Holland vs. France
Well, lightning couldn't strike twice for the Dutch, could it? Will those creaky French legs be able to deal with the counterattacking Dutch? Will Benzema recover from a pretty awful outing and restore his budding reputation?
Domenich says "Sitting in the stand of the sports arena, waiting for the show to begin.
Red lights, green lights, strawberry wine, a good friend of mine
follows the stars, Venus and Mars are alright tonight."
I dunno Coach, you might be reading the wrong entrails.
posted by gooner71 @ 8:16 AM
110 Comments:
Here are the teams for what I hope is an epic encounter tonight:
Holland: Van der Sar, Boulahrouz, Ooijer, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst, De Jong, Engelaar, Kuyt, Van der Vaart, Sneijder, van Nistelrooy
Subs: Timmer, Stekelenburg, Heitinga, De Zeeuw, Van Persie, Robben, Melchiot, Bouma, De Cler, Huntelaar, Afellay, Vennegoor of Hesselink
France: Coupet, Sagnol, Thuram, Gallas, Evra, Govou, Toulalan, Makelele, Malouda, Ribery, Henry
Subs: Mandanda, Frey, Boumsong, Abidal, Vieira, Anelka, Benzema, Nasri, Clerc, Squillaci, Gomis, Diarra
Referee: Herbert Fandel (Germany)
And we've got Andy Gray back in the commentary booth - way hay!
Marco van Basten, looking very Tintin today, has resisted the temptation to bring Robin van Persie in for today's match and is going with the team that beat Italy the other day with so much style.
Raymond Domenech is tinkering, however. Whiz kid Kazim Benzema is out, replaced by Sidney Govou. And TH-14 is in for Anelka. It's still far too negative for my mind. If you've got the firepower up front, why not bloody use it. I'm really tired of this international trend toward playing two holding midfielders and only one up front.
At last, someone - and it's inevitably Andy Gray - has the balls to call out Claude Makelele for being the negative thug that he is. He ran straight into Dirk Kuyt there with no intention of going for the ball. And when pressed by Adrian Healey, Andy simply says "he does what he does but he'll never hurt you." Exactly.
The French seem insistent on trying to play over the top to TH-14. Surely the Dutch defenders have seen that before and will simply drop a bit deeper.
I'd love to see the Dutch put the knife in and virtually put the French out here. At least Italy gave it a go today and produced a thrill-fest. France have set up here to put us all to sleep with a lot of negative players such as Toulanlan cluttering up the midfield.
GOAL! And my dreams have been answered. Dirk Kuyt nips in at the near post and heads home. Malouda let him go and he stuck it home.
Holland 1-0!
Oh dear, Andy Gray is human after all. The cameras picked out Johan Cruyff after the goal and he mistook him for Johan Neeskens.
That should definitely set this match alight. Dirk Kuyt has had a remarkable tournament so far, laying on a best goal of the tournament - the second against Italy scored by Snejder - and now he's scored a priceless one in this game.
Alright, what kind of odds would you have got before the tournament for Italy and France to go out in the first round?
Ribery picked Engelaar's pocket and ran straight at the Dutch defense but De Jong was able to nick it off him.
Toulanlan should easily have picked up a yellow for a wild slide into De Jong.
The Dutch are playing some real Globetrotter stuff here, spraying it about with their fans applauding their every move.
I don't think anyone expected this sort of stuff from the Netherlands in this tournament. We all expected that they'd implode after hearing of Robben's injury and Seedorf's tantrum. Now Robben and Van Persie are available off the bench for Van Basten in the second half if things get tight.
Kuyt was nearly in there again, exposing Thuram's age. Philippe Mexes must be having a laugh at home watching these geezers.
Three French substitutes are warming up already in the 20th minute, Diarra and Gomis among them.
Sidney Govou produces a great save from VDS with his legs at the near post.
Nice one two between Henry and Govou but Govou dwelt on the ball too long and he was robbed of the ball.
I just had a conspiratorial thought: if the Dutch go on to win this one, they'll qualify on top regardless. Why not allow the Romanians to win the last match and put two big rivals out of the tournament? Just a thought.
Thirty minutes in and the French have had no answer at all to the Dutch brilliance. Henry hasn't had a sniff.
Makelele surely is going to pick up a yellow card here for the elbow. Yes! I think that's his second, so he's out for the Italy match.
A quick free kick allows Malouda to shoot low; VDS collected comfortably.
And then Govou latches onto a cross and shoots straight at VDS.
France finishing the half strongly here. A great Ribery run ends with him poking a shot through. VDS saves again and is wondering why his defenders are letting so many chances through.
Hey, I am here. I am glad to see the score. Matt has put it back, I am about to see the goal.
I was able to see some of the match this morning. I saw both goals and the penalty
Just heard from Tony. He wanted me to say thank you for the card.
Thanks from me too
With the today's draw, isn't it good for France. They could still win and go through, right?
Welcome, mate! End to end stuff now. This is setting up to be a great match.
This morning's match was terrific, eh?
I mentioned my conspiracy theory earlier in this thread. If this result stands up, you've got France and Italy both on a point. Ordinarily you'd think that it would be a winner take all situation for those two. But what if Holland decide to rest a bunch of players and allow Romania to win. They'd wind up on five points to four points for the winner of France vs. Italy. Interesting, eh?
Glad to do it. I'm hoping that Tony is feeling a wee bit better now. Being in the hospital is no fun, particularly when there's a good tournament on. I was lucky in 2006 that I had my surgery a couple of weeks before the WC. I was up and around by the time it started.
Nice turn from TH-14 but he was just wide with the shot.
Why not knock out France and Italy without having to play them
France really need a goal before halftime. If Domenech doesn't throw a second striker on in the second half, he should be taken out and shot after the match.
Exactly! If Italy or France sneak into the second round, they could easily be around in the later stages to make things tight for the Dutch. I think it's an ingenious and devious plan.
The Dutch have a problem, Andy? How's that? They're playing out of their skins here!
Half-time. Holland 1-0.
Very interesting. There should be plenty more to come but it'll take some courage from the French, something they haven't shown to date. They clearly came into this tournament thinking that their experience would carry them through. Things haven't quite gone to plan.
You think I'm bleedin' obvious - Donadoni has just said in his press conference that his players had to play a tough match and some of them were better than others. Thank you, Roberto.
Second half starting....
Van Basten has made the bold move of bringing Arjen Robben on for RVN.
Domenech meanwhile has made no changes.
The French are claiming a penalty from Henry's shot. I'd like to see that again but I don't think that Oiijer could have done anything else but throw himself at the ball. Ball to arm?
Where have you gone, Davey?
Andy Gray reckons that regardless of intent, the use of the arm at that close range should result in a penalty. I'm not sure the rulebook agrees with him.
Ooijer has picked up a yellow for a grab on Henry.
It must have been a hell of a team talk at half time from Domenech. It's the same side but they're playing as if they finally mean it.
My apologies - I thought that RVN had gone off but he's still there. Who's gone off then? Kuyt?
TH-14 misses a clearcut chance. He really should have had the quality to pop that simply over VDS. Andy's right that he should have done better.
Apparently it was Engelaar who came off earlier with Van der Vaart dropping into his slot. Now it's Kuyt off for Robin van Persie. Another bold move. They're going for the jugular.
Robben runs at the defense and RVP does well to get a head on goal.
Long range free kick opportunity for the Dutch now....
Makelele charged it down only a few yards away. When does this turd go off for a catalog of offenses.
GOAL! YESSSSS! That's done it. Van Persie finishes off the French. They're done. Au revoir!
Robben's role was key there. He was played in by Van Nistelrooy's backflick, then ran down the line and crossed beautifully for van Persie's volley. Coupet nearly got to it but it trickled in.
2-0!
Hey, I have finally kick the kids off the computer.
What a miss by TH!
Great goal by the Dutch. Good move by RVN but a little lucky an the two subs do the rest!!
Do you think it was a pen?
We want three! We want three! We want three!
Strange save by VDS!!!
Please don't do that next season
Send those kids outside to climb a tree, eh?
I liked it!
Franck Ribery has been one of the big disappointments of the tournament so far. Such a big reputation and he's been dire. Of course this represents the end of the road for TH-14 at this level too. He's never really showed up in the big matches but his performance today is a shadow of his former self.
I just looked back, RVN was brilliant there
And once France limp out of Euro 2008, that might be the time to swoop in for Karim Benzema who was unceremoniously dumped out of the side after a sad performance the other day. You might be able to get him on the cheap.
Yes, he was.
Andy's figured out my conspiracy theme, I reckon.
Why are the numbers on the Dutch shirts so weird?
I mean RVP's 7 looks horrible
Where is his support?
Van Persie was nearly in there. He should have had a go but he obviously thought that Robben would be haring in there.
You are, after all, a doctor and Andy isn't.
I've noticed that too. There was another team that seemed to have removable numbers on the other day. Why?
Andy is a scholar in his own right.
Domenech must make some changes. Makelele is inches away from a second yellow card. He should go. Toulanlan too. Where the hell is Anelka? Benzema?
But he is Scottish... See You Jimmy!!
I hope Kathy doesn't read this!
The Dutch will score again, mark my words.
TH gets a goal back
Bugger
Was he offside?
YES!!!!
ROBBEN!!!!!
GOAL! TH-14 finally comes good! But it was all about Sagnol robbing the ball off RVN and then galloping up the pitch to put a beautiful ball over for TH to finish.
2-1
GOAL! And then Robben does the miraculous and sticks a ball in from an impossible angle!
3-1!
Fantastic stuff - these two games today have been absolutely outstanding and I have to give it up to Marco van Basten and his tactics. He's just basically said that "we'll score more than you."
We want four! We want four! We want four!
Finally it's Anelka on for the useless Govou.
That was nasty by TH
Dangerous free kick here for the French....TH14 time?
No, it's Ribery....
A little chip in but Henry can't keep it down.
Is Gallas going to sit down and sulk in a few minutes?
Good shot by Evra's RIGHT foot.
Can't beat his club mate
I don't really think you need a calculator to sort this out. It's going to be Holland top and Romania second, mark my words. And Portugal vs. Romania and Holland vs. Croatia in the quarters.
Yes, I think he will. I wouldn't have Gallas in my side. He's poisonous.
The Germans still haven't it in their own hands after that late pen last night, right?
How do you keep two defensive midfielders on when you're two down? That's just barmy.
Does Steve like Gallas?
Surprising, what about Germany?
2122: Robin van Persie's goal was Holland's 50th in European Championship history - the first country to reach the landmark. They won't be too worried about that right now though. It's another brilliant, counter-attacking display from the Dutch.
Sorry, you're absolutely right. I was getting ahead of myself and talked about the wrong groups. Holland will go on to play the second in Group D - probably Sweden. And Romania will have Spain.
Ruud goes close
I miss him in United red
Did you see that Healey may go back to Elland Road
Germany will certainly beat Austria and will probably still go through on top and avoid Portugal but it'll be a close thing. Will Croatia go for it?
I wasn't correcting you about the next round. I have no idea. I was surprising that the Germans have been outscored by Holland
I don't want bloody David Healey back at the Elland...unless we decide to change to a green strip.
The Galacticos have been impressive in this second half.
Great tackle from Matthiesson.
Look, he is a good player.
He was one of Fergie's untouchables as a youngster
look at all those empty orange seats!!
sorry, I couldn't resist
I don't think the Gooner feels at all secure about the Arsenal central defense. They've been a liability all season. Remember that Toure was originally a midfielder who was converted to center back by Arsene. It's criminal that Arsene hasn't been able to bring in one or two good defenders to replace Tony Adams and Sol Campbell. It's clear that he thinks that British footballs are undisciplined boozers but he could use some Braveheart spirit in the heart of his side.
Yeah, yeah, yeah....
I've just noticed that this is almost over. I wish they could play another hour or so. It's been brilliant!
Ooooh, Robben almost picked out another. He looks like the player that he was for Chelski in his first season.
I agree
Into stoppage time now...
French corner....
Did you see what Ronaldo was reported saying? I don't believe it
Cristiano Ronaldo has again teased his Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson by saying: "I just love playing in all white," after Portugal's victory against the Czech Republic on Wednesday.
4-1~! A rocket from Snejder to finish off the French!
Yes, 4-1
DUTCH OVEN AND THE FRENCH ARE TOAST!!! Where did he come up with that one
Great goal
Last kick of the game!!!
I'm sure Adrian Healey had that line scratched out on a sheet of paper this morning just in case.
Full-time: Holland 4-1!
Well, the Gooner asked this morning if lightening could strike twice and it has! The Dutch have made this game look simple and have rattled in seven goals in two games against two of the big European powers.
Wow!
Amazing - Rob Stone is sitting there in the studio looking like a plonker as if he's just been to his granny's funeral. Get some passion, lad! That was a hell of a pounding! Maybe he's a Les Bleus fan?
It's been fun.
I have to go to Tom's game this evening and then a tournament this weekend. I can't wait til the season ends!!
Cheers
Right, lad. I'm off to get some work done. I'm assuming that you'll be around tomorrow. No excuses. Put the kiddies in the pool and lock them out of the house. I'll see you then!
Why the hell are kids playing footer in June? That's not right! It's bloody summer holidays!
I have the bloody tournament
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