Heracles v Willem II
Heerenveen v PSV
Groningen v Ajax
Feyenoord v Utrecht
Vitesse v ADO
NAC v AZ
Only one of the big five - as we must now consider it - begin at home and that's Feyenoord. Having got rid of a number of their big earners, they may need a year or two more to build a side capable of winning the league again, but they've at least turned the supertanker around. New signings are few and far between, so the veteran Jon Dahl Tomasson will have to score the bulk of their goals. Utrecht pose tricky opposition and could easily spring an opening day surprise here. They've remained much the same as they look to build on an encouraging season last time around. The champions begin life after Steve McClaren against Roda. Gone are the veterans Blaise N'Kufo and Kenneth Perez. Young Luuk de Jong has been handed the shirt vacated by the record goal-scorer N'Kufo while Perez's calming midfield influence will need Theo Janssen to shed the wild child image and grow up. There's no Miroslav Stoch, Azerbaijani Vaguf Javadov comes in from partner club Qarabag, but Bryan Ruiz remains. They look to be well in contention for a repeat success, but it'll be a lot harder this time around. Either way, they'll be way too good for Roda JC.
PSV are the title favourites and begin with a tricky one away at Heerenveen. The Friesians have had a massive clear-out, so may find the early going tough. New faces too in Eindhoven where Marcus Berg comes in from Hamburg and Jeremain Lens from AZ to bolster the forward line, but it's much the same squad as last time, just a year older and wiser. They look strong. Ajax are in a muddle. They need to raise cash, so offers for Luis Suarez, Gregory van der Wiel and Maarten Stekelenberg will not be refused, but would they have time to bring in anyone should they leave? Marko Pantelic is already gone, so Mounir El Hamdaoui, in from AZ, will have to pick up his slack alongside Suarez. It's the young lads who will have to step up. Toby Alderweireld was great last season, as was Siem de Jong and they'll have to be again. Groningen, their opponents this week, look set for a season of struggle. AZ are just emerging from the collapse of their parent company and have lost an entire forward line. Gertjan Verbeek is the new boss and while he's lost a fair few players, he's still got plenty to work with, unlike Robert Maaskant at NAC who doesn't have two brass farthings to rub together as the new Rat Verlegh stadium still weighs as a millstone round the club's neck.
Elsewhere, there's an early battle between the two promoted clubs. Excelsior have crammed their side with Feyenoord juniors while De Graafschap will be looking to Rydell Poepon for the goals to keep them up. They both look like having long, hard seasons. VVV Venlo too look like having a season of struggle. No longer are the likes of Keisuke Honda and Sandro Calabro there and the replacements, frankly, aren't up to much. Heracles lost Verbeek to AZ, but still look a tidy little side, well able to challenge for the final Europa League spot led by the likes of Everton and Darl Douglas. They're at Willem II this week who only avoided relegation by beating Go Ahead Eagles in the play-offs. They don't look any better than that for the new season. Vitesse against ADO also looks like a relegation battle. ADO lost several of their better players in the off-season and don't have the cash for replacements while Vitesse are really struggling and have a tiny squad. Any injuries and they're in trouble.
Finally, a plea. Last season was the worst in a number of years for crowd trouble. Can we all just calm down please?
Roda JC v Twente
NEC v VVV Venlo
De Graafschap v Excelsior
Heracles v Willem II
Heerenveen v PSV
Groningen v Ajax
Feyenoord v Utrecht
Vitesse v ADO
NAC v AZ
Only one of the big five - as we must now consider it - begin at home and that's Feyenoord. Having got rid of a number of their big earners, they may need a year or two more to build a side capable of winning the league again, but they've at least turned the supertanker around. New signings are few and far between, so the veteran Jon Dahl Tomasson will have to score the bulk of their goals. Utrecht pose tricky opposition and could easily spring an opening day surprise here. They've remained much the same as they look to build on an encouraging season last time around. The champions begin life after Steve McClaren against Roda. Gone are the veterans Blaise N'Kufo and Kenneth Perez. Young Luuk de Jong has been handed the shirt vacated by the record goal-scorer N'Kufo while Perez's calming midfield influence will need Theo Janssen to shed the wild child image and grow up. There's no Miroslav Stoch, Azerbaijani Vaguf Javadov comes in from partner club Qarabag, but Bryan Ruiz remains. They look to be well in contention for a repeat success, but it'll be a lot harder this time around. Either way, they'll be way too good for Roda JC.
PSV are the title favourites and begin with a tricky one away at Heerenveen. The Friesians have had a massive clear-out, so may find the early going tough. New faces too in Eindhoven where Marcus Berg comes in from Hamburg and Jeremain Lens from AZ to bolster the forward line, but it's much the same squad as last time, just a year older and wiser. They look strong. Ajax are in a muddle. They need to raise cash, so offers for Luis Suarez, Gregory van der Wiel and Maarten Stekelenberg will not be refused, but would they have time to bring in anyone should they leave? Marko Pantelic is already gone, so Mounir El Hamdaoui, in from AZ, will have to pick up his slack alongside Suarez. It's the young lads who will have to step up. Toby Alderweireld was great last season, as was Siem de Jong and they'll have to be again. Groningen, their opponents this week, look set for a season of struggle. AZ are just emerging from the collapse of their parent company and have lost an entire forward line. Gertjan Verbeek is the new boss and while he's lost a fair few players, he's still got plenty to work with, unlike Robert Maaskant at NAC who doesn't have two brass farthings to rub together as the new Rat Verlegh stadium still weighs as a millstone round the club's neck.
Elsewhere, there's an early battle between the two promoted clubs. Excelsior have crammed their side with Feyenoord juniors while De Graafschap will be looking to Rydell Poepon for the goals to keep them up. They both look like having long, hard seasons. VVV Venlo too look like having a season of struggle. No longer are the likes of Keisuke Honda and Sandro Calabro there and the replacements, frankly, aren't up to much. Heracles lost Verbeek to AZ, but still look a tidy little side, well able to challenge for the final Europa League spot led by the likes of Everton and Darl Douglas. They're at Willem II this week who only avoided relegation by beating Go Ahead Eagles in the play-offs. They don't look any better than that for the new season. Vitesse against ADO also looks like a relegation battle. ADO lost several of their better players in the off-season and don't have the cash for replacements while Vitesse are really struggling and have a tiny squad. Any injuries and they're in trouble.
Finally, a plea. Last season was the worst in a number of years for crowd trouble. Can we all just calm down please?
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
Not so Jol-ly
Fulham came calling for Martin Jol after Roy Hodgson departed for Liverpool. He was keen and had agreed personal terms, but Ajax weren't interested in talking turkey. Both points of view are easy to see: the lack of obvious names for a replacement is the obvious one for Ajax while the ongoing financial constraints at the Amsterdam club may hamper Jol's ambition. What does that say about Ajax and the Dutch league as a whole?
There is virtually no way that Ajax will match last season. Scoring over a hundred league goals in finishing a point behind champions Twente whilst attempting to reduce the squad and wage bill was quite an achievement. The Marco van Basten legacy was a bloated squad full of wasters. Dario Cvitanich was palmed off on Mexican club Pachuca, but takers couldn't be found for the likes of Miralem Sulejmani who cost an eye-watering €16.5m and has done pretty much nothing. Jol clearly doesn't want him at the club or he'd at least have played some games last season. Marko Pantelic has been let go despite his goals as the club couldn't/wouldn't offer him more than one year. His replacement? Serial failure Mido. Mounir El Hamdaoui has joined from AZ, but while expensive imports like Oleguer linger then sales of star players like Gregory van der Wiel (about to join Louis van Gaal's Dutch enclave in Munich) and Maarten Stekelenburg (Arsenal looking to take him on after his stellar World Cup) will have to make up the shortfall, undermining any manager's ability to get into that all-important Champions League group stage (a qualifier against PAOK begins tomorrow) and maybe challenge for the title next season.
But the same problems afflict the other runners and riders. Twente have always been a selling club. On finishing second two seasons ago, they lost Eljero Elia and Marko Arnautovic. This time, veterans Blaise N'Kufo and Kenneth Perez have gone and new boss Michel Preud'homme has all on to keep hold of Bryan Ruiz. Feyenoord are still undergoing their own financial restructuring as their big money players come to the end of their careers. Roy Makaay and Gio van Bronckhorst have gone and Jon Dahl Tomasson will soon follow. PSV did similarly over the last couple of years while AZ's financial meltdown arrived last season. There are plenty of other sides in trouble too, NAC for one, which will hamper the ambition of any side in the league. It may make it more open in the league, but not in a good way so far as Ajax are concerned.
Compared to a nice little sinecure in west London, managing any of the big five clubs in the Netherlands looks like a hassle anyone could do without.
There is virtually no way that Ajax will match last season. Scoring over a hundred league goals in finishing a point behind champions Twente whilst attempting to reduce the squad and wage bill was quite an achievement. The Marco van Basten legacy was a bloated squad full of wasters. Dario Cvitanich was palmed off on Mexican club Pachuca, but takers couldn't be found for the likes of Miralem Sulejmani who cost an eye-watering €16.5m and has done pretty much nothing. Jol clearly doesn't want him at the club or he'd at least have played some games last season. Marko Pantelic has been let go despite his goals as the club couldn't/wouldn't offer him more than one year. His replacement? Serial failure Mido. Mounir El Hamdaoui has joined from AZ, but while expensive imports like Oleguer linger then sales of star players like Gregory van der Wiel (about to join Louis van Gaal's Dutch enclave in Munich) and Maarten Stekelenburg (Arsenal looking to take him on after his stellar World Cup) will have to make up the shortfall, undermining any manager's ability to get into that all-important Champions League group stage (a qualifier against PAOK begins tomorrow) and maybe challenge for the title next season.
But the same problems afflict the other runners and riders. Twente have always been a selling club. On finishing second two seasons ago, they lost Eljero Elia and Marko Arnautovic. This time, veterans Blaise N'Kufo and Kenneth Perez have gone and new boss Michel Preud'homme has all on to keep hold of Bryan Ruiz. Feyenoord are still undergoing their own financial restructuring as their big money players come to the end of their careers. Roy Makaay and Gio van Bronckhorst have gone and Jon Dahl Tomasson will soon follow. PSV did similarly over the last couple of years while AZ's financial meltdown arrived last season. There are plenty of other sides in trouble too, NAC for one, which will hamper the ambition of any side in the league. It may make it more open in the league, but not in a good way so far as Ajax are concerned.
Compared to a nice little sinecure in west London, managing any of the big five clubs in the Netherlands looks like a hassle anyone could do without.
Sunday, 25 July 2010
France: The backlash begins
Collective responsibility is the term. That's certainly what Laurent Blanc has dealt out as he has suspended all 23 members of the mutinous French World Cup squad for the upcoming friendly with Norway. Hugo Lloris told L'Equipe "we acted as a team" and it's as a team that they are being punished. So where does Blanc turn for a squad? Robbing himself of the best 23 available to him certainly doesn't help him pick a side, but Raymond Domenech did do him a favour by not picking some sure starters for anyone less bonkers.
Karim Benzema, legal issues notwithstanding, will spearhead the attack, supported ably by Samir Nasri. If fit, a big if, Lassana Diarra will do the screening job in midfield while so far as goalkeepers go, it looks a straight choice between Sébastien Frey and Monaco's Stephane Ruffier. Then it gets tricky.
Loic Remy, currently hunted by Lyon and a clutch of Premier League clubs, and Jimmy Briand should both get the nod up front. Hatem Ben Arfa may well get the chance to shine at international level despite a club career in danger of stalling, but the other option is Lorient's highly rated Kevin Gameiro. The centre backs look set to be Laurent Koscielny, newly of Arsenal, and Michael Ciani who played with distinction under Blanc at Bordeaux. Not exactly one for the future, but 30-year old AJA right-back Cedric Hengbart had a wonderful year while Lyon's Aly Cissokho is an option on the left. Tough tackling midfielder Maxime Gonalons, Lyon's French U-21 star, should also figure.
If it's wild punts you're after, how about Charles N'Zogbia out wide or veteran striker Pierre-Alain Frau who had his best goals return in his career for Lille last season.
Leaving out 23 of your best players is always going to make things hard, but Blanc has an opportunity to show those would-be mutineers that they're not indispensable and will have to pull their heads in if they want to get back in his good books.
The Euroballs selection: Ruffier; Hengbart, Koscielny, Ciani, Cissokho; Lassana Diarra, Gonalons; Nasri, Gameiro, Briand; Benzema.
Karim Benzema, legal issues notwithstanding, will spearhead the attack, supported ably by Samir Nasri. If fit, a big if, Lassana Diarra will do the screening job in midfield while so far as goalkeepers go, it looks a straight choice between Sébastien Frey and Monaco's Stephane Ruffier. Then it gets tricky.
Loic Remy, currently hunted by Lyon and a clutch of Premier League clubs, and Jimmy Briand should both get the nod up front. Hatem Ben Arfa may well get the chance to shine at international level despite a club career in danger of stalling, but the other option is Lorient's highly rated Kevin Gameiro. The centre backs look set to be Laurent Koscielny, newly of Arsenal, and Michael Ciani who played with distinction under Blanc at Bordeaux. Not exactly one for the future, but 30-year old AJA right-back Cedric Hengbart had a wonderful year while Lyon's Aly Cissokho is an option on the left. Tough tackling midfielder Maxime Gonalons, Lyon's French U-21 star, should also figure.
If it's wild punts you're after, how about Charles N'Zogbia out wide or veteran striker Pierre-Alain Frau who had his best goals return in his career for Lille last season.
Leaving out 23 of your best players is always going to make things hard, but Blanc has an opportunity to show those would-be mutineers that they're not indispensable and will have to pull their heads in if they want to get back in his good books.
The Euroballs selection: Ruffier; Hengbart, Koscielny, Ciani, Cissokho; Lassana Diarra, Gonalons; Nasri, Gameiro, Briand; Benzema.
Monday, 12 July 2010
What the hell was that?
We knew Total Football was a thing of the past - Bert van Marwijk's been quite clear on the subject since taking the Dutch job on - but that was ridiculous.
The inevitable autobiographies will have to be consulted for a proper account of what was said in the Oranje dressing room before the World Cup final of 2010, but it's hard to think that it was anything other than "If them Spaniards try that tippy-tappy nonsense, give 'em a massive boot up the arse", otherwise known as page one of John Beck's coaching manual. Quite why van Marwijk went this way is hard to fathom. The Dutch had waltzed through qualifying, winning every game, and did likewise on their run to the final. The semi-final against Uruguay was a veritable feast of football. From Giovanni van Bronckhorst's screamer of an opener to Maxi Perera's late consolation it was wide open and perhaps therein lies the issue. Uruguay got at the Dutch back four and made it a very nervous 90 minutes.
Spain were not about to be afforded that luxury. Instead, they were to booted as hard as possible and as often as possible. Referee Howard Webb set his stall out early with a flurry of cards - yellow only - and he seemed determined to keep it at eleven-a-side. Nigel de Jong's Jackie Chan impression would surely have secured a straight dismissal in any game other than a World Cup final. Plenty of other challenges were right on the borderline as well, but it was only when Johnny Heitinga pulled down Andres Iniesta when the red card appeared. It was one of the tamer fouls of the evening, but the letter of the law demanded a yellow and it duly appeared, Heitinga's second. Webb's no Graham Poll, so two was deemed enough for a dismissal. This isn't to lambast Webb. Overall, he did a decent job, but faced with the petulant and the thuggish, perhaps a tougher stance early on might have calmed it down rather than see it escalate.
Heitinga's absence allowed Iniesta the space to fire Spain ahead in extra time and he too picked up a booking for taking his shirt off. The law is an ass sometimes and certainly didn't help Webb on this occasion. The goalscorer's t-shirt bore a tribute to the late Dani Jarque. That's obviously a bookable offence. In the end, just three of the Dutch starting XI avoided a caution.
The roots of this go back a while. The most whiny, bitchy, petulant game in living memory was in Nuremburg in the last World Cup where the Dutch took on Portugal saw 16 cautions dished out and four players were dismissed. They lost that one 1-0 too, which tells you all you need to know about what happens when they revert to such tactics. They've got the talent to win without resorting to the kind of stuff we saw at the weekend, but nobody is lamenting the fact they lost after such a cynical display.
The inevitable autobiographies will have to be consulted for a proper account of what was said in the Oranje dressing room before the World Cup final of 2010, but it's hard to think that it was anything other than "If them Spaniards try that tippy-tappy nonsense, give 'em a massive boot up the arse", otherwise known as page one of John Beck's coaching manual. Quite why van Marwijk went this way is hard to fathom. The Dutch had waltzed through qualifying, winning every game, and did likewise on their run to the final. The semi-final against Uruguay was a veritable feast of football. From Giovanni van Bronckhorst's screamer of an opener to Maxi Perera's late consolation it was wide open and perhaps therein lies the issue. Uruguay got at the Dutch back four and made it a very nervous 90 minutes.
Spain were not about to be afforded that luxury. Instead, they were to booted as hard as possible and as often as possible. Referee Howard Webb set his stall out early with a flurry of cards - yellow only - and he seemed determined to keep it at eleven-a-side. Nigel de Jong's Jackie Chan impression would surely have secured a straight dismissal in any game other than a World Cup final. Plenty of other challenges were right on the borderline as well, but it was only when Johnny Heitinga pulled down Andres Iniesta when the red card appeared. It was one of the tamer fouls of the evening, but the letter of the law demanded a yellow and it duly appeared, Heitinga's second. Webb's no Graham Poll, so two was deemed enough for a dismissal. This isn't to lambast Webb. Overall, he did a decent job, but faced with the petulant and the thuggish, perhaps a tougher stance early on might have calmed it down rather than see it escalate.
Heitinga's absence allowed Iniesta the space to fire Spain ahead in extra time and he too picked up a booking for taking his shirt off. The law is an ass sometimes and certainly didn't help Webb on this occasion. The goalscorer's t-shirt bore a tribute to the late Dani Jarque. That's obviously a bookable offence. In the end, just three of the Dutch starting XI avoided a caution.
The roots of this go back a while. The most whiny, bitchy, petulant game in living memory was in Nuremburg in the last World Cup where the Dutch took on Portugal saw 16 cautions dished out and four players were dismissed. They lost that one 1-0 too, which tells you all you need to know about what happens when they revert to such tactics. They've got the talent to win without resorting to the kind of stuff we saw at the weekend, but nobody is lamenting the fact they lost after such a cynical display.
Saturday, 3 July 2010
Van Marwijk wins battle of the pragmatists
The Netherlands v Brazil. One of the classics. Total Football v Brazilian brilliance. Even the 1974 World Cup clash between these two sides in Hannover - effectively a quarter-final coming, as it did, at the end of the second group stage - seems fresh in the memory given the scintillating football on show.
Times have changed. Bert van Marwijk would love to play Total Football, but given that he's got Ooijer, Kuyt and van Bommel to work with rather than Neeskens, Cruyff and Rep, it's going to be difficult. Likewise Brazil, though they could probably play that 1982 style were it not for Dunga and his dogged devotion to doing it his way. His way had been pretty effective, if not exactly pleasing on the eye, but anyone who saw him play can have been under no illusion that it was ever going to be anything other than this.
The two sides lined up with identical formations, the very much in vogue 4-2-3-1, and the fear was that they'd cancel each other out. Needless to say, there are special players on either side and it was clear from the off who Brazil had identified as the main Dutch danger. Arjen Robben, for it was him, got his first boot from behind inside three minutes as Dani Alves, as the cliché goes, 'let him know he was there'. It presaged a first half that was less football fiesta than Fight Club. Johnny Heitinga gave Robinho a boot up in the air, Robben was being kicked black and blue and Mark van Bommel was doing what he does best, i.e. foul everyone, wind everyone up and try to referee the game.
Some football did break out. Heitinga was caught terribly flat-footed and Gregory van der Wiel out of position as Felipe Melo's delicious through ball found Robinho who tucked it past Maarten Stekelenberg. The Dutch keeper pulled off one of the saves of the tournament to deny Kaka later in the first half, but as they trooped off for the interval, it felt very much like Brazil's to lose. Robben's frustration was obvious. He constantly had four men on him, some a little too close, as when Michel Bastos should have seen a second yellow for a particularly malicious foul. Contact doesn't have to be huge for Robben to go down wailing and this was further winding the Brazilians up. From the free-kick, Wesley Sniejder got it back off Robben and curled it goalwards where a huge communication breakdown saw Melo nick it past Julio Cesar for the leveller.
Brazil lost their shit. Melo was at fault again for the second Dutch goal, Sneijder left alone in the box to nod in from five yards before the Brazilian enforcer was sent off for stamping on Robben. Bastos had already been withdrawn by Dunga before he got himself dismissed. The Dutch should have finished it off when Klaas-Jan Huntelaar dallied too long over picking a pass in the box and the cover got back, but they closed it out with relative ease.
Dunga would have faced a stiff task to keep his job even if he'd won the competition. Losing in the quarters made his departure inevitable and it was announced within hours of the final whistle. Van Marwijk, on the other hand, has a bit more freedom. All those years of tippy-tappy football brought no reward as the nation chased the halcyon days of the mid-70s. Van Marwijk has brought organisation, solidity and unity and it's got the Netherlands a lot further. Whether he'll be loved back home for it is a matter for a day when the euphoria of beating Brazil has worn off.
Times have changed. Bert van Marwijk would love to play Total Football, but given that he's got Ooijer, Kuyt and van Bommel to work with rather than Neeskens, Cruyff and Rep, it's going to be difficult. Likewise Brazil, though they could probably play that 1982 style were it not for Dunga and his dogged devotion to doing it his way. His way had been pretty effective, if not exactly pleasing on the eye, but anyone who saw him play can have been under no illusion that it was ever going to be anything other than this.
The two sides lined up with identical formations, the very much in vogue 4-2-3-1, and the fear was that they'd cancel each other out. Needless to say, there are special players on either side and it was clear from the off who Brazil had identified as the main Dutch danger. Arjen Robben, for it was him, got his first boot from behind inside three minutes as Dani Alves, as the cliché goes, 'let him know he was there'. It presaged a first half that was less football fiesta than Fight Club. Johnny Heitinga gave Robinho a boot up in the air, Robben was being kicked black and blue and Mark van Bommel was doing what he does best, i.e. foul everyone, wind everyone up and try to referee the game.
Some football did break out. Heitinga was caught terribly flat-footed and Gregory van der Wiel out of position as Felipe Melo's delicious through ball found Robinho who tucked it past Maarten Stekelenberg. The Dutch keeper pulled off one of the saves of the tournament to deny Kaka later in the first half, but as they trooped off for the interval, it felt very much like Brazil's to lose. Robben's frustration was obvious. He constantly had four men on him, some a little too close, as when Michel Bastos should have seen a second yellow for a particularly malicious foul. Contact doesn't have to be huge for Robben to go down wailing and this was further winding the Brazilians up. From the free-kick, Wesley Sniejder got it back off Robben and curled it goalwards where a huge communication breakdown saw Melo nick it past Julio Cesar for the leveller.
Brazil lost their shit. Melo was at fault again for the second Dutch goal, Sneijder left alone in the box to nod in from five yards before the Brazilian enforcer was sent off for stamping on Robben. Bastos had already been withdrawn by Dunga before he got himself dismissed. The Dutch should have finished it off when Klaas-Jan Huntelaar dallied too long over picking a pass in the box and the cover got back, but they closed it out with relative ease.
Dunga would have faced a stiff task to keep his job even if he'd won the competition. Losing in the quarters made his departure inevitable and it was announced within hours of the final whistle. Van Marwijk, on the other hand, has a bit more freedom. All those years of tippy-tappy football brought no reward as the nation chased the halcyon days of the mid-70s. Van Marwijk has brought organisation, solidity and unity and it's got the Netherlands a lot further. Whether he'll be loved back home for it is a matter for a day when the euphoria of beating Brazil has worn off.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)