Friday, 6 June 2008

Holland

Next up in Group C we have everyone's favourite Orangemen, the guardians of 'Total Football' and perpetual self destructive squabblers, the Dutch.


Holland

Official coach slogan - One mission, one feeling, together we are Orange!

Unofficial coach slogan - Together we will struggle... sometimes literally.

Contrary to their national stereotype as laidback and easy going, the Dutch will be anxious to avoid elimination in the Group stage of a tournament at which they are expected to do well.

With the team overseen by legendary goalscorer from their only previous tournament success, in EURO '88, Marco Van Basten, the Netherlands will be hoping to make it into the knockout stages at the very least.

With most of the team familiar to British football supporters (11 out of the 23 man squad currently play for or have previously played for English or Scottish Premier League teams), the Oranje look to have a very experienced squad, with goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar making his fourth appearance at a European Championship having recently broken his penalty shoot-out hoodoo with Manchester United in the Champions League final (he's twice lost with the Dutch on pens in previous tournaments).

They have been surprisingly defensive in qualification, having only conceded 5 goals in 12 matches, whilst goals have been fairly scarce (they only just beat perennial whipping boys, Luxembourg, 1-0 at home) and much of the scoring responsibility will rest on cheating, horse faced, Real Madrid striker, Ruud Van Nistelrooy (I still haven't forgiven him for a dive at Portman Road which, with the converted penalty, all but confirmed Ipswich's relegation in 2001).

TC's prediction - I have a strange feeling that 20 years on from their historic win in Germany, Marco Van Basten could become the first person to win the tournament as both a player and a coach.

Player who most sounds like a 1950's gay porn star - Aston Villa defender, Wilfred Bouma.


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