Semifinals - Oranje (vs) La Celeste

[ThreeYearPlan]

Saw the 1st goal for the Netherlands again and I didn't notice that some Uruguayan defender had his knee stomped in the 1st time

[groentesoep]

What a match. the last final minutes were killing me.

I can understand people don't like Van Bommel. He is very annoying to play against. But somehow he always manages to wind the referee around his little finger. He's a very important player for the Dutch. The kind of player you rather have on your side.

I thought the referee was pretty good. But whats up with al these referees from small countries whistling these important matches?? With all respect to Uzbekistan, but that referee can not be used to officiating matches on this level.

[Whiteman]

The second Dutch goal was not offside.

Deserved the win imo, although we're not playing all that well (looking at you, Robin van Persie).
As for the whole sportsmanship discussion - Van Bommel is indeed a douchebag. One of the least likeable players I've ever seen. Still a very good player though.
Robben may be a crybaby, but he probably gets fouled more than any other player. Really haven't seen many dives from him, if he gets near the ball he is fouled more often than not.

[Klomp]

Being a man of Dutch heritage, I was happy to see "Oranje" pull out the victory. I watched more of the game than I watched over the rest of the World Cup.

[pass first]

We won and that's all that mattered. Probably that's the mindset that got us this far in the first place.

Great job guys!!!

It was definitely too close for comfort, I mean, good game. Uruguay wasn't shy, or impressed. They played well.

I think we did too. Except for the goals we allowed, they were both soft defending. Forlan was given acres of space to shoot and Hetinga blocked Stekelenburg's view. The second one, well, let's hope it's the 2 goal margin that made them lapse... we learned bringing Elia maybe not the best option when you have to defend the last 5 minutes, lol. Stekelenburg's vision was a bit hampered again there, by Kuyt. I'm positive he could have kept a cleen sheet if he had a clear view on both shots. So I'm not worried at all by his performance, if at all more by the defensive lapses.

Having Van Der Wiel and De Jong back will make a difference though. Boulahrouz was solid defensively but he made some bad errors in possession, if Stekelenburg would have been too late it could have cost a goal or Stekelenburg a red card. Boulahrouz in the team is the biggest risk we've taken all tournament. Happy that hurdle is out of the way..

Offensively it was our best game of the tournament imo. Scored 3 and again at the right moments, and like vs Brazil had chances for more on the counter. Germany kills those chances and makes the 4th, that's basicly the main difference right now with them. Robben has too much tunnel vision really, but well, he did score a **** header! hahaha, Sneijder's header in the quarters and Robben's in the semi's the winning goals. If you would have put money on that you'd be a millionaire!

The Van Bommel haterade must be on tap. Some of you guys aren't watching him unbiased any more if you say he committed 10 fouls, "should have had a red card v Brazil" or "tried to break this guy's leg". Simply not true. Van Bommel is too smart to get a red card. The late fouls vs Brazil were free fouls. He didn't have yellow, and it would be cleared, so he took advantage. Knowing that the Brazilians were worked up, and because it helped defensively, he just fouled every play. Referee should have booked him to stop it, that's totally on the ref. Van Bommel would have stopped fouling to not risk suspension. Yesterday, I don't think he played like a douchebag so much. I think it was real sportive game actually. And like the Brazil game, I watched the re-run of this one too so I think I'm well informed. There was one instance where he might have gotten a red card, kicking motion while on the floor (no touch though and minor), and perhaps the ref even gave him the yellow in stoppage time because of that in mind, because he got it for kicking the ball away, was a very soft call because it looked like he took a free kick early. But basicly, what really must be said is that he plays awesome and this obsession doesn't do him justice. It's a shame if you're so fixated on his annoying perks while 80% of his tackles are clean as you like.

Deserved the win imo, although we're not playing all that well (looking at you, Robin van Persie).

You should look elsewhere. Van Persie played GREAT.

He lost the ball once in the first half, in the box, that was his only mistake, and he won the ball himself first on the sideline and had no options. His passing was excellent. He set up Robben twice, Sneijder's goal and van der Vaart once. He worked his ass off too. Went into the corners at the right moments, pressing his man when he had the ball, fighting for high balls even though that's not his thing, it did win second balls, and he was heading the ball away out of our own box in stoppage time. If he scored I'd picked him for the MoM-award, and well, Robben just have squared it to him for the open goal at 1-3.

[pass first]

We did more than enough, for being only 3 million people and having almost half the team not available to play... its a miracle that we had Netherlands asking for the game to finish.
All i can say to our players is THANK YOU, you made us proud by never giving up and fighting till the last second in every game.

Good luck for the dutch at the final, its about time they win something, their legacy (1974) deserves a WC.

Thanks. Good luck v Spain (if), would be a nice chance for Suarez to showcase himself to the big Spanish teams. Either way, well played, nice tournament.

[Whiteman]

Deserved the win imo, although we're not playing all that well (looking at you, Robin van Persie).

You should look elsewhere. Van Persie played GREAT.

He lost the ball once in the first half, in the box, that was his only mistake, and he won the ball himself first on the sideline and had no options. His passing was excellent. He set up Robben twice, Sneijder's goal and van der Vaart once. He worked his ass off too. Went into the corners at the right moments, pressing his man when he had the ball, fighting for high balls even though that's not his thing, it did win second balls, and he was heading the ball away out of our own box in stoppage time. If he scored I'd picked him for the MoM-award, and well, Robben just have squared it to him for the open goal at 1-3.

Fair enough.
Perhaps I'm too focused on him making big plays instead of doing the right things for the team.

[kromoszoma]

He wasn't bad yesterday, but I don't think they are using him well. He's not a target man who can play with his back to the goal. He's so isolated most of the time up there, it's like the coach thinks he's Emile Heskey or something.

[groentesoep]

Van Persie played his best match of the tournament so far. But he's still miles away from his level of play at Arsenal.

Striker is not his natural position, but I think he is the best alternative we have. With Kuyt and Robben going inside a lot, there is not much room in the middle. Van Persie is better than both Huntelaar and Kuyt in playing in such a small room because of his superior technical ability.

I think Kuyt is more valuable on the flank because of the way he plays. His hard work and determination allow him to distrub the opponent's ofense more on that position because he's playing closer to the midfield. Also a back is more likely to take part in the offense than a central defender.

Huntelaar did not play that much this season. He's a more natural striker than Van Persie, but overall Van Persie is the better football player. And I think it's good to have Huntelaar as a pinchitter coming off the bench.

[pass first]

Fair enough.
Perhaps I'm too focused on him making big plays instead of doing the right things for the team.

Yeah, I want him to score too but I blame Arjen's tunnel vision. At least this time though Van Persie didn't miss any chances or blasted a couple of free kicks over. I think btw that he would have scored more if some of the chances that he created weren't all on his right foot. Most were, in the past matches.

He wasn't bad yesterday, but I don't think they are using him well. He's not a target man who can play with his back to the goal. He's so isolated most of the time up there, it's like the coach thinks he's Emile Heskey or something.

I agree that he's too isolated and also should be played over the top more, try to set him up through on goal more, but that just hasn't occured too often yet. I think he has a more difficult job than at Arsenal's here because there a lot of midfielders penetrate past him when he gets the ball, or make themselves available in the combination. Here basicly only Robben does it, penetrating. Sneijder like the ball in his feet normally and Kuyt doesn't have the speed, and Van Bommel plays with the brakes on. V.d Wiel missing is also basicly one player less going forward and an option to pass to.

[FAB0L0US]

Simply not true. Van Bommel is too smart to get a red card.

Not true, I can prove that Van Bommel is stupid and overaggressive by highlighting one play. The one where Van Bommel ran over that dude from behind that Uruguay substituted for Diego Forlan. Totally unnecessary since Netherlands were up 3-1 at the time. And if I remember correctly, that free kick led directly to the Uruguay goal that made it 3-2.

There was no reason to run over that dude from behind with the game almost over. Was a total cheap shot by Van Bommel and a very stupid one to boot.

[Foye]

Simply not true. Van Bommel is too smart to get a red card.

Not true, I can prove that Van Bommel is stupid and overaggressive by highlighting one play. The one where Van Bommel ran over that dude from behind that Uruguay substituted for Diego Forlan. Totally unnecessary since Netherlands were up 3-1 at the time. And if I remember correctly, that free kick led directly to the Uruguay goal that made it 3-2.

There was no reason to run over that dude from behind with the game almost over. Was a total cheap shot by Van Bommel and a very stupid one to boot.

I disagree. Van Bommel is very intelligent but if you take so many tackles per game like he does there will always be 2 or 3 not so great one's.

[magik9113]

I agree with pass first and groentesoep on van persie. I think he's doing a fine job in a role that isn't really his natural position, especially with robben and sneijder, and van der vaart when in, who all need to dominate the ball.

Van Bommel is similar to Italy's 2006 Gattuso, and will continue to do whatever he gets away with. FAB0L0US you are right that his tackle did lead to the goal...he ought to calm down a bit with the dumb fouls and he will be just as valuable for them, as he has been.

[pass first]

Simply not true. Van Bommel is too smart to get a red card.

Not true, I can prove that Van Bommel is stupid and overaggressive by highlighting one play. The one where Van Bommel ran over that dude from behind that Uruguay substituted for Diego Forlan. Totally unnecessary since Netherlands were up 3-1 at the time. And if I remember correctly, that free kick led directly to the Uruguay goal that made it 3-2.

There was no reason to run over that dude from behind with the game almost over. Was a total cheap shot by Van Bommel and a very stupid one to boot.

I think he was out of position (behind) and that the foul itself wasn't a bad foul. The way he acted after the ref whistled was his worst moment of the game though, already said that in my previous post. The free kick was poorly defended. but you're right, it might have been less dangerous if v.Bommel hadn't fouled. In that sense you can qualify it as a dumb foul I suppose, but what I meant with "too smart to get red" is that he won't risk a 2nd yellow if he has one already.

[FAB0L0US]

Van Bommel is similar to Italy's 2006 Gattuso, and will continue to do whatever he gets away with.

Haha, I think I would like to be doing the same thing. It was always fun to piss people off and I loved a hard foul. Van Bommel is a total douche but I do respect what he does because I think he does do what he does intentionally. I picture him sorta like Bruce Bowen, a totally underhanded douche of a player but one who does all the dirty little things to get in other players heads and swing games in your favor.

In that sense you can qualify it as a dumb foul I suppose, but what I meant with "too smart to get red" is that he won't risk a 2nd yellow if he has one already.

Thats probably true. I can see him just wanting to hurt someone at the end of the game too just because he was like "Shucks, I still can get a yellow now and its not like it will matter."

The more I have stepped away and thought about his play, the more I think about how badly Brazil blew up in the second half and how the hard playing of the Dutch players probably caused that.

[and1GS]

When I watch Van Bommel play he's very aggressive but often looks like a bull in a china shop. Just crashing into bodies randomly. I like Heitinga more than him.