Dirty Dutch were anti-football, said Johan Cruyff

Johan Cruyff last night launched a blistering attack on the dirty Dutch after branding them ‘anti football.’

Dutch master Cruyff said Holland’s rough tactics in the World Cup final wrexked the nation’s reputation as being the inventors of Total Football in the glorious era of the 1970s.

Cruyff said: ‘Thursday they asked me from Holland ‘Can we play like Inter? Can we stop Spain in the same way Mourinho eliminated Barca?”’

‘I said no, no way at all. I said no, not because I hate this style - I said no because I thought that my country wouldn’t dare to and would never renounce their style. I said no because, without having great players like those of the past, the team has its own style.




“I was wrong. Of course I’m not hanging all 11 of them by the same rope, but almost. They didn’t want the ball.

“And regrettably, sadly, they played very dirty. So much so that they should have been down to nine immediately, then they made two (such) ugly and hard tackles that even I felt the damage.

“It hurts me that I was wrong in my disagreement that instead Holland chose an ugly path to aim for the title.

“This ugly, vulgar, hard, hermetic, hardly eye-catching, hardly football style, yes it served the Dutch to unsettle Spain. If with this they got satisfaction, fine, but they ended up losing.

“They were playing anti-football.”

Cruyff also criticised ref Howard Webb, who has been heavily attacked for the way he managed the stormy game.

Webb dished out 14 yellow cards - including two to send off Holland defender John Heitinga - but Cruyff believes he could have been even more stict.

Cruyff added: “When we say, often, that we do not like talking about referees, it is true and, above all, because only refereeing like that last night by the English Howard Webb can create in us a state of such indignation that then yes, it is necessary to comment.

“Because you can referee wrong, make a mistake, but what you can not do is create your own sense of justice and, even worse, invent a very personal application of the rules.

“Not only did he not send off two Dutchmen (including Robben, who deserved the second yellow) but he also looked the other way at times when he should have involved himself.

“A World Cup final deserves great refereeing and, above all, deserves a referee who dares to do everything it means to be a judge.”

Read More Here!

ARJEN ROBBEN is not interested in the beautiful game - he just wants to win the World Cup!

The ex-Chelsea winger is one of the game's crowd pleasers with his mercurial wing play.
But glorious entertainment never earned the Dutch 'total football' side of the 70s any silverware despite their galaxy of star individuals.
There are no Johan Cruyffs in this Holland team, it is more pragmatic - putting substance before style. But they have won an astonishing 14 World Cup games in succession - all eight of their qualifiers plus their six games so far in South Africa.
There is just one more hurdle to clear, the biggest of all.



Robben said: "I prefer a very ugly game and we win, instead of a beautiful game and we lose.
"We can always rely on our good organisation and from there you know you can go on.
"We're in a World Cup final, so it doesn't matter how we've played. Of course there is the intention to play good football but most important is the result."
Robben is so focused he has had minimal contact with mates from Bayern Munich or old club Real Madrid, who have been competing for other countries.
He added: "These are all things that aren't important. I don't want friends, I want to be world champion."
Robben, 26, who was notoriously injury-prone during his days at Stamford Bridge, claims he is still not properly fit after pulling a hamstring in the build-up to the tournament.
He has had intensive treatment throughout his time in South Africa and said: "You want to be at your best for a World Cup final against Spain but I'm not at my summit.
"Although I can play, I haven't been pain-free in any game.Fortunately it's getting better but it's still not perfect. I will just try to be in the best possible form I can."
Midfield enforcer Mark van Bommel is making the most of his return to the Dutch team having refused to play for two years under Marco van Basten.
Current boss Bert van Marwijk is his father-in-law, which has led to speculation Van Bommel could be made captain when Gio van Bronckhorst quits after the final.
But Van Bommel said: "I don't want to be captain. I didn't make any international appearances for two years and I think other players deserve it more.
"My decision has nothing to do with the fact Van Marwijk is my father-in-law.
"I admit, though, that there was a lot of pressure when I returned. I couldn't afford to play a single bad game."
So what are the chances of upsetting the favourites?
He declared: "Spain play a spectacular game. It will be very difficult. We will have to stop their playmakers from playing.
"People compare our squad to 1974 and 1978, yet the players and systems are very different. But now we have the chance to realise the dream for our fans."

Read More Here!

Spain Coach Vicente Del Bosque Wary Of 'Dangerous' Netherlands

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque is wary of the talent the Dutch possess ahead of the World Cup final on Sunday.

The Furia Roja can make history if they win the final in Johannesburg as they would lift the trophy for the first time ever.

Del Bosque, though, is not getting carried away as he is well aware of the Dutch threat



"They're very similar to us, players of great technical ability in midfield," he told AP. "Players of great quality and very fast that don't improvise as much as we do, but play a more dangerous direct game. A very dangerous team."

The former Real Madrid coach is not known for showing his emotions in public and insisted that he plans to be calm, cool and collected should la Furia Roja win the World Cup on Sunday.

"I don't know what my reaction will be. These are spontaneous things, not prefabricated, and I take an enormous amount of satisfaction every time we score a goal.
"I'm not much for showing external emotion anyway."

Del Bosque also refused to say whether Fernando Torres, who was dropped against Germany in the semi-finals, would start on Sunday.

"I don't know if he will be in the line-up," Del Bosque said, according to the Daily Express. "It was a difficult choice. Torres has been helping us all along. His work is important even if it is not noticed. He is good at occupying the centre-backs.

"I didn't talk to him before I announced the line-up (against Germany). But he is a very important part of the team. He is one of the key members of the squad and a lovely guy."

Read More Here!

Ref a World Cup final? Howard Webb can't even control his own children, says wife

Howard Webb is set to take charge on the biggest stage of all in Sunday's World Cup final in South Africa - but, according to his wife, the Yorkshireman struggles to keep control of his own children at home.

Webb achieved a lifetime's dream after being named as the first English referee of a World Cup final for 36 years.

The 38-year-old from Rotherham will take charge of Sunday's final between Spain and Germany at Johannesburg's Soccer City along with his assistants Darren Cann and Michael Mullarkey.

He will become the first Englishman to referee the final since Jack Taylor in 1974 - who awarded the first World Cup final penalty, to Holland, just a minute into the match against West Germany - and follows in the footsteps of Bill Ling in 1954 and George Reader in 1950.

Webb is currently on a five-year break from South Yorkshire Police where he was serving as a sergeant in the force.

The Yorkshireman, a miner's son who grew up in the shadow of the Orgreave Colliery, will become the first person to have refereed the Champions League or European Cup final and the World Cup final in the same year.

Webb, however, is 'completely different' at home with wife Kay, children Jack, Holly and Lucy.

Mrs Webb told GMTV: 'I don't know how he does it. He can't take charge of his own children. I don't know how he manages it on a football pitch.'


Webb refereed his first game at 19, and his father Billy revealed he had encouraged his son to give up after watching him take charge.

Billy Webb, himself a referee for 35 years, added: 'It's in my blood. I encouraged my son to take it up. I encouraged him to take his first game. When I watched his first game, I encouraged him to pack up.

'My brother was with me at the time, he was a referee, and he said 'I can see something in this young lad.' History has proven him right and me wrong.'

Mr Webb, a former miner, said every time he thinks about the final he gets goosepimples.

'The whole thing is jaw-dropping. I just can't imagine my son reffing the World Cup final.'

Webb's mother Sylvia, meanwhile, admits it is sometimes difficult to watch her son deal with all the flak from a heated encounter.

'When he first started out in smaller football, then he used to, but I think as they go up it's not too bad,' she said. 'I don't like it if anybody puts him down, obviously, as a mum. I don't like to hear it.'

The appointment of Webb and his assistants is seen as a major coup for the English game.

Premier League referees chief Mike Riley, general manager of Professional Match Game Officials, said: 'It's not only recognition for their excellent tournament in South Africa so far, but also the progress they have made internationally over the last four years.

'Their appointment is fantastic recognition for English refereeing and should act as an inspiration for all young referees wanting to enter into the game. It just shows what you can achieve if you work hard.'

(source: dailymail.co.uk)

Read More Here!

Holland v Spain: match preview

World Cup final

Holland v Spain
Soccer City Stadium
Kick-off: Sun July 11, 7.30pm BST
TV: BBC, ITV.


At last, and in what ought to be a delight to all lovers of fine football, it is time for one of the two greatest footballing nations never to have won the World Cup to join the exclusive club of ‘magnificent seven’ winners alongside Uruguay, Italy, Germany, Brazil, England, Argentina and France.

Not before time, they will doubtless tut in Holland, where Johan Cruyff’s lovely 1974 side and their 1978 successors, both finalists, would have made handsome champions – so too the 1998 semi-finalists.

Bert van Marwijk’s current bunch, now unbeaten in 25 games, could cast off all the old ‘nearly men’ clothes by emulating the peerless 1970 Brazilians as the only team to have a 100 per cent record in both qualifying and the tournament itself.

Spain, home to arguably the two greatest clubs in football history, famously boast a dismal World Cup record, having never finished higher than fourth, their previous best being in Brazil 60 years ago.



Yet having won Euro 2008 and on a wondrous run themselves, with two defeats in 25 games under Vicente del Bosque, the coach believes their time has arrived.

Strangely, for two of the great footballing nations and bearing in mind the historic links between players such as Cruyff and Barcelona, Spain and Holland have met only nine times over 90 years of international football, and only three times in championships.

Perhaps their biggest clash, ironically, was their very first when they met in Brussels in an Olympic medal match.

Being the ‘nearly men’ of the modern game, though, it is no surprise to learn they were not actually playing for the gold, but for the consolation of silver, with Spain prevailing 3-1.

Their only ‘modern’ competitive matches came in qualifying for the 1984 European Championships, where they shared a win apiece, with Ruud Gullit scoring the winner for Holland in Rotterdam and Juan Antonio Señor converting a penalty to give Spain a 1-0 win in Seville.

Touchline duel

In a sitcom, you would cast Lambertus 'Bert' van Marwijk as Victor Meldrew figure - grumpy, sighing, never quite satisfied with anything - while Vicente del Bosque would be reprising René in ’Allo ’Allo with a whispered aside to Xavi: “I will say zees only once - pass, pass, pass!”

Van Marwijk, who was seen as uncharismatic and untested, was not really wanted by many when Marco van Basten’s reign ended but has yet to put a foot wrong, while Del Bosque, a double Champions League winner with Real Madrid, has been the most comforting safe pair of hands, preaching continuity after taking over from the man who won the European Championship, Luis Aragonés.

Key clashes:

Wesley Sneijder v Xavi:
The brains of the respective teams, and what brains. Sneijder has enjoyed a stellar year, guiding Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan to a unique treble, topped by their Champions League triumph, and enjoying a blinding — and, on occasion, blessed — tournament in South Africa. He can also be encouraged that when he went head to head with his Xavi in the Champions League tie with Barcelona, he prevailed.

Maarten Stekelenburg v Iker Casillas:
If it comes down to a penalty shoot-out, you would have to favour Casillas, who has been Spain’s shoot-out hero a couple of times, earning victory with two saves against Ireland in the 2002 World Cup round of 16 (when he was 21) and also when he kept out two to beat Italy in Euro 2008.

Stekelenburg has no such experience but is not short of confidence, as his text calling Ajax team-mate Luis Suarez the “Lev Yashin goalkeeper of the tournament” suggests.

Arjen Robben v Joan Capdevila:
Robben, after his fine season for Bayern Munich, has enjoyed a big tournament here too, with crucial goals against both Slovakia and Uruguay. He could turn out to be Sunday’s match-winner as he marauds in from the right flank with the goal in his sights.

A major responsibility rests on Capdevila, the Villarreal defender who, at the age of 32, is not the most agile any longer and may have to rely on his experience to try to neutralise Holland’s single most potent threat.

Probable teams

Holland: Stekelenburg; Van der Wiel, Heitinga, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst (capt); Van Bommel, De Jong; Kuyt, Sneijder, Robben; Van Persie.

Spain: Casillas (capt); Ramos, Puyol, Pique, Capdevila; Busquets, Alonso; Iniesta, Xavi, Pedro; Villa.

Referee: Howard Webb (Eng)
Assistants: Mike Mullarkey (Eng), Darren Cann (Eng). Fourth official: Yuichi Nishimura (Jpn)

Previous meetings

P8: Holland 4 wins, Draws 1, Spain 3 wins
1957 (Madrid, Friendly): Spain 5 Holland 1
1973 (Amsterdam, Friendly): Holland 3 Spain 2
1980 (Vigo, Friendly): Spain 1 Holland 0
1983 (Seville, ECQ): Spain 1 Holland 0
1983 (Rotterdam, ECQ): Holland 2 Spain 1
1987 (Barcelona, Friendly): Spain 1 Holland 1
2000 (Sevilla, Friendly): Spain 1 Holland 2
2001 (Rotterdam, Friendly): Holland 1 Spain 0

FACTS:

David Villa has scored six of Spain’s last eight goals at World Cup finals. And he is on 43 goals, just one goal away from joining Raul as Spain’s top scorer of all time.

Spain have been the good boys of the World Cup, receiving just three yellow cards, the fewest in this summer’s finals. Holland, by contrast, have had 15 bookings.

Xavi, of Spain, has created 25 goalscoring chances – an impressive eight more than any other player.

And if Spain win the World Cup they will become the first team ever to be World champions after losing their opening game.

Expect Spain to use Carlos Marchena at some stage. The veteran now holds the World record for consecutive appearances without loss, his latest against Germany in the semi-final being his 54th game without tasting defeat.

Interestingly, either Holland or Spain will make history. No European team has previously won the World Cup outside of Europe.

Holland are on a roll: The Oranje have won their last 14 games in the World Cup qualifiers and finals, an all-time record.

PREDICTION: Spain are bidding to copy their success at Euro 2008 and, in David Villa and Xavi, they have two of the best players at the tournament. But the new-look Oranje know how to win games and may just have enough, albeit by one goal. Paul the octopus disagrees.

Read More Here!

Paul the psychic octopus predicts Spain will beat Holland

Paul the psychic octopus has predicted Spain will beat Holland and win World Cup 2010 while Germany shall be triumphant in the third and fourth place play-off.

The news will come as a boost to Spain ahead of the World Cup final against Holland at Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg on Sunday.

The psychic octopus has not made a mistake when predicting the outcome of a football match for two years. On that occassion Paul said Germany would beat Spain in the Euro 2008 final but Luis Aragones' team came out on top, winning 1-0.

At this World Cup Paul has predicted all of Germany's results correctly even including the defeats against Serbia in the group stages and Spain in the semi-finals.

Since correctly predicting Spain's victory over Joachim Löw's team Paul has been on the recieving end of a backlash from Germany fans.


However the octoped has got in support in the unlikely form of Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luiz Rodriguez Zapatero who has joked he will provide Paul with a team of boduguards.

Zapatero said: "I am concerned for the octopus. I am thinking of sending him a protective team."

Spanish environment and fisheries minister Elena Espinosa has also sworn to protect the octopus.

"On Monday, I shall be at the European Council of Ministers and I shall be asking for a [fishing] ban on Paul the octopus so the Germans do not eat him," Espinosa said.

The octopus had already made its prediction for the third and fourth place play-off opting for the mussel in the Germany box. It took Paul just a couple of minutes to decide its adopted nation will beat Uruguay to take third place in the tournament.


(source: telegraph.co.uk)

Read More Here!

Paul the psychic octopus will predict winner of Holland-Spain clash

Paul has become an international phenomenon after correctly forecasting the results for all six of Germany's World Cup games.
However, the octopus shocked Germany on Tuesday by picking Spain to win - a result, as it turns out, that was correct. Some Germans now want to see Paul publicly barbecued.


Paul will also make his prediction for the third-place play-off match between Germany and Uruguay.
Paul's handlers will follow the now familiar routine. Two boxes will be lowered into his tank, each containing his favourite seafood food as well as the flags of the two opposing teams.
Whichever box Paul picks food from first is adjudged the winner.
Afterwards, Paul will be offered boxes with Spain and Holland flags on the front.
However, this will only happen if he is deemed not too tired and still hungry.
A spokesman for his aquarium said. "We do not want to overburden him."

Read More Here!

Holland 2:1 Brazil: match report

With a stunning comeback, Holland sent Brazil, the favourites, crashing out of the World Cup. Two second-half goals – including an own goal by Felipe Melo – over-turned Brazil’s comfortable lead at the interval when they appeared to be re-capturing the football of old.

Melo proved to be the villain of the piece, sent off for a stamp on Arjen Robben, though the Dutch’s at-times cynical tactics infuriated their opponents who stared in disbelief at the end at their exit.

They had appeared in complete control after Robinho, capitalising on poor marking, with Andre Ooijer a late replacement in central defence, running through to meet Melo’s pass to easily beat Maarten Stekelenburg.

The Dutch were swamped with the movement from the Brazilians carving out opportunities for Robinho in particular. Juan should have added a second but shot over while Luis Fabiano wasted a chance with a header.


Robinho’s quick feet then set up Kaka whose curling shot was clawed away by Stekelenburg. The game began to become tetchy and bad-tempered, with cautions accumulated, and Arjen Robben angering the Brazilian by continually going to ground easily.

However the contest switched with an horrendous error by goalkeeper Julio Cesar who failed to reach Wesley Sneijder’s cross as it brushed off Melo’s headed and landed in the net. Brazil were stung into action and Kaka went close with a side-footed shot but then from Robben’s corner, Dirk Kuyt flicked on and Sneijder, probably the smallest player on the pitch, headed home.

Moments later and Brazil’s tournament fell apart with Melo dismissed for a straight red card after stamping on Robben.


(source: telegraph.co.uk)

Read More Here!

Holland 2:1 Slovakia: match report

Unlike so many of the contenders for this World Cup, Holland certainly seem to have the advantage of knowing their best team.

In what was a first for any country in the entire tournament, the Dutch fielded players yesterday with the squad numbers one to 11 on their backs and duly delivered a performance to underline their status as one of the most settled and cohesive teams in the competition.

The nation of Johan Cruyff and 'total football’ could hardly be described as dark horses but, considering they are the only team apart from Argentina to have reached the quarter-finals with four straight wins, the efficiency of their progress has slipped under the radar.

Yet that suits Holland. Having started Euro 2008 with a bang before going home with a whimper, there is a sense of gathering momentum about this campaign. “We are here for one reason, and one reason only; at the World Cup you have to believe you can win it, people can laugh at us but we are third in the world rankings,” said manager Bert van Marwijk.


The inclusion yesterday of Arjen Robben, who was unable to start any of the previous matches due to his hamstring injury, certainly felt like the final piece in the Dutch jigsaw. Their progress through Group E had attracted criticism in Holland for being just a bit too functional, yet Robben adds a creative unpredictability to what was already a very firm base. Considering his lack of match fitness, his general contribution yesterday was staggering. “You need to be explosive; I was pretty free in this game but I know I am not yet at my top level,” he said. Vladimir Weiss, the Slovakia coach, simply called Robben a “genius”.

Robben took just 18 minutes to mark his first start of the World Cup with the crucial first goal. A 40-yard cross-field pass from Wesley Sneijder had put Robben clear in space, but he still needed to cut inside two Slovakian defenders and then drill his finish through the narrowest of gaps inside Jan Mucha’s near-post.

The second half began with a further moment of outstanding skill from Robben. He collected the ball on the edge of the Slovakian penalty area, cut inside Radoslav Zabavnik and Jan Durica then forced an excellent save from Mucha.

While Robben weaved his magic, the solidity of the Dutch midfield also caught the eye. On the rare occasions that Slovakia did gain possession, the shield of Mark van Bommel and Nigel de Jong broke up just about every attack before it got started.

The only area of doubt in the Dutch team surrounds Robin van Persie, who cut a dejected and petulant figure when he was substituted after another game without a goal. His general link-up play was good, but he missed three chances and exchanged words with Van Marwijk as he left the pitch. Van Persie later said he wanted to stay on because he recognised the need to score for his confidence.

Holland did add a second within three minutes of Van Persie’s departure. Dirk Kuyt made one of his typically selfless runs and beat Mucha to the ball before pulling it back for Sneijder to apply the finishing touch.

There was one final twist in stoppage time when Robert Vittek was upended by Maarten Stekelenburg and converted the resulting penalty with what proved to be the last kick of the match.

Read More Here!

Cameroon 1 Holland 2: match report

Arjen Robben reinforced Holland’s World Cup prospects by returning from injury as the Dutch confirmed top spot in Group E with victory against Cameroon.
The Bayern Munich winger, sidelined for three weeks with a calf injury, created the winner for Klaas-Jan Huntelaar on 84 minutes shortly after being introduced as a substitute by coach Bert van Marwijk.Samuel Eto’s second-half penalty, which cancelled out Robin van Persie’s 36th-minute opener, appeared to have dented Holland’s 100 per cent record so far in South Africa.

But the Dutch secured a last-16 tie against Slovakia when Huntelaar scored from a tight angle after Robben’s 25-yard strike had hit the post.
Considering their status as one of Africa’s footballing superpowers, Cameroon’s failure to even threaten qualification for the knock-out stages will be viewed as one of the continent’s biggest disappointments once the World Cup post mortem begins.
But Cameroon are a fading force on the world stage. Their heroics of Italia 90 remain imprinted in World Cup folklore, but the Indomitable Lions have won just one game on this stage - a 1-0 success against Saudi Arabia in 2002 - since Roger Milla danced in celebration following a second round win against Colombia in 1990.
Milla’s on-going verbal spat with Eto’o, Cameroon’s captain, has provided an unwanted backdrop for coach Paul Le Guen and his squad.
Eto’o, who dismissed Milla as "that old geezer" earlier this month, went into this fixture with the World Cup icon claiming the Inter Milan forward ‘has brought nothing to the team’ in South Africa.
So expecting Cameroon to upset the odds against Holland was perhaps unrealistic in a game that meant little to either team.
Paul le Guen’s players responded well after falling behind, however, and Eto’s penalty, awarded following a Rafael van der Vaart hand-ball, was just reward for their refusal to buckle.
Holland are proving to be a genuine force in this competition, though, and Robben’s introduction further sharpened their cutting edge.
If the former Chelsea winger can avoid further injury setbacks, even the prospect of a quarter-final meeting with five-time world champions Brazil should not overawe Bert van Marwijk’s team.

Read More Here!

Cameroon v Holland: match preview

Group E
Cameroon v Holland
Green Point Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: Thu June 24, 7.30pm BST
Qualifcation assured, the Dutch are likely to rest key players against already-eliminated Cameroon ahead of a possible last 16 tie against Italy.
Coach Bert van Marwijk is still without Arjen Robben, with the Bayern Munich nursing a calf injury, but had the game been decisive, Robben would have been fit to play.
Cameroon arrived in South Africa with genuine hopes of joining Holland in the knock-out stages, but two straight defeats have left the Indomitable Lions preparing for a flight home on Friday.
It has been a poor World Cup for Africa and even a victory in Cape Town will do little to ease the continent’s disappointment

Touchline duel
Bert van Marwijk v Paul Le Guen: Le Guen, who forged a strong reputation as Lyon coach earlier this decade, has produced the results that saw him sacked as Rangers manager during Cameroon’s dismal World Cup campaign.
Two defeats out of two so far have assured a first round exit for one of Africa’s footballing superpowers, so even a win against the Dutch will do little to save face for Le Guen and his players.
Van Marwijk’s calm, under-stated approach is working well with a squad prone to the kind of in-fighting that the French appeared to have mastered in South Africa.
Talking tactics
The primary tactic for Holland will be to ensure they emerge from the game without injury against a traditionally physical opponent.
With the fate of both nations already assured, this game is of the dead-rubber variety that will do nothing to tempt the laid-back Capetonians to fill the Green Point Stadium.
Bigger tests are to come for the Dutch, but emerging unscathed from this one will be the key objective.
Key clash
Benoit Assou-Ekotto v Dirk Kuyt: Spurs defender Assou-Ekotto arrived at the World Cup on the back of an impressive season in the Premier League, with real hopes of emerging as a star performer in South Africa.
It hasn’t happened thus far, but Kuyt in contrast has shone for the Dutch following a difficult campaign at Liverpool.
What they say
Cameroon forward Samuel Eto’o said: “All my season was focused to be ready for this World Cup. It's the only thing I could think about, so it's hard. It's not normal for us to finish last."
Holland coach Bert van Marwijk said: “I haven't looked at the next stage yet because the first match was the most important. I take the match against
Cameroon very seriously because it is in that match that the team has to show that they have learned. We want to improve in every match.”
Previous meetings
Played: 2 Cameroon 0, Draws 1, Holland 1
1998: (Arnhem, friendly): Holland 0 Cameroon 0
2006: (Rotterdam, friendly): Holland 1 Cameroon 0
Teams
Cameroon (4-4-2): Souleymanou (16); Mbia (19), Nkoulou (3), Bassong (5), Assou-Ekotto (2); A Song (6), Geremi (8), Enoh (18), Emana (10); Webo (15), Eto’o (9)
Subs: Kameni (g) (1), Ndy (g) (22), R Song (4) Bong (12), Chedjou (14), Nguemo (7), Makoun (11), Mandjeck (20), Matip (21), Choupo-Moting (13), Idrissou (17), Aboubakar (23)
Suspended: None
Injured: None
Holland (4-2-3-1): Stekelenburg (1); Boulahrouz (12), Heitinga (3), Mathijsen (4), Van Bronckhorst (5); Van Bommel (6), De Zeeuw (14); Kuyt (7), Babel (19), Afellay (20); Huntelaar (21).
Subs: Vorm (16) (g), Boschker (22) (g), Van der Wiel (2), Ooijer (13), Braafheid (15), De Jong (8), Sneijder (10), Schaars (18), Van der Vaart (23), Van Persie (9), Elia (17)
Suspended: None
Injured: Robben (calf)
Referee: Pablo Pozo (Chile)
Fact: Cameroon have lost their last three games in the World Cup.
Prediction: Holland were the first team to qualify for the last 16 while Cameroon are out, so a win for the Oranje.

Read More Here!

Holland 1:0 Japan: match report

Holland might have a history of World Cup underachievement to surpass that of even England or Spain but, of the European contenders this year, they have certainly begun most plausibly.

Two games, two wins and no goals conceded should add up to a most serene path into the last 16 and, although Group E is hardly the most demanding, they can now look over their shoulders at the various struggles of France,



England, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Germany with considerable satisfaction.

This was not the rampant flowing football of Diego Maradona’s Argentina – the only other tournament favourite to have begun with two wins – but rather a thoroughly coherent and patient performance that suggests there is plenty more to come.

Wesley Sneijder scored the winning goal and, with Arjen Robben now back in full training and Robin van Persie becoming sharper with each game following his long ankle injury, there is enough creativity within this Dutch squad to trouble any opponent.

Equally important, with Nigel de Jong and Mark van Bommel diligently and unselfishly shielding the defence, the Dutch 4-2-3-1 system has a solidity and streetwise quality that provides an excellent balance. The more attacking players have a platform to express themselves but it is also no happy accident that Holland have begun this tournament with consecutive clean sheets.

Just as he did at the beginning of last season for Arsenal, Van Persie plays as the focal point for the Dutch attack, with Sneijder given the freedom just behind to roam into dangerous positions.

Japan duly packed their midfield in a very similar fashion to the way Switzerland negated much of Spain’s possession.

Despite having almost 70 per cent of possession, a Sneijder free-kick that sailed harmlessly over and an overhead kick from Dirk Kuyt that was blocked were the closest Holland came throughout the first 45 minutes to piercing Japan’s resistance.

The Japanese threat might have been confined simply to counter-attacks and set pieces, but still resulted in a greater first-half goal threat.

Yuto Nagatomo managing to find space behind the Dutch defence before shooting over, while Keisuke Honda did at least test Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg with an effort from the edge of the penalty area.

Yasuhito Endo’s swirling free-kicks also prompted a flurry of half chances with Yuki Abe, Marcus Tanaka and Honda all guiding headers wide.

As the collective Dutch frustration grew so too did the call for Arjen Robben. The former Chelsea winger might only have trained once since the team’s arrival in South Africa but, while Kuyt and Rafael van der Vaart do provide a hard-working and industrious presence on the flanks, they are rather one-paced.

Manager Bert van Marwijk resisted the temptation to tinker and his faith was rewarded in the 53rd minute. Moments before the goal, Van Bommel had brilliantly dissected the Japanese defence with a sweeping cross-field ball that Van Persie failed to control.

But, when the ball again broke to him on the edge of the penalty area, the Arsenal forward delicately cushioned his pass to Sneijder who smashed a powerful shot towards goal. Kawashima only saw the ball at the last moment and could only parry it with his left hand into the opposite corner.

The goal forced Japan to take more risks and, to their credit, they had the Dutch defence rocking for several periods of the second-half. However, it also meant more further gaps further back and Holland substitute Ibrahim Afellay missed two excellent chances to put the game beyond the Japanese after using his pace to force one-on-ones with Kawashima.

On the first occasion, he just over-ran possession while Van Persie waited patiently on the edge of the six-yard box and he then again allowed Kawashima to smoother his shot after an excellent pass from Klaas Jan Huntelaar.

Japan had two chances in injury-time to punish Afellay’s profligacy and claim a draw, but Shinji Okazaki shot wastefully over and then a penalty appeal was correctly waved away as De Jong tangled with Yuto Nagatumo.

Read More Here!

Bet Of The Day: Netherlands - Japan

Match Odds: Netherlands 1.42, Draw 4.10, Japan 9.50

Kick Off: Saturday, June 19, 2010. 13:30 CET
Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria

Both teams have maximum points going into this second group match. While they may be equal in Group E you won't find serious money being wagered on a second successive Asian upset.

The Netherlands' routine 2-0 win over Denmark maintained their impressive unbeaten run which now stretches to 20 games. Won 15 Drawn 5. All five draws came in friendly games so when it comes to the business end of things, the Oranje deliver. Expect them to do the same at lunchtime today.

Japan defied the form book to beat Cameroon in their opener. They were good value for their win but let's not get too excited with the Blue Samurai. Cameroon were wretched playing Samuel Eto'o out of position and gifted the win to their opponents. Keisuke Honda's winner was one of just three shots they had in the whole game where they didn't force a single corner.

Netherlands Tips
The Dutch were made to wait 45 minutes before turning over the Danes. In their last three games including the Denmark win they have scored 10 goals in the second half. Netherlands to win the second half today is well priced at 1.73. Dirk Kuyt, who added the second in Monday's game, is an excellent price at 2.75 to score at anytime. Robin Van Persie, tipped by many to win the Golden Boot, is 1.71 to score at anytime and 4.0 to grab the opener.

Japan Tips
Little to go on here as with three points on the board Japan can afford to lose this game and still have a chance of progressing. In fairness they did look solid against an out of sorts Cameroon and knowing Holland are more effective in the second half than the first, a half-time draw at 2.15 along with zero goals in the first half at 2.50 have potential. Match winner Keisuke Honda is 5.50 to score at anytime.

Betting Verdict
Be safe here and back the Netherlands. We know what they can do in the group stages and Japan are a limited team flattered by a woeful Cameroon. These sides met last September and the Dutch were comfortable 3-0 winners. Taking all this into account a decent bet is on the Dutch at -1 which is great value at 1.80. If you fancy a greater margin of victory the odds stretch to 2.06 with a -1.5 handicap.
Expert Eye
Robin Bairner, Goal.com International
"There shouldn’t be any problems here for the Dutch, though Japan did show in their previous encounter that they will not roll over easily and that they can form a defensive barrier tough to break down. The Netherlands, however, have already broken down one stern defensive unit, and they should be able to do so again."

Prediction: Netherlands 3-0 Japan

Odds on 3-0 Netherlands win: 9.0

Match Odds: Netherlands 1.42, Draw 4.10, Japan 9.50

* Having promised to pack England's bags if they didn't beat Algeria I'm on the way. Pass the hand luggage, Fabio, along with your P45.

Read More Here!

Holland v Japan: match preview

Group E
Holland v Japan
Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
Kick-off: Sat June 19, 12.30pm BST
TV: ITV1 12pm, ITV HD 12pm

Japan are almost certainly only one win from reaching the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time outside their own country, but know that Holland will provide easily the most difficult of their group games. “The Dutch themselves think their strength lies in attack so what we need to do is try to wind them up and frustrate them," said midfielder Yuki Abe.

Such spoiling tactics worked against Cameroon and, while Japan are certainly well-drilled, they lack individual talent and the technical skill of the Dutch should prove decisive.
Key clash
Robin van Persie v Tulio Tanaka: After missing most of last season with his ankle injury, Robin van Persie still needs further games to return to full match fitness. There were glimpses of his best in the 2-0 win against Denmark and, given his role as the spearhead for the Dutch attack, Tulio Tanaka faces a major test to limit Van Persie’s pivotal influence in bringing the best from Dirk Kuyt and Wesley Sneijder.
Touchline duel
Bert van Marwijk v Takesho Okada: Two of the lower profile managers at this World Cup have already made a strong impression on this competition. Van Marwijk’s managerial career reached its peak when he won the Uefa Cup and Dutch league with Feyenoord while Okada already has the past experience of leading Japan in the 1998 World Cup where his team were eliminated in the first round after losing all three group games to Jamaica, Argentina and Croatia.
Talking tactics
As they showed during the warm-up game against England, Japan’s strength lies in their collective industry and organisation. They will set themselves up to stifle Holland’s fluid midfield and hope that they can inflict some occasional damage on the counter-attack.
What they are saying
Bert van Marwijk: "We know we can best every country and when you know that you go to a World Cup to win it, not to try just to win one or two games. It will not be easy because the big countries have more players. We have 16 million people, whereas in Germany they have 80 million.
Takesho Okada: "The statistics show we outrun our opponents in almost every game. We won’t win if we only play to our individual strengths, but this team can make one plus one equal three. Holland are a bit too good. It would be amazing if we beat them.
Teams (probable)
Holland (4-5-1): Stekelenburg; Van der Wiel, Mathijsen, Heitinga, Van Bronckhorst; De Jong, Van Bommel, Kuyt, Sneijder, Van der Vaart; Van Persie.
Subs: De Zeeuw, Elia, Afellay, Vorm, Boschker, Boulahrouz, Ooijer, Braafheid, Schaars, Robben, Babel, Huntelaar.
Japan( 4-4-1-1): Eiji Kawashima; Komano, Tanaka, Nakazawa, Nagatomo; Abe; Matsui, Endo, Hasebe, Okubo; Honda.
Subs: Narazaki, Kawaguchi, Uchida, Daiki Iwamasa, Konno, Nakamura, Nakamura, Inamoto, Okazaki, Tamada, Kisho Yano, Morimoto.
Referee: Hector Baldassi (Argentina).
Previous meetings
Played 1: Holland 1, Draws 0, Japan 0
2009 (Enschede, friendly): Holland 3 Japan 0
Fact: Holland, 2-0 winners over Denmark, are bidding to win their first two games for only the second time.
Prediction: Japan may have beaten Cameroon, but Holland are strong and should win again.

Read More Here!

Sexy Dutch dances and preforms striptease at Netherlands vs Denmark Match!!!!

We already showed you some photos of the thirty-six sexily dressed Dutch women, but these ladies became more popular then the players themselves, so here are some more!

This time, we bring you even more as one of them was caught while dancing and performing striptease during the match!! Enjoy!!!

(more photos after "Read More Here!")

Read More Here!

Photos: Dutch fans in mini-dresses!!!

I see that the story of the day all over the world is about 36 female Dutch fans in mini-dresses that were dumped out of the match Netherlands vs Denmark, so here are some photos of the beauties in orange dresses, enjoy!!!!

And a striptease of one of them check out HERE!!

(more photos after "Read More Here!")

Read More Here!

Thirty Six female Dutch fans in mini-dresses dumped from the stadium and held by FIFA!!!

Thirty-six sexily dressed Dutch women were forced out of Soccer City and held in a Fifa office for several hours for wearing an outfit designed by a Dutch beer company.

To see more photos of these beauties click HERE!!!

And a striptease of one of the girls check out HERE!!!

The body-hugging orange mini-dress, known as the Dutchy dress, was part of a gift pack bought with Bavaria beer in Holland as part of the build-up to the World Cup.


Peer Swinkels, from Bavaria beer, told The Star last night that his colleagues in South Africa had told him that 36 Dutch women had been arrested after the match between the Netherlands and Denmark for wearing the dress.



He said there was no branding on what has been described as the first real World Cup dress, but it was well known to be part of Bavaria beer in Holland.

"It's a nice dress. Very fashionable. In my opinion, people should have the right to wear whatever they want," Swinkels said. "We launched the orange item on April 30 on the queen's birthday, which we call Queen's Day. The Dutch people are a little crazy about orange and we wear it on public holidays and events like the World Cup."

But Fifa has said the dress is part of an ambush-marketing campaign it would not allow at matches.

Dutch tourist Barbara Kastein was a part of a large group who wore the dress, but many women at the stadium wore the outfit.

"We were sitting near the front, making a lot of noise, and the cameras kept focusing on us," Kastein said. "We were singing songs and having a good time."

Kastein said a Fifa official came up to her and told her she was not allowed to wear the dress because it was from Bavaria, and the women had a choice: leave the stadium voluntarily or they would be forced to leave. She told the official she would not leave as she saw nothing wrong with wearing the dress.

"In the second half, about 40 stewards surrounded us and forced us to leave the stadium. They pushed us up the stairs, and one of the girls fell."

Outside the stadium, Kastein said, the group were taken to a Fifa office and interrogated about the dress for several hours.

"The police came and kept on asking us the same questions over and over, asking if we worked for Bavaria. They said we were ambush-marketing and it was against the law in South Africa. They said we would be arrested and would stay in jail for six months. Girls were crying. It was bad."

Kastein said 34 women were held for more than three hours before being let go. She and another women were held for a few more hours.

"A police van took us back to our hotel and they wanted my passport. They made a copy and said they would investigate. They said they would sue me. All of this for wearing an orange dress."

The dress is worn by famous Dutch wag Sylvie van der Vaart, the wife of Real Madrid player Rafael van der Vaart.

It is not the first time the beer brand has been the centre of controversy at a World Cup. Four years ago in Germany, Dutch fans wearing Bavaria-branded orange lederhosen with a tail representing a lion were told to take the pants off at soccer matches. Many of the fans had nothing but their underwear underneath and were forced to go into matches without their pants.

"This time we put no branding on the dress," said Swinkels. "And Fifa don't have a monopoly over orange."

Fifa said no arrests had been made, but added that "several young South African women were used by a large Dutch brewery as an instrument for an ambush-marketing campaign".

They said the company had a long history of trying this marketing technique at sports events.

"The latest target had been the Dutch team itself, and the Dutch FA had already objected to the strategy employed by this brewery for ambush activities around the national team matches using the same promotional objects."

Fifa said ambush marketing was a criminal offence in South Africa and it was looking at legal remedies.

Read More Here!

Video: Netherlands vs Denmark Highlights

Watch highlights from yesterday's match between Netherlands and Denmark. Netherlands won 2:0.

Read More Here!

Netherlands 2-0 Denmark

Oranje struggled to break down the Danish defence in the first half, but they cruised to a 2-0 win after the interval...


Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk gave Rafael van der Vaart the nod to prove his worth at the left wing and started in the 4-2-3-1 formation we are all used to from the Dutch.




For Denmark, national coach Morten Olsen awarded striker Nicklas Bendtner a starting berth despite his alleged injury problems. Additionally, Simon Poulsen and Thomas Enevoldsen were somewhat surprisingly included in Denmark's starting XI.

Denmark started the match in a bit of a sloppy way, as a weak backpass immediately troubled shot stopper Thomas Sorensen. The glovesman managed to clear the ball into safety before Robin van Persie got to the ball though.

The referee awarded Oranje a free kick about 40 yards away from the Danish goal in the sixth minute and Wesley Sneijder opted to try his luck from long range. However, the Inter star aimed high and wide and the ball ended up in the stands.

Sorensen was called into action again after ten minutes of play. Dirk Kuyt was given some extra room and decided to pounce on the opportunity to shoot on goal. Looked fairly rudimentary for Sorensen, despite for the fact that he dropped it, but luckily for him and the Danes, no Dutch players were on hand to capitalise.

Van Persie turned his man inside out with a delicate first touch halfway the first half before he picked out Van Der Vaart. The latter fired with his left, but the ball went out for a corner.

Enevoldsen then decided to take things into his own hands and charges towards goal. Since no one shut him down, he winded up his right foot and blasted his shot high and wide.

Danish Dynamite got the best chance of the match after 27 minutes of play. Dennis Rommedahl sent in a perfect cross from the right for Nicklas Bendtner and the Arsenal star headed only just wide from close range.

A counter move by Denmark around the half hour mark caused the Dutch defence some problems. Rommedahl received a switching ball on the right and went past his marker. Nevertheless, he fired a ball straight at Stekelenburg.

Stekelenburg again saved the day for Holland minutes later. Bendtner opened up the Dutch defence, sending a through-pass to Kahlenburg. The Wolfsburg midfielder fired in a left-footed shot that was tipped out for a corner.

Van Persie then almost broke the deadlock in the dying seconds of the first half. A lucky rebound fell to the tricky attacker inside the area. Van Persie went by Agger, but slotted wide from close range.

Oranje started the second half brilliantly and opened the score only one minute after the interval. Van Persie went after a long ball down the left wing and collected the pass before sending in a cross to the far post. Denmark defender Simon Poulsen tried to head the ball clear, but his attempt bounced off the back of Daniel Agger past the helpless Denmark goalie to make it 1-0 for the Dutch.

Van Persie got a big chance to double his side's lead in the 52nd minute after an error from Simon Kjaer. Nevertheless, Sorensen rushed off his line to collect the ball before Van Persie got the chance to fire in a shot.

The Arsenal man did find the net at the hour mark, but the whistle had already gone and Van Persie's goal was disallowed for offside.

Substitute Eljero Elia showed a flash of brilliance only minutes after coming off the bench. The Hamburg star went by two defenders with a nice individual move, but his cross wasn't met by a teammate and the chance went begging.

Gronkjaer got past two men after about senty minutes of play and whipped in a long cross from the left. Going over the head of Rommedahl, the Danes lost the opportunity to equalise though.

Sneijder came very close to making it two for Oranje in the last ten minutes of the game. Ibrahim Afellay set up the Inter star with an intelligent pass on the Danish half and Sneijder unleashed a left footed shot that deflected off Agger to hit the crossbar.

Netherlands decided the match five minutes before the final whistle. Sneijder sent Elia clean through on goal with a brilliant through pass. The Hamburg star's shot bounced back off the upright, but Kuyt was alert to tap the rebound home from close range to make it 2-0.

The Dutchies came close to making it three only minutes later via Afellay. However, Simon Poulsen cleared the PSV star's shot only inches before the ball crossed the line.

Read More Here!

Watch Netherlands v Denmark Live Streaming Online for Free

Watch Netherlands v Denmark Live Streaming Online for Free


Link 1

Link 2

Link 3

Link 4

Link 5

Read More Here!