Official The Netherlands Thread ; Best team never to have won the WC.

[georginho_juventusygr]

The key to win against Japan is scoring one goal as soon as possible.

Throughout their matches in the World Cups, Japan are a resilient team. They fight until they can't breath again. But when you score one, it will be easier in the rest of the game to score. It's not that their confidence is shattered after conceding, but somehow, their organization becomes messy.

[georginho_juventusygr]

Saying that, if you score at the 5th minute, it won't be a surprise if you win 8-0.

[el sid]

Would go with what Micado posted, but with Robben on the right and Elia on the left

[Micado]

Would go with what Micado posted, but with Robben on the right and Elia on the left

That is actually what I wanted to post as Robben played fab on the right side for Bayern, but somehow I screwed that..

[Lisandro Lopez]

Glad you guys won.

[DJ]

Elija sure was dangerous today. Sorry vdV, but I think Elija pips it at the moment. Yet, I don't think Bert will veer from the plan so quickly.

[Micado]

Elija sure was dangerous today. Sorry vdV, but I think Elija pips it at the moment. Yet, I don't think Bert will veer from the plan so quickly.

He might do it in the game against Cameroon (especially if we by that game have qualified for the KO stages), but can't see him change the team for the game against Nippon..

[Micado]

Michel Vorm flew back to Holland directly after the game against Denmark to visit his wife and first born son, who was born Monday morning.

He will be back on Thursday, in time for the Dutch 2nd game against Japan.

[Menz]

The key to win against Japan is scoring one goal as soon as possible.

Throughout their matches in the World Cups, Japan are a resilient team. They fight until they can't breath again. But when you score one, it will be easier in the rest of the game to score. It's not that their confidence is shattered after conceding, but somehow, their organization becomes messy.

As with most teams. However the Japanese are more tactically naive than other sides, so when they go a goal down they abandon their initial starting plan to try and get back on level terms. This is when teams exploit them.

[Micado]

For those who missed the game vs Denmark

Anyway, Robben will most likely not play in any of the remaining group games.

[el sid]

Roll him in cotton wool for the knockout stages

[Micado]

Evert ten Napel just said UUUUUUUUUUUUUUuuuuuuuuuuuffffffffffffffffffffff

In NOS Studio sportzomer..

[robbert_o154]

For those who missed the game vs Denmark

Fantastic.

[DJ]

Evert ten Napel just said UUUUUUUUUUUUUUuuuuuuuuuuuffffffffffffffffffffff

In NOS Studio sportzomer..

Alias!

[el sid]

Pleased with that result

[Micado]

And pleased with how the played, still not how I would like it, but improvement over the Denmark game.

[Roger]

Whats the story with van Persie - is he liked by his team mates. He always seems on the outer whenever playing for Oranje?

[Micado]

He is liked, in fact, the whole team is really a team, as said/showed yesterday in the evening WC show. But it seems he is missing "it". He was great in the friendlies but somehow he has lost it so far, no clue why though.

[Sleepydude]

I think he's still struggling with a lack of match fitness, and perhaps with the lack of space provided by the defenses of Denmark and Japan.

Also, I have a feeling that Holland is at its best when playing stronger teams that don't park the bus as much.

[Micado]

Yeah, that is what Ron Jan/Verbeek yesterday said as well, he is fit, but not 100% match fit, as those friendly games really doesn't resemble the intensitiy used in games at the WC.

[DJ]

Appelvlaai was so infuriating yesterday. Gets a couple of golden opportunities and just wastes them by punting the ball into the keeper. If I were HSV, I'd invest my money elsewhere...

[Micado]

Yep, he cost me valuable points as well for my WC poule, I predicted 2-0, so he screwed up twice

[el sid]

Afellay will come good, I'm sure

[Micado]

Mhh not sure, he can't be a "talent" forever.

[Micado]

The little thief

Van Bommel jat ballen

[John Smith]

Afellay will come good, I'm sure

Mhh not sure, he can't be a "talent" forever.

Reminds me of Wenger

What's with van Bommel hogging of the ball?

[el sid]

More importantly, how did the ball move from his back to his front?

[Micado]

Reminds me of Wenger

What's with van Bommel hogging of the ball?

Since on the ball the game, date and location are printed, it is a kind of collector item, and Van Bommel has two children, so he wants to have at least two balls

[John Smith]

Since on the ball the game, date and location are printed, it is a kind of collector item, and Van Bommel has two children, so he wants to have at least two ball

Doesn't he already have those?

Must be a directive from van Marwijk. "Get those balls for my grandchildren or sit out the next match"

[Micado]

Like this, very good find:

[DJ]

They can't make a good or even acceptable beer to save their lives, but their advertisement is second to none

[el sid]

What does it say?

[robbert_o154]

What does it say?

"So... now first a new dress".

It's a play on Bavaria's marketing slogan, which is "So... now first a Bavaria".

[el sid]

Google said it was 'toe dress'

[robbert_o154]

I can see how that might have happened... 'toe' in Dutch is 'teen'... the last two words on the first row are 'eerst een' but I'm guessing the t somehow made its way onto the beginning of the last word when you Googled it.

[Oypus]

Van Persie better get going, because I have a friendly bet he would be top scorer, leading the team to their first title.

[georginho_juventusygr]

Van Bommel acting like a pickpocket.

[John Smith]

Should do it the legit way by scoring a hattrick.

[Cedrik]

What do you guys think here. Should Bert already play Robben against Cameroon? I kinda like to keep him on the bench at least for the 1/8 finales. The best man is from suger, we cannot take any risk with him.

[DJ]

If it's not needed (and it isn't, we're through already), I'd leave him nicely on the bench. Maybe give him a couple of minutes by the end of the game. No risks, puh-lease!

[Micado]

10 ~15 minutes max, to get some kind of rythm, not more, certainly not starting with him. Leave him on the bench, also for the round of 16 match, then we have two good weapons who can come on as a sub in Elia and Robben. From there we can see.

[robbert_o154]

10 ~15 minutes max, to get some kind of rythm, not more

This. I do think it's a good idea to give him some playing time, rather than dropping him in cold in the next round, but 15 minutes should do it.

[Micado]

The bavaria babes (the dress incident) can go free, the charges have been cancelled as the FIFA and Bavaria have agreed a to settlement for this case, the contents of the settlement wasn't revealed.

[el sid]

10 minutes at max for Robben please

[el sid]

Well done lads

Such a good opening goal, great work from Kuyt too. RvP could've, and probably should've, scored another too. Was a stupid penalty to

give away, VdV was unlucky tbh, he was also looking good today, couple of good free kicks (except those where he took a direct shot). Nice to see KJH get a goal too.

Oh, and Sneijder's pass :cool:

Robben's back \o/

[el sid]

Oh and van der Vaart's beard is so

[Sleepydude]

Robben was fb, so glad he's back!

[Oypus]

RVP scores! Finally!

Also, good hearing about Robben...can't get over how good he is sometimes...

[DJ]

I'm glad meneer Bert followed our advise. Robben is still in hot form after his injury. Guess he's used to using the little time he gets to the max

Good, arrogant goal by RvP. Peno was rather ridiculous, what's vdV supposed to do, take it straight in the face? Yellow for that even more ridiculously harsh.

Anyway, another win.

So Slovakia is next. At least we know plenty about them, because they have Stoch. And er.. er.. er.. no idea really How good are they? Or was Italy so arrogant, giving up the goals softly?

[MyNameIsJohn]

Big question for my fantasy team...Is Van Der Wiel going to come back in at right back?