The Official World Cup 2010 Thread

[Orange14]

BvM said from the beginning that it was his job to prepare the team to win matches, not look pretty. I think today's match, excepting a couple of defensive lapses, was pretty solid. Maybe it's because they look too much like FC Twente and not Ajax that has everyone in a lather but Brazil is pretty much taking the same approach.

[SPL]

Wasn't able to see the game but will watch extended highlights . sounds as if Holland played much like the 3 qualifiers . Will look forward to the Brazil game , if they get through of course .

On England well up until yesterday no one seemed to have criticised Capello but now the press are
slaughtering him for wrong tactics . He will probably struggle on until Euro 2014 unfortunately.

[SE6Ajacied]

Just watched the Netherlands game in "Little Holland", otherwise known as De Hems. Good value for the win, penalty apart Slovakia didn't really seem in it. Enjoyed the Bittlebollen too.....

Even though they pretty much dominated NL do seem in a way to be just going through the paces, haven't really turned on the style yet (not that there's any room to compl\in - 4 out of 4 and only penalties conceded).

[GangstaRiB]

Just watched the Netherlands game in "Little Holland", otherwise known as De Hems. Good value for the win, penalty apart Slovakia didn't really seem in it. Enjoyed the Bittlebollen too.....

Even though they pretty much dominated NL do seem in a way to be just going through the paces, haven't really turned on the style yet (not that there's any room to compl\in - 4 out of 4 and only penalties conceded).

It's: bitterballen.

[SE6Ajacied]

Just watched the Netherlands game in "Little Holland", otherwise known as De Hems. Good value for the win, penalty apart Slovakia didn't really seem in it. Enjoyed the Bittlebollen too.....

Even though they pretty much dominated NL do seem in a way to be just going through the paces, haven't really turned on the style yet (not that there's any room to compl\in - 4 out of 4 and only penalties conceded).

It's: bitterballen.

Yes that as well. I can report that they sell about 10 different Dutch beers as well, most of which I felt obliged to sample.

Does that excuse the spelling? (hic hic hic)

[Over Pasanens Head]

It may have been better if the second goal stood but we should have been 4 down at that stage . Even my wife couldn't understand how Germany did not score 7or 8 goals . The worst WC by an English side in my lifetime ie 1966 onwards .

This England side is overrated and overpaid , trouble is apart from Rooney ( was he actually at the WC )
they are all coming up for 30 plus and England does not have much talent coming through . The big clubs just pay lip service to english kids. Someone needs to stop this and make the clubs play say 6 english per game .

Anyway now the country can return to normal and I will just keep cheering on Holland and also Suarez .

Thought that we had just won a youth tournie (Under 17) and that our Under 21's have a very good record.

What I wonder is why we just cannot say that were were just not good enough this time around - end of and not look for scapegoats

[gordonvandekamp]

A win is a win, and as other's said, winning ugly seems to be what a lot of teams are doing. Sets up Brazil on Friday now, as I remember seem thinking a month ago was getting ahead of ourselved.

I only watched the first half, but though van der Wiel looked unusually poor, lots of bad touches and give-aways. Hopefully it's from being rested the last game, but that's the kind of thing that's going to be too costly against Brazil.

[Ajaxfanuk]

Anyway now the country can return to normal and I will just keep cheering on Holland and also Suarez .

Yup with England gone, I can finally enjoy the football, stress free :) Hup Holland and the Nation of Suarez!

[Venezuelan Ajacied]

Will be rooting for the dutch against "the Canarinha" but dear lord Maicon is going to have a field day with Gio Van Bronckhorst marking him...still hope the Oranje can sneak a win and get to the Semis. The word here is that whoever wins the match will reach the final.

Hup holland ¡!!!

[Philippe]

Still hoping Holland will reach the final, and win by 2-1 over Germany.

[souras84]

another bad veeeeery bad referee in tonights match. these spaniards just dont deserve it!!! Phew, another one on my hate list

[Orange14]

another bad veeeeery bad referee in tonights match. these spaniards just dont deserve it!!! Phew, another one on my hate list

I didn't see much of the match and will be watching the replay this PM here in the US. I can only say that I am overjoyed that the cheaters from Portugal are out of the tournament.

[souras84]

the portuguese have the Ronaldo problem. He just wants to do everything on his own!!!

[ajaxusa]

Interesting little preview of tomorrow's match by the incomparable Simon Kuper:

Brazil's Bastos eager to avenge Dutch rejection

And I quote:

Brazil and Holland look so similar that you wonder if they are related. Once famed for creative football, both have counterattacked here. Both have coasted through games. Even the most typically Brazilian footballers, Robben and Robinho, sound like relatives. Yet if these teams are brothers, Brazil is the big one. It plays like Holland, just a bit better.

I have to agree. Brazil do look the better side. I just hope they have an off day.

[Kowalczyk]

Normally, Holland crash out of the World Cup today.

Nothing to be ashamed of. We are the clear underdogs here.

We have nothing to lose.

K.

[Philippe]

FORZA ORANJE !

[Manneken Pis]

Normally, Holland crash out of the World Cup today.

Nothing to be ashamed of. We are the clear underdogs here.

We have nothing to lose.

K.

Yup.
If we played them ten times I reckon we'd win 3 and lose 5 (the others we'd tie and lose on penalties).
I hope they find the room for themselves to 'express' themselves.

Good preview here:

http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/07/01/ ... #more-3761

HUP HOLLAND HUP

[Orange14]

Remember all the players put there boots on one foot at a time! While we may be underdogs on paper, there is enough talent on our team to break through. It will be interesting to see what BvM does tactically and of course he plans on having the great JC don his orange #14 shirt for a cameo appearance. That will strike fear and terror in the hearts of the Brazilians!!

[Venezuelan Ajacied]

Not looking good.....

[Orange14]

THAT IS WHY THEY PLAY THE GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Philippe]

a GREAT day for football !!!

[SE6Ajacied]

Normally, Holland crash out of the World Cup today.

Nothing to be ashamed of. We are the clear underdogs here.

We have nothing to lose.

K.

hh too much pessimism!!!

I always knew Holland would win that's why I had £10,000 on the win (I wish). Truly excellent result, watched it at home today though in truth spent half the game too nervous to actually watch.

Brazil who???

[SPL]

What a win Brilliant Oranje .

Not a great game but Wesley was superb in the second half. Very stupid booking for Van der Wiel he now misses the semi .

[Purple Cow's Ghost]

I see Cruijff's point, I wouldn't pay money to see this Brazil team play football either. They were awful, Oranje did o.k. - with an easy draw so far, this could be their year. Though how that cheating, diving c*** van Bommel wasn't sent off is beyond me. He committed 4 or 5 yellow card offenses, even without issuing yellows for 'simulation'. He has played in Germany way too long - ditto Robben he was similarly theatrical.

[ofey]

I'm glad we're into the semis and knocking out Brazil is a great result!

I'm still puzzled why BvM persists with VanPersie. He is NOT a number 9.

Wesley is simply priceless in a team.

Losing VdV for the semis is a big blow and I hope they don't play Ooijer at RB. didn't bring many defenders to this tournament did we?