Tag Archives: Dutch

Dutch boss eyes upset

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Holland boss Bert van Marwijk has been quick to try to use a psychological edge ahead of his side’s World Cup quarter-final tie with Brazil (Holland 16/5, draw 11/5, Brazil 20/21).

Van Marwijk says that although his side will generally be seen as the underdogs for the last-eight clash, it is vital that the players believe that they can win (7/1 to win the World Cup outright).

Holland have won all four of their games so far, the latest coming in Monday’s 2-1 success against Slovakia.

“I’m looking forward to this match,” said Van Marwijk.

“Against Brazil, perhaps we might be the underdogs for the first time in South Africa.

“But we are here for one reason, to get the big prize. We have to believe in it.

“People might have laughed at us when we said we were capable of winning the World Cup.

“But you have to show a real mentality, a constant focus. I think we are showing that.”

The Dutch have shown plenty of flair in attack, coupled with strong defensive displays.

“In all of the matches we have played so far, we have shown that we can control a match,” added Van Marwijk.

“We have scored seven times. We have been able to show how good we play.

“I think that our defence has done a wonderful job so far. We have conceded just two goals.

“(John) Heitinga, Giovanni van Bronckhorst and our goalkeeper (Maarten Stekelenburg) have done a great job.

“I think we are improving in every aspect but I would like to see everything converge into one match.

“We simply want to win and I don’t think we are doing such a bad job.”

The return of Holland’s talisman, Arjen Robben, against Slovakia was key for van Marwijk’s side as he showed after scoring his team’s opener against the Slovakians.

“It was important that he played for 70 minutes,” said Van Marwijk.

“I think he has just passed that fear factor, having recently returned from injury.

“It’s great news to have Robben fit.”

“Brazil is a very mature team,” van Marwijk said.

“They have stability. That is what they convey.

“I have talked about our positive form but we shouldn’t get too big-headed.

“The Brazilians also convey this confidence, it is almost like they are invincible.”

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Van Marwijk pleased with Dutch result

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Netherlands coach Bert van MarwijkNetherlands coach Bert van Marwijk was pleased with the result as Holland beat Japan 1-0, and was happy that his defence had performed well (Netherlands 7/1 Outright).

Van Marwijk, whose team have now progressed to the next phase of the World Cup, says he is not bothered if his team have to fall back on defensive steel.

“I would love to win playing beautiful football but you have to deal with a rival that also wants to win,” said Van Marwijk.

“I think we played a match that was perhaps not as attractive as our previous games but it’s not easy to play matches here and I think we deserved the win.

“Of course, we want to win playing great football but the important thing is that we learn to win ugly games.

“Japan were very confident heading into this match and I knew beforehand that this was going to be a hard game.”

He added: “We came here to win a prize, to become world champions, now that’s far from straightforward and easy.

“If we can continue to show stability, and if we maintain confidence in really winning something, we might get far. So the target is to go for the prize.”

Two wins from two matches delighted the coach, particularly with other fancied teams having struggled.

“At this level, you see that no match is straightforward as has also been the case for other teams like England and Spain.

“In the first half, we went for depth but we didn’t get the ball to our forwards.

“At half-time I told my players they had to be careful. We needed to speed up our game and be opportunistic.

“I believe we did that in the second half.”

Japan coach Takeshi Okada was pleased with his side’s efforts.

“We played against a strong team and we wanted to have taken at least a point in this game.

“But my players did the best they could and we feel sorry for our fans.

“During the first half we frustrated Holland and I told my players to be courageous and aggressive when we have the ball.

“That is what they did, but we weren’t able to deliver the finishing touch.”

Wesley Sneijder scored the only goal of the game, the playmaker slamming his shot into the net off the keeper.

“What you need is a bit of luck,” said Sneijder. “And we ended up at 1-0 and I think, at the end of the match, we should have ended up with 2-0 or 3-0.”

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Dutch deliver in Group E opener

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Holland got off to an excellent start in Group E with a deserved 2-0 win over Denmark at Soccer City on Monday afternoon (Holland 7/1 outright).

A freak own goal from Daniel Agger put them ahead before his Liverpool team-mate Dirk Kuyt sealed the points late on.

The first half failed to excite the fans, but the Dutch were ahead within a minute of the restart and took command of the match.

Rafael van der Vaart failed to find the target with a couple of early half-chances from the edge of the area for the Dutch before the best chance of the first half arrived on 27 minutes when Dennis Rommedahl played in a cross from the right which was nodded wide of the target by the unmarked Nicklas Bendtner.

Holland could have taken the lead in fortunate circumstances on 33 minutes when Kuyt’s low cross deflected off a Danish defender and then ricocheted off Johnny Heitinga on its way over the bar.

Rommedahl drilled a fierce attempt at Maarten Stekelenburg before the Dutch shot-stopper was forced to parry away Thomas Kahlenberg’s thumping effort for a corner.

The Netherlands were in front inside the opening minute of the second period and luck played a major part in the goal.

Simon Poulsen’s laughable attempt to head clear Van Persie’s cross merely bounced off the back of Agger before clipping the post on its way past a helpless Sorensen.

The Danes could have swiftly found themselves 2-0 down if Van Persie had not produced a terrible first touch following a poor pass by Simon Kjaer.

Van Persie then sought to be the creator once again as his clipped pass into the box was turned towards goal by Van der Vaart, allowing Sorensen to produce an acrobatic save for the cameras.

Holland continued to look the more likely to score, with Sorensen pushing Mark van Bommel’s drive wide and Van Persie heading the resultant corner off target when found unmarked.

A second goal for Bert van Marwijk’s side almost arrived eight minutes from time when Sneijder’s shot deflected off Agger and looped on to the top of Sorensen’s crossbar.

The Dutch wrapped up the points with five minutes to go when Kuyt tucked away the loose ball after Elia, who had injected some spark into the game after his introduction from the bench, had seen his delicately clipped shot come back off the post.

Simon Poulsen did at least prevent the score from becoming worse for Denmark when he acrobatically cleared the ball from underneath his own bar after substitute Ibrahim Afellay had beaten Sorensen to a cross, but it was a case of too little, too late.

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Dutch duo in final shootout

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Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder make a triumphant return to the Bernabeu Stadium tonight less than ten months after being sold off by Real Madrid to make way for Ronaldo and Kaka.

The Dutch duo were flogged to Bayern Munich and Inter respectively within a day of each other as Real sought to recover some cash after the outrageous expenditure to sign the Portuguese and Brazilian ex-World Players of the Year.

Both players have excelled in their new surroundings this season and arrive in Madrid to contest a Champions League final which will see one of their clubs win a treble.

Robben (5/1 joint favourite in Totesport’s Sky Man of the Match market) inspired Bayern’s two incredible knockout victories over Fiorentina and Manchester United, both on the away goals rule.

He scored a penalty and induced a red-card for an Italian opponent in the first-leg of Bayern’s second round clash at home to the Serie A club, but saved a greater impact for the second leg in Florence when he danced around would-be tacklers to fire in an unstoppable 25-yard drive to ensure qualification.

It remains arguably the goal of the competition and could colour the thoughts of Sky’s studio panel when they come to name the Man of the Match tonight if no outstanding candidate emerges from the clash.

Robben’s knockout blow against Manchester United and his instantly-recognisable face from years spent at Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea could also lead the likes of Jamie Redknapp and compatriot Ruud Gullit to nominate him if Bayern take the spoils.

Wesley Sneijder’s Real Madrid career mirrored that of Robben’s almost exactly, they were signed within a fortnight of each other  and disposed of in similar circumstances,  albeit having built different reputations at the club.

While Robben remained the consummate professional, Sneijder was known to have liked the Madrid nightlife.

He was disciplined by Real over his conduct at a time when off the field, his marriage was collapsing.

The former Ajax starlet (5/1 joint favourite in Totesport’s Sky Man of the Match market) has flourished under Mourinho at Inter and been almost equally important to his team’s Champions League fate as Robben – although he probably has had a slightly better supporting cast to work alongside with Diego Milito, Lucio and Samuel Eto’o also contributing to big wins over Chelsea and FC Barcelona.

But Sneijder’s ability to knit the midfield together and provide cunning balls to the frontmen has caught the eye of Sky commentator Andy Gray during Inter’s incredible run and he may cast his vote for the Dutchman if Mourinho’s tactics win out.

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