We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
"Will the Dutch show up?" That's the question on the minds of every conspiratorial Italian today as they contemplate another humiliating, early European Championship exit due to a "biscuit." We'll soon see! Join me for all the shenanigans.
posted by gatorbob @ 1:35 PM
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
29 Comments:
Here are the sides for today's clash:
Holland: Stekelenburg, Boulahrouz, Heitinga, Bouma, De Cler, De Zeeuw, Engelaar, Afellay, Van Persie, Robben, Huntelaar
Subs: Van der Sar, Timmer, Ooijer, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst, van Nistelrooy, Sneijder, Melchiot, De Jong, Kuyt, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Van der Vaart
Romania: Lobont, Contra, Tamas, Ghionea, Rat, Cocis, Codrea, Chivu, Nicolita, Marius Niculae, Mutu
Subs: Popa, Stancioiu, Petre, Marica, Sapunaru, Moti, Cristea, Dica, Daniel Niculae, Radu
Referee: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland)
At first glance, it looks as if Van Basten has made nine changes from the side that destroyed Italy and France, with VDS, Ooijer, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst, RVN, Sneijder, De Jong, Kuyt and Van der Vaart all out for today. Still, it's one hell of a second team. I'm most surprised to see the notoriously fragile Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie in the starting eleven.
This is a very close call for me in terms of which match I'll watch in real time. I imagine that I'll start with the Dutch, who have been really good value, and if they score early, I'll switch over to the Italy-France match.
Here we go on what should really be a gripping night of football...
The referee is waiting for word from the other match that they've kicked off in order to maintain a strict policy of playing at the same time.
The Dutch are sporting my favorite all-orange kit tonight.
It's been all Dutch possession so far. As in the first two matches, Romania have dropped deep and will look to hit Holland on the break through Mutu.
Romania have a chance at a free kick...
Chivu takes and puts it well over.
Fifteen minutes in now and a reminder that Romania need a win if there is a winner in the other match. A draw will be enough if the other match ends in a draw.
A good patch of play from the Romanians but the Dutch second string defense has looked solid so far.
Engelaar plays a nice ball into the box but Van Persie just can't get his header on target.
Huntelaar was nearly in there but the ref spotted a handball. He could have picked up a yellow card there - it was fairly deliberate.
Robben standing over a free kick....
too shallow and it knocked away.
Bouhlarouz nearly popped a shot over.
The Romanians will surely have heard the news from the other match and now have to go for it. I expect some early changes in the second half with the likes of Dica and Radu coming on.
Oooh, Robben had a chance to kill off the Romanian hopes, but he just put his shot left of the post.
Half-time: Holland 0 Romania 0
Romania still have it in their own hands but the Dutch have been in control so far and have had the best chances. It'll take a huge effort for the Romanians to win now with all that Dutch firepower on the bench.
Second half starting now....
I'm looking for changes and don't see any.
Oh, Van Persie brought a long ball down, spun but Lobont saved well.
GOAL! Holland 1-0! And there's the goal that Italian fans were craving. Robben crossed but missed everyone but when the ball came back in, Huntelaar got onto the end of it and made no mistake.
The Labrador, Dirk Kuyt, has come on for Holland.
Twenty five minutes now and the Romanians will have to throw everything they've got at this. They need two goals now. If they were to get one back in the next five or ten minutes, it would set up a grandstand finish.
It's all Dutch possession now. The Romanians are going to have to come out of their shells in a hurry here.
Finally we're seeing Dica in the 70th minute. He should have been on for the entire second half.
The key incident in this group appears to be that penalty save from Mutu by Buffon.
I agree with Derek Rae. This has been a low key performance from Romania. They haven't been able to rise to the occasion.
Van Persie nearly finished the Romanians with a bit of the Justin Fashanus, turning and volleying sharply, but it was always rising.
Oh, Dica had a chance there to equalize. It's bouncing ridiculously around in the area and still the Romanians couldn't test the keeper.
GOAL! Van Persie finishes off the Romanians with a nice take down and shrugging off his defender to rocket a shot into the top of the net.
Holland 2-0!
What's with the rubbish fanfares after the goals in this tournament? I'm afraid that they're following the American example of trying to artificially pump of the crowd. Next thing we know we'll have the bloody Blur song or Tina Turner belting out "You're simply the best!" after the goals.
Full-time: Holland 2-0
The Dutch have set down a marker as the team to beat in Euro 2008. Nine goals in three games. They beat Romania easily with a second team oozing with quality and confidence.
Next up - the Dutch play Saturday against the winners of the Sweden vs. Russia match tomorrow.
Post a Comment
<< Home