From losing World Cup finalists, to losing three out of three in the Group of Death. All within the space of two years. With pretty much the same team, save for the retired Van Bronckhorst and the sidelined Dirk Kuyt.
What happened? Undoubtedly unrest within the camp. It's a cliche to blame Dutch shortcomings on internal unrest, but more often than not, it's true. News of splits, divides, disagreements and rants will more than likely emerge over the next couple of days then be forgotten for the next couple of years until World Cup 2014, when the Oranje will Boom! and self-implode again.
Showing posts with label Group Of Death. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Group Of Death. Show all posts
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
Monday, 18 June 2012
GROUP B FINALE: Germany 2-1 Denmark; Holland 1-2 Portugal
They've only gone and done it again.
Even being plopped in the sewer that was The Group Of Death couldn't stop perennial Group Stage qualifiers Germany and Portugal from, er, qualifying from the group stage.
I don't know what happened to Holland, and I'm sure Holland doesn't know what happened to Holland. Even in the game last night, they started well and looked like they would win it. But then, they just stopped, or at least stopped believing.
Only saw the goals from the Denmark/Germany match - this playing the last group games concurrently stuff is hard work for just two eyes.
So, the Germans, my tips to win this thing are through, that's the main thing. The fact that they're the only team out of the four who've qualified that I predicted would qualify is something I'd quite like to gloss over at this point, thank you very much.
HOW THEY FINISHED: 1: GERMANY 2: PORTUGAL 3: Denmark 4: Holland
A state of affairs that bears little resemblance to this shoddily predicted state of affairs.
Even being plopped in the sewer that was The Group Of Death couldn't stop perennial Group Stage qualifiers Germany and Portugal from, er, qualifying from the group stage.
I don't know what happened to Holland, and I'm sure Holland doesn't know what happened to Holland. Even in the game last night, they started well and looked like they would win it. But then, they just stopped, or at least stopped believing.
Only saw the goals from the Denmark/Germany match - this playing the last group games concurrently stuff is hard work for just two eyes.
So, the Germans, my tips to win this thing are through, that's the main thing. The fact that they're the only team out of the four who've qualified that I predicted would qualify is something I'd quite like to gloss over at this point, thank you very much.
HOW THEY FINISHED: 1: GERMANY 2: PORTUGAL 3: Denmark 4: Holland
A state of affairs that bears little resemblance to this shoddily predicted state of affairs.
Wednesday, 13 June 2012
Germany 2-1 Holland
Two defeats and you'd expect to be on your way home. You'd deserve to be out. And yet, the Dutch (what has that word got to do with Holland or the Netherlands, and what have those names got to do with each other?) can still progress with a win against Portugal in their final game.
Meanwhile, Germany, my tip, my favourites, produced a convincing display that backs up my faith in them. Gomez looks like the goalscorer he's always been at club level, good enough to keep the mercurial Miroslav Klose on the bench. It's hard to find a weakness in their ranks.
And yet the mathematicians will tell you that it is still possible for the Germans NOT to qualify for the knockout stages if results don't go their way in Sunday's final games.
Now, that is kerrrr-azeee.
Meanwhile, Germany, my tip, my favourites, produced a convincing display that backs up my faith in them. Gomez looks like the goalscorer he's always been at club level, good enough to keep the mercurial Miroslav Klose on the bench. It's hard to find a weakness in their ranks.
And yet the mathematicians will tell you that it is still possible for the Germans NOT to qualify for the knockout stages if results don't go their way in Sunday's final games.
Now, that is kerrrr-azeee.
Portugal 3-2 Denmark
She's innocent! Don't bring Ronaldo's misses into this. It's not her fault. Don't belittle what was the best of a great bunch of games we've had so far this tournament.
Had the Portuguese not won this, Ronaldo will have rued his misses (sorry to mention her again). A one-on-one with the keeper that he should have buried, and a couple of shots that went wayward. Not the Ronaldo we all know and l... know.
While a great fluffs his lines, a B-lister shows that maybe he has, after all, the skill to make it on the big stage, with a big club. Bendtner's double will have increased his value nicely for Mr Wenger, should he decide to trade-in after the tournament.
Whatever, this result has ensured the Group of Death will go down to the (garroting) wire. And not many neutrals will be complaining.
Had the Portuguese not won this, Ronaldo will have rued his misses (sorry to mention her again). A one-on-one with the keeper that he should have buried, and a couple of shots that went wayward. Not the Ronaldo we all know and l... know.
While a great fluffs his lines, a B-lister shows that maybe he has, after all, the skill to make it on the big stage, with a big club. Bendtner's double will have increased his value nicely for Mr Wenger, should he decide to trade-in after the tournament.
Whatever, this result has ensured the Group of Death will go down to the (garroting) wire. And not many neutrals will be complaining.
Saturday, 9 June 2012
Germany 1-0 Portugal
This is more like it. Proper tournament football. Namely cagey, defensive, and generally dull.
The Portuguese came for a point and nearly got it. The Germans showed more attacking prowess and were eventually rewarded. But the biggest question this game threw up is: what were the balls of scrunched up white paper all about?
German fans chucked these at Portugal players taking corners. Was it the German gameplan getting thrown out as frustration grew the longer it stayed 0-0? It was just pathetic and embarrassing. Faceless dicks in the crowd trying to get someone to pay their worthless little lives some attention.
And who takes foolscap to football these days? Fucking pack a vuvuzela instead.
The Portuguese came for a point and nearly got it. The Germans showed more attacking prowess and were eventually rewarded. But the biggest question this game threw up is: what were the balls of scrunched up white paper all about?
German fans chucked these at Portugal players taking corners. Was it the German gameplan getting thrown out as frustration grew the longer it stayed 0-0? It was just pathetic and embarrassing. Faceless dicks in the crowd trying to get someone to pay their worthless little lives some attention.
And who takes foolscap to football these days? Fucking pack a vuvuzela instead.
Holland 0-1 Denmark
Ah, the first bona fide shock of the tournament. World Cup finalists the Dutch come unstuck against the lowly fancied Danes.
The Dutch were all over them though, and but for woeful finishing/last-third play they would have won this. But the Danes played like I think England will need to play if they're going to get anywhere. Go one-up and defend defend defend defend, hope, pray, defend a bit more, bore the opposition into submission. Do a Greece 2004...
The Dutch were all over them though, and but for woeful finishing/last-third play they would have won this. But the Danes played like I think England will need to play if they're going to get anywhere. Go one-up and defend defend defend defend, hope, pray, defend a bit more, bore the opposition into submission. Do a Greece 2004...
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