C1: Netherlands 3 - 0 Italy - 09/06/08

[Daniel24]

yes but van basten plays too defensive, he should let the dutch attack freely although in today's game that seems to be the worst tactic

I think if the Dutch were to play attacking they could rack up some 3 or 4 goals vs some of the weaker defense..

the new tactic is crowd your midfield and play 1 stirker, thats what all the teams do these days as seen in wc 2006.

Im not a fan of this tactic because its not as interesting seeing all these attacking fronts...

my opinion, play to your strengths. if the dutch play attacking lineup 3 forwards and they are on form they can do it.

Agreed.
Why not put Ruud van Nistelrooy, Robin van Persie & Kuyt or RVD up front.?
That would be one killer attacking front.

my honest opinion, orange just arent good enough they arent ready to contend yet

Arent ready? They have some of the best mids and strikers in the tourney imo..
Sneijder
Robben
Rafael van der Vaart
Robin van Persie
Dirk Kuyt
Ruud van Nistelrooy
Clarence Seedorf

[z187]

seedorf wont be there, but I just dont think netherlands will do it even though they have some top players.

[Vargas_4]

I don't think Italy won't have it as easy as some of you guys are saying. They do have the potencial to bag a few goals themselves. Their best defense is a good offense. I know Italy has really good defenders but i expect Holland to keep Italy busy for quite a bit.

I'm gonna go for a draw here. And if there's a victory, i say i'd be a winning goal in the last 10 minutes or something.

I know Holland played Austria and conceded 3 and ended up winning 4-3 but it kinda shows an example of their determination. I know Austria ain't Italy but it's a fact that should be taken into consideration.

[Jager]

Top players are only one piece of the puzzle. Compared to France, Germany and Italy, they are teams. Tremendous depth, no weaknesses that really can be exploited.

[kyan]

Originally Posted by Daniel24

Arent ready? They have some of the best mids and strikers in the tourney imo..
Sneijder
Robben
Rafael van der Vaart
Robin van Persie
Dirk Kuyt
Ruud van Nistelrooy
Clarence Seedorf

Seedorf isn't playing and Kuyt isn't very good, other than that sure they have great players, but so do England: Lampard, Gerrard, Rooney, Ferdinand, Terry... and look where they are.

Players like Melchiot, Gio vB, Ooijer are past it, still solid but not great, then there's Bouma who's solid defensively, but offers little going forward, Boulahrouz who is shit, and a couple of others who I don't know enough about to pass judgement...

They haven't got the defence to build on, and defence is what really matters in these international tournaments. How often do you see a goal-fest between 2 top teams?

[Buddha14]

I hope the dutch drop italy 5-0 it wont happen though

[kyan]

I was right about van Persie, he's a doubt for the game v Italy.

Van Persie to join Dutch training on Wednesday

Striker Robin van Persie will train with the Dutch Euro 2008 squad for the first time on Wednesday but remains doubtful for the team's opener against Italy on June 9, coach Marco van Basten said on Sunday.

Van Persie has trained separately from the squad since the Dutch started their preparations on May 20 as he seeks to regain full fitness after an injury-plagued season.

"Robin will join the group training (on) Wednesday and then we will have to see if he can play against the Italians," van Basten said after a 2-0 win against Wales in the final warm up match on Sunday.

In October last year van Persie suffered a knee injury during a Euro qualifier against Slovenia and has subsequently sustained two muscle injuries.

Van Persie, who played only 15 league matches for Arsenal this season, believes that he learned from 18 months of injury problems that started with a broken metatarsal in January 2007.

"It has been a combination of bad luck, impatience and inexperience. I know my body optimal and I don't think that I will sustain another injury easily," Van Persie was quoted in the Dutch weekly Sportweek.

http://fourfourtwo.com/news/euro2008/10332/default.aspx

[D-Kin]

Van Persie most likely won't start then.

I saw Holland's game against Wales and they played reasonably well, only scored two goals though.

[Forza_Roma]

Who do you guys think will be in the starting lineup for the Netherlands? Obviously, Robben, RVN...Huntelaar?

[D-Kin]

Not Huntelaar, most likely just RvN up top.

Robben, Sneijder and VdV in midfield.

They have quality.

[Forza_Roma]

I think Di Natale has earned a starting position...

Di Natale to fight for place
Monday 2 June, 2008

Antonio Di Natale has insisted that nobody in the Azzurri squad will be guaranteed a starting shirt at Euro 2008.

The Udinese winger is considered as a first team regular, but he insists that he’ll have to fight for his place after Antonio Cassano and Alex Del Piero were included in the 23-man party.

“There are a lot of great players in this squad and it will be up to the Coach to decide who plays,” noted the man who struck twice in Friday’s 3-1 win over Belgium.

“Nobody is a sure starter, but I’m ready to play and I’m hopeful that will happen.”

Di Natale has been Roberto Donadoni’s biggest success story since his appointment in 2006 and is expected to play wide left in a 4-3-3 system.

“The Coach has always used me and, when I’ve been called, I think I have done what was expected from me,” added the former Empoli gem.

“I believe that I have always demonstrated my value and I like to do my talking on the pitch.

“The Coach has always shown great faith in me and I’ll again look to repay him for that by giving my maximum at all times.”

Euro 2008 will be Di Natale’s first major championship after enjoying another stellar campaign at Udinese where he netted 17 goals in 36 games

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

He'll start, he's really impressed me recently.

9 goals in 19 caps isn't a bad record either.

[Forza_Roma]

What about Quagliarella on the right...i'm not 100% convinced over him being a starter.

[D-Kin]

I'll be surprised if he starts.

For the opener I'd go with Camo or someone, he's far more experienced at this level.

[Forza_Roma]

Ya, Camo should definitely start...and the subs of Cassano and Del Piero really make a good impact in the second half. They worked the ball well together a few times in the Belgium match.