Hup Holland! (15 Viewers)

[JuveCampione]

this is the way it should be. I hope he'll prove Lippi he is still a good choice for Juve

 

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[Stu]

++ [ originally posted by Matto ] ++


I think he will ... Advocaat sees him as a key player like Kluivert who has never started on the bench either.

Good :thumb: I hope he does well

 

[Slagathor]

++ [ originally posted by -Fantasista- ] ++
Good :thumb: I hope he does well

Wonder if you still feel that way after reading this I heard interviews and reports like this about a thousand times before but I get the impression that the rest of the world doesn't so I decided to translate a piece Elisa gave to me:

Interview with Oranje’s pittbull is no fun
Next question please...

By Henri van der Steen

NOORDWIJK, Netherlands – One of the reporters suddenly jumps up and shouts in agony: “Never again am I doing this! You hear me? Never again! What a complete and utter jackass!!” No, it’s definitely no fun talking to Edgar Davids. It starts out alright, he has finally put off those weird glasses, but arrogance rules the conversation and he barely speaks at all.

The question (that’s really not so out of the ordinary) why didn’t you play for Juventus in the past couple of matches? doesn’t receive a reply. We’re here for the national team, aren’t we? The excellent Dutch sportsmagazine Sportweek reports that Davids has a quarrel with his club because he will make a stunning amount of money in his final year of contract before he gets to leave transfer-free in June.

So Juventus made the player a brilliant offer which he refused. Impasse. Consequence: Davids doesn’t play. If this thing gets a tail, his position in Oranje could become questionable and there’s your link but apparently Edgar doesn’t see that; “Next question please...”

The best tactic a journalist can use in this situation is to fire a statement at Davids, to which he sometimes suddenly reacts in fury and passion. So here goes: “There’s a risk that you get eliminated from the squad when Kluivert, Van der Vaart and two wingers play, isn’t there?”

He seems to losen up a bit when we follow up that statement with the following: “And then Advocaat will have to choose between you, Van Bommel and Cocu for the two remaining positions on midfield.”

Davids: “That could be me and Cocu then.”

“Two left-legged players”

“It worked in '98”

“Not for Cocu it didn’t”

“I think it did”

“What would you say when you end up on the bench?”

“I wouldn’t be happy but it’s the coach’s decision”

And that was roughly the last decent answer he gives. The only time he comes back in it is when we challenge him that there’s been criticism on him on two points: he plays his own match on the pitch and he is a nastly little man.

That last bit comes from several columnists, it’s hardly possible for us sports commentators to determine if he’s a nastly little man or not.

“Against Argentina there was a matter of miscommunication and after that the coach never again told me to be more of a team player. I’m a professional football player, not everyone’s best friend. Everyone likes to play with me and there are only one or two guys in the group that I have a problem with. I heard the whole nastly little man comment before, I’m not even going to try to prove them wrong, why should I? Next question please…”

He looks around, checks his watch and then De Leede, spokesman for the FA enters the room. He gets to leave. He knows that the coach will start him tomorrow. He knows the critics are off his back again, for a while at least.

This interview was translated by Erik, thanks to Elisa for providing me with the original version.

Storm of criticism continues
Thunderclouds gather over Amsterdam

NOORDWIJK, Netherlands -- The Netherlands is heavily favored to beat Austria Saturday in the first of two crucial Euro 2004 qualifiers in the coming week, but the team is on the defensive.

After the star-studded Dutch side played poorly in a 1-1 tie in a friendly against Belgium last month, a storm of criticism has burst loose in the Dutch media over players seen as spoiled or complacent.

AC Milan's Clarence Seedorf was left off the roster for the double-header against Austria and the Czech Republic, which Coach Dick Advocaat said was because the forward felt "imprisoned" playing on the wing.

"Until we tied the Czech Republic (last year) we heard nothing but praise," said coach Dick Advocaat, defending his team's recent performance at a press conference at the team's training camp in at Noordwijk. "The expectation is that we're going to just roll right over everybody, but that's not going to happen."

The Dutch are unbeaten in 13 games under Advocaat, and are tied with the Czech Republic for the lead in Group 3. The two teams meet in Prague next week in what is likely to be the group decider.

But after the team arrived Tuesday, Phillip Cocu called an emergency meeting in order to clear the air and "get everybody on the same page."

"Sometimes you need to have a talk like that," said Juventus midfielder Edgar Davids, who had a well-publicized lockerroom confrontation with PSV midfielder Mark van Bommel during a match against Argentina in December. Davids said he is completely fit to play, though Dutch media have speculated he may not start Saturday.

"I wouldn't be happy if that happens, but that's the coach's choice," Davids said.

Barcelona striker Patrick Kluivert, apparently stung by a poll of Dutch fans that said he should be cut from the national team, declined all interviews.

The Austrian side, by contrast, was a picture of peace. There were no major changes in the team's roster, and coach Hans Krankl was realistic about his team's chances away after a 3-0 loss to the Dutch in Vienna last year.

"The Dutch team that Advocaat will field against us is a team that can win the European championship," he said, calling the game a "tough test."

"We must eliminate individual mistakes against what undoubtedly are first-class players," Krankl said.

Bayern Munich striker Roy Makaay is recovering from a knee injury and is doubtful for the match. Inter Milan's Andy van der Meyde will likely take Seedorf's spot on the right wing.

Ruud van Nistlerooy will miss the Austria game after receiving two yellow cards in the past two games.

Advocaat said that his team has had problems with communication between players and with leadership, but he believed the current lineup "is the best group that can ensure we qualify."

At one point, a Czech reporter asked Advocaat whether he was nervous about the following away game on Wednesday in Prague.

"There's no reason for us to be nervous, there's reason for the Czech Republic to be nervous," Advocaat said.

But asked whether he had any problems on his team, Advocaat responded with a laugh. "We have nothing but problems."

Taken from CNNSI.

 

[isha00]

++ [ originally posted by Matto ] ++

This interview was translated by Erik, thanks to Elisa for providing me with the original version.

Thanks to u for having translated it

 

[Ian]

++ [ originally posted by BloodOnMoral ] ++
Whatever Why does he have to play for Merchandise ?

Kidding. Now lemme see. Usually, at least at his club, I've seen him waiting for the ball to get to him, and then striking (Tomasson style, but way more improved - faster and more precise). But, maybe you are right in your way - I mean, he's able to dribble, but only in the same area of jeopardy around the enemy goal . I'm confused. Clear me up

With pleasure. The Dutch National Team, of course, plays Total Football, the style pioneered by Cruyff. In that style of play, there is no such thing as a defensive player, everyone attacks. That's why De Boer is such a great passer, why Stam has such a powerful shot, why you're never sure who is playing striker, or wing-back. In this type of system, RVN is on the line-up card as a striker, but he is more of what Bergkamp used to be. HE sort of creates and scores. Unfortunately, he hasn't been doing this very well for the DNT, partly due to Kluivert's inadequacy.

Your assessment of RVN's style comes from his play with Manchester United, where he plays in a classical English regimented system where it would be totally inappropriate for him to do anything but act as a target. Furthermore, he would barely have time to create chances at Man U, if he were to try. With the creative forces in midfield, like Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, and Roy Keane, the chances are always coming his way.

Does that clear things up?

 

[BloodOnMoral]

Erik, I'll have to take my time to read the entire interview, which sounds so interesting. Thank you

 

[BloodOnMoral]

++ [ originally posted by Rickenbacker2 ] ++


Does that clear things up?

Yes, pretty much, thank you for the time you've spent with me

Total football ... please don't write these words because i'll begin to cry ... remebers me of Cruiff and Neeskens (and probably drives Erik nuts)

And , anyway, I'm all by Holland's side against Austria this evening

HUP HOLLAND !!!

 

[Slagathor]

HOLLAND 3-1 AUSTRIA

NED --- Van der Vaart 31’
AUS --- Pogatetz 33’
NED --- Kluivert 60’
NED --- Cocu 61’

Here are the comments from Eurosport's live text commentary, a more thorough report on the match is coming up!

Netherlands-Austria 20:33 OFFICIAL TEAMS: Netherlands: 1-Edwin van der Sar; 2-Michael Reiziger, 3-Jaap Stam, 4-Frank de Boer, 5-Boudewijn Zenden; 7-Andy van der Meijde, 6-Philip Cocu, 8-Mark van Bommel, 11-Edgar Davids; 9-Patrick Kluivert, 10-Rafael van der Vaart - - - - - Austria: 1-Thomas Mandl; 2-Martin Hiden, 3-Anton Ehmann, 4-Emanuel Pogatetz, 5-Ernst Dospel; 6-Rene Aufhauser, 7-Markus Schopp, 8-Thomas Floegel, 10-Andreas Ivanschitz; 9-Eduard Glieder, 11-Roland Kollmann - - - Referee: Eric Poulat (France)

Netherlands-Austria 1' And we're underway!!!!

Netherlands-Austria 5' VAN BOMMEL!!!!!! SIDE NETTING!!!!!! A thunderous effort from 20m on the half volley!!!!! Great play!!!

Netherlands-Austria 8' Freekick in from the right!!! KLUIVERT!!!! The flick on for De Boer!!! But wide!!

Netherlands-Austria 31' VAN DER VAART!!!!!! 1-0!!!! A thumping finish into the top left corner from 10m out after Kluivert's intelligent head down... Great goal!!! And it's been coming...

Netherlands-Austria 34' POGATETZ!!!!!! Van der Sar can only flap at the cross!!!! It loops up in the air!!!!! Ivanschitz can't poke it home but the big defender Emanuel Pogatetz can!!!!! 1-1!!!!!

Netherlands-Austria 46' Second half underway!!!! The Dutch need to win to keep track with the Czech Republic...

Netherlands-Austria 51' Free kick for the Netherlands 22m out... Van Hooijdonk to try it... off the wall!!! Corner!!!

Netherlands-Austria 58' Free kick whipped in by Floegel!!!! Straight at Van Der Sar!!!!

Netherlands-Austria 58' KLUIVERT!!!!!! What a goal!!!!! Controlling the through ball, beating Dospel and then slamming the ball under the advancing keeper!!!!!! 2-1!!!!!

Netherlands-Austria 61' 3-1!!!!! COCU SCORES!!!!!! The corner from Van Der Vaart!!!! Cocu rose highest and his header took a sligh deviation off Schopp before nestling inside the right hand post!!!!! Advocaat celebrates!!!

Netherlands-Austria 92' ALL OVER!!!!! The Netherlands win 3-1!!!!!!!! And they join the Czech Republic in the battle for automatic qualification!!!

 

[Martin]

I can't get over how decisive Van der Vaart has become in just a couple of years, that kid is really something

 

[Stu]

Van der Vaart :thumb: Well done Holland, congrats Erik

 

[Ian]

++ [ originally posted by Alex ] ++
I can't get over how decisive Van der Vaart has become in just a couple of years, that kid is really something

I can't believe how much people over-look Van der Meyde's contributions.

 

[Stu]

Did he do well today?

 

[Febrina]

He played quite well, but I like Van Bommel's performance better such strong midfielder :strong:
One thing for sure, Edwin has made a great saves

 

[Ian]

++ [ originally posted by -Fantasista- ] ++
Did he do well today?

Yes he did fairly well, but I was more referring to the fac tthat people talk up Van der Vaart all the time as he's a starter for the NT already, and yet Van der Meyde made it to the NT before VDV and he's just as god IMO, but doesn't get any credit.

 

[Ian]

++ [ originally posted by Febrina ] ++
One thing for sure, Edwin has made a great saves

Yes, yes he did.

A true champion....

 

[BloodOnMoral]

Thank you for the sweetest pic with him I've ever seen my dear

CONGRATULATIONS HOLLAND !!!

Cocu scored and that is enough for me to hear ... And what were you telling about doubting Kluivert ?

 

[Ian]

++ [ originally posted by BloodOnMoral ] ++
Thank you for the sweetest pic with him I've ever seen my dear

CONGRATULATIONS HOLLAND !!!

Cocu scored and that is enough for me to hear ... And what were you telling about doubting Kluivert ?

Yes, well, I suppose that I'll be eating my words then....

 

[BloodOnMoral]

again then, but not with malice. Just to prouve you that he can do it if necessary

 

[Martin]

++ [ originally posted by Rickenbacker2 ] ++
I can't believe how much people over-look Van der Meyde's contributions.

I quite value Van der Meyde but not having seen the match I have nothing to say about him, I just noticed Van der Vaart scored another important goal.

 

[BloodOnMoral]

I consider that VDM was better in Ajax than in his NT. I certainly don't know what is he up to do at Inter