Articles with the Tag Oranje

Now I know how the Germans felt all those years

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Published on 3 Comments on Now I know how the Germans felt all those years

Giovanni van Bronckhorst scores in the semis

For the longest part in the Worldcup Holland was barely noticed. The world press talked about how badly England and France and Italy did and how Germany had a good youthfull team but which was not quite up to winning the title and how it was going to be Brazil or Spain finally or perhaps even Argentine for the win. Even after winning every game in the group phase, after winning the next match against Slovakia not much attention was paid — Brazil would puliverse the Dutch was the general opinion. It was only after Brazil was beaten like a redheaded stepchild that the press sat up and took notice.

Suddenly I know how the Germans felt through all those tournaments when they were cruising towards yet another title and everybody condemned them for not playing proper football. Because suddenly Holland as well is accused of not playing our usual beautiful football and only winning by making it impossible for others to play, by diving and cheating. The comments on this
Guardian thread are typical.

It’s gratifying. Let them moan, as long as Oranje wins I’m not bothered.

UPDATE: we’re in the finals. So long suckers.

Fuck

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Fuck.

As per usual then. Though it doesn’t help when the referee gives one Russian a second yellow card only to withdraw it after his linesman convinces him the ball had gone outside the line, when it hadn’t. But on the whole Oranje played its usual overconfident, lazy game.

Fuck.

Three for three

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Dutch supporters

The last of the group matches for Oranje and the least exciting, as we’re already through and the “b-team” is starting. First half was a bit hesitant, got better by the end, but still goalless by halftime. By then the other game, much more interesting than this one but you have to stay loyal to your own team, had already decided the Romanians’ fate, as the French got a penalty against and Italy scored. Once Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Robin van Persie scored in the second half it was all over. Romania couldn’t come back and Oranje remained unbeaten, but what a pity Italy got to go through instead; the Romanians deserved it more.

Seeing the Oranje “b-team”, though hesitant and awkward at first, still grow as a team during the game and seeing how good some of those lesser players actually are, gives me great hope for the rest of the tournament. We’re not just dependent on one or two genius players this time. We even seem to have a decent defense for a change!

That’s what I’m talking about

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Dirk Kuyt celebrates his goal

Four-one against France. After the three-nil victory over Italy with which Oranje started the tournament, the big worry was that this was a fluke, a one-off. With this game Oranje proved it wasn’t, that they won against Italy not because Italy was so bad (though they were) but because the team was so good. Against France they had to struggle harder to win, but they still won. So Oranje is now through to the quarter finals and the country is very very happy indeed for a team nobody had much trust in before the tournament started.

Marco: respect

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oranje after the second goal

Bloody hell.

3-0? Against Italy? The world champion? If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes I would not have believed it. All respect to Marco van Basten, the coach, who everybody had already given up on. If you can thrash the world champion like this, you have proved all your critics wrong.

But damn, I thought my heart would burst at some point in the game. It is so un-Dutch to be so commanding in a game I kept expecting the Italians to equalise and then win the game. But they didn’t. For once we had a team that wasn’t just focused on attacking, but which was incredibly strong in defense too. Unbelievable. What a way to start Euro 2008.