Euro 2012 LIVE (15 Viewers)

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May 22, 2007
37,256
Strootman could and should be a viable option, imo - he is strong physically, with a bite to him, but also is pretty incisive going forward from midfield and has a nice pass and vision on top of that. He could play as a CM or left mezalla, depending on the formation.

The Dutch lack speed in midfield, though, as there is no real, viable alternative to Afellay there - the first one to come in from the bench is usually vd Vaart but he and Sneijder both on the field make the team move like molasses. Emanuelson and Maher could have provided that but van Marwijk took with him the new Elia, instead.
Not Kuyt? I think it's really tempting to put him on, there is plenty of talent already out there and he'll just run a marathon for the team.

I was waiting for this tournament to finally see Strootman play, but it's not worked out, so I can't really comment. I know Ken said he looks good though, so he must be good. Probably better than seeing van Bommel trudge across the pitch at breakneck speed. If the Dutch are going to play to their strengths, then they have to be more supportive of the attacking players instead of trying to force them to help out players that aren't performing well in the first place. So Kuyt + CM (Strootman, perhaps) to come in, maybe.

Anyway, next match Willems and van der Wiel don't have to worry about Podolski, Müller and Özil. They have Ronaldo and Nani now.
 

Bezzy

The Bookie Queen
Jun 5, 2010
20,828
the problem with holland is that 'we' (the fans and media) critized van marwijk for playing bad at the wc. Everyone wanted to play more dutch like football and now we do play that and now we lose more often

My line up for sunday would be
Steek
Boula-heitinga-vlaar-willems
de jong-VDV
kuyt-sneijder-van persie
huntelaar​
 

Red

-------
Moderator
Nov 26, 2006
47,024
Am I the only one that think Snijdork was also at fault for both goals, considering he never followed back and mark Schweinsteiger, who assisted both goals?
I agree.

Made a post last night saying that the Dutch were outnumbered in midfield (despite both teams basically playing the same system), because Sneijder and the wingers didn't track back and contribute defensively the way Ozil, Muller and Podolski.

Germany were intelligent enough to move the ball to find the spare man and take advantage of the Dutch laziness.
 

Alen

Ѕenior Аdmin
Apr 2, 2007
54,025
Italy and Croatia will both start with the same XI from the first match. So it's:

Buffon ; Bonucci, De Rossi, Chiellini ; Maggio, Marchisio, Pirlo, Motta, Giaccherini ; Cassano, Balotelli

Pletikosa ; Strinic, Corluka, Schildenfeld ; Srna, Rakitic, Vukojevic, Modric, Perisic ; Jelavic, Mandzukic

3-5-2 vs 3-5-2
 

Alen

Ѕenior Аdmin
Apr 2, 2007
54,025
The Croatian defense is really bad. You can't even imagine how bad it is. A left back (Strinic) and a right back (Corluka) playing as CBs. Both aren't even good full backs, you can guess how good they are in the center of the defense. The third guy is a below average CB who comes from the 2nd German league (that's where his team played last year).

If Prandelli did his job and his players approach this game seriously, Italy should easily win this, despite the Croatian midfield and attack being rather good and dangerous.
 

GordoDeCentral

Diez
Moderator
Apr 14, 2005
70,869
The Croatian defense is really bad. You can't even imagine how bad it is. A left back (Strinic) and a right back (Corluka) playing as CBs. Both aren't even good full backs, you can guess how good they are in the center of the defense. The third guy is a below average CB who comes from the 2nd German league (that's where his team played last year).

If Prandelli did his job and his players approach this game seriously, Italy should easily win this, despite the Croatian midfield and attack being rather good and dangerous.
sorry but this whole croatia team is pretty bad :p
 

Alen

Ѕenior Аdmin
Apr 2, 2007
54,025
sorry but this whole croatia team is pretty bad :p
The midfield is actually solid and complete. It has a bit of everything. Modric is a good playmaker, Srna is a nice winger, Rakitic and Perisic can play the ball well, Vukojevic is an ok DM. They all run a lot. The midfield is fine, despite lacking on star players, bar Luka. But the defense nullifies everything that is good in the rest of the team. I don't rate Lovren too high, but he's needed today.
 

Gabriel

Killed By Death
May 23, 2010
10,608
Draw please and get me that dinner :xfinger:

---------- Post added 14.06.2012 at 17:37 ----------


Another guy don't understand football :touched:
What exactly do I don't understand? Maybe you should teach me. You know what? Scratch that, I wouldn't be to understand your English anyway.

Now seriously, your entire team has sucked the whole tournament. bunch of individualistic pricks who can't act as a team even if their lives depended on it, with an awful defense on top of that.

Heitinga is terrible, Matijhsen is mediocre, Van Der Wiel can't even cope with an offside trap while Willems shouldn't be nowhere near the starting eleven at this kind of tournament, even retired grandpa van bronckhorst would've done better.

Van Persie has never performed for holland in big tournaments, the last wc he wasn't any good and this euro he hasn't either, I think he's just not able to be a lone striker for you. Robben just keeps shooting and shooting, Afellay, did this guy even touch a ball?.

Your team rocked in 2010 and I was cheering for you, this year you lack drive and commitment.

That left side of yours is gonna get raped by Nani.
 
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