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The Dutch are suffering from Spurs-without-Lennon Syndrome. A lack of creativity in the centre of their midfield and a redundant use of two holding midfielders against a side that's set up to defend, for the most part. They'll probably turn it round, as they've just got very good depth in their attacking options, but the team selection's just wrong, for me. Little dig at Wenger by Redknapp in the studio. I'm sure the Goons will be up in arms.
They were discussing a handball by a Danish player, which wasn't given. Dixon felt it should've been a penalty and everyone disagreed with him. The former Goon jokingly suggested that Redknapp would've claimed it from the sidelines in a North London derby, had it been an Arsenal player who made the touch. Redknapp replied that Wenger would've too, adding that he'd dread to think how he'd have reacted. "Water bottles everywhere."
the Dutch were the architects of their own fall...when VDV and JKH came on for De Jong and the vastly overated Affaley...thats how they should have started....baffles me to think VDV started all 8 qualifiers but as soon as the tourno kicks off..the manager's balls shrink...pathetic!
Agreed. Of all the teams in their group, the Danes are the ones they ought to have been least defensive with. Now, they have no choice but to set themselves up to attack Germany and Portugal, and that could get very messy for them.
England players visited Auschwitz. John Terry was heard asking where the gift shop was... Pavlyuchenko, Pekhart, Postiga - I had to check if Rebrov made the Ukraine squad to see if any more misfit former Spurs strikers were at the tournament. Portugal are playing as if they're preparing for Mourinho to take over once the tournament is over. They've parked the bus, they're committing niggly fouls all over the pitch, and Nani's dive a full ten yards away from the nearest German player are all the hallmarks of his brand of non-football. I would ask if there was a more hateful team in world football than Portugal...but remembered they lost to Denmark earlier. On the subject of Denmark, it's a pity we didn't sign Simon Kjaer a couple of years ago when we were in for him, as he looked immense. (And, a Google search later, we were supposedly making a double bid for him and Edinson Cavani - that would've been £28m well spent, in retrospect...) Anyway, anyone want to predict the bodycount of Holland/Portugal?
Holland and Portugal made the same basic error - having a midfield of cloggers and workhorses may be useful when you're 1-0 up, but they're useless when you're 1-0 down. The thing is, the tactics used by the Dutch in the last World Cup (especially the final) made Van Marwijk pretty unpopular in Holland, and he seems to be repeating the trick this time round which could well see them eliminated in the first round. Come to think of it, if Germany and Denmark went through at the expense of the two most hateful teams in international football, Platini would almost be as happy as I would be.
i dont mind the Dutch when it comes to attacking play...but a middle of Van Bommel and De Jomg is as anti football as Chelsea's whole team put together......they will go out in a whimper...the English based players looked knackered. Spain v Italy Ireland v Croatia im rooting for our legend Robbie! he is a legend...he got over 100 goals..thought id throw that in before the bashing started. spain v italy...i fancy a boring 0-0 or 1 nil to either team.
Holland's behaviour in that final was allowed to reach the depths of negativity that it did by a certain "top" referee, by the name of Webb...2 years later I still wouldn't recommend him coming to Spain for his holidays!
Spain going with six midfielders and no striker! But they've probably picked their 3 best attacking players - interesting to see how it turns out in practice
Spain are boring but so are Italy...i hope neither get anywhere near that trophy....plus Fabregas is an obnoxious human being..i dont wish him well..and the same for Balotelli....coks of the highest order. i hope Croatia have a poor time of it too. come on Ireland!!!
Spain's 4-2-4-0 formation baffles belief - with the exception of Iniesta, their midfielders keep looking for a striker who isn't there. Del Bosque seems to think retaining possession against Italy will work - even though four Italian defenders would have done a much better job at the Battle of Thermopylae that 300 Spartans ever did.
Balotelli...arrogant scumbag got taken off and rightly so..now for someone to smash Fabregas around a little.
