RealGM

June 21, Basel

NETHERLANDS Winner of Group C with 9 points
(W 3-0 vs ITA; W 4-1 vs FRA; W 2-0 vs ROM)

RUSSIA 2nd of Group D with 6 points
(L vs ESP 1-4, W vs GRE 1-0; W vs SWE 2-0)

KEY PLAYERS

Ruud Van Nistelrooy is the superstar of the star-studded Dutch offense. He is a do-it-all striker who can single-handedly obliterate the most determined defense. The main player in the Dutch midfield is Real Madrid team mate Wesley Sneijder, who is equally lethal with his passing and his scoring.


Roman Pavluchenko of Spartak Moscow and Andrei Archavin, lead striker of the current UEFA Cup winner Zenit St. Petersburg, are both dangerous dribblers who can finish. If they get going, no defense is safe.

X FACTORS

Robin Van Persie is IMHO the most dangerous joker of the whole tourney. Hampered until recently by injury, he is now finally 100%. His stand-in Kuyt is actually having a good tourney, but often volatile but immensely talented Van Persie is a guy who can single handedly turn around matches. Guus Hiddink is the Dutch coach of the Russians and knows Dutch soccer by heart. If Don Nelson can outcoach Avery Johnson, savvy veteran Guus could do the same to neophyte coach Van Basten.

QUESTION MARKS
Holland is a notoriously attacking team, which leaves holes in their already-questionable defense: around Matthijssen, you have mid-thirties (Ooijer, Bronckhorst) and benchwarmers (Bouhlarouz). Russia is a very young, inexperienced team, and traditionally has the reputation for falling apart with amazing speed if the opponent scores the 1-0, see the Spain game.

I'd probably choose Arjen Robben as my X-factor. If he cstays healthy, the Oranje' should already be favourites to make it to the finals.

Very difficult game to predict, as either team is very capable of scoring, and neither is that good defensively. I wouldn't be surprised if the score is 2-0 within 20 minutes, could be either team taking the lead. Over a full game though, I think we have the more experienced side, and I expect us to be tougher mentally. Should be a very exciting game.

a very entertaining game. i think the spain-russia game was some kind of fluke by the russians, i don't think they planned that well the game and hiddink made the adjustments and cleary defeated greece and sweden.

it will be a very open game, something we the fans will appreciate and enjoy. but netherlands offense is to much to handle for the russian defense.

Netherlands will almost certainly miss Khalid Boulahrouz, who is mourning the death of his daughter. She was stillborn after the Romania match b/c his pregnant GF experienced complications.

A tragedy to Khalid, I hope he recovers. On the pitch, this probably means Mario Melchiot will the take the right defensive flank from him.

Russia is nothing like teams Netherlands played so far. They are down a level talent wise but they have young enthusiastic players that are trying to prove themselves in a major tournament. Worst thing Dutch can do is get overconfident and let the Russians control the possession in the flanks where they make most of the damage.

On a side note, anybody else gets a chuckle when announcers pronounce Zhirkov as "jerk off"

arguably two most fun teams to watch.

ElTurco wrote:On a side note, anybody else gets a chuckle when announcers pronounce Zhirkov as "jerk off"

yes haha


Hiddink vs the Dutch is an interesting matchup itself. Should be a good game but I think the dutch win 2-0

Point forward wrote:Netherlands will almost certainly miss Khalid Boulahrouz, who is mourning the death of his daughter. She was stillborn after the Romania match b/c his pregnant GF experienced complications.

A tragedy to Khalid, I hope he recovers. On the pitch, this probably means Mario Melchiot will the take the right defensive flank from him.

Tragic indeed, you don't wish that on your worst enemies.

Khalid said that he has "given it a place for the moment" though, and he will be ready to play saturday. Don't be surprised if he plays. I expect fewer smiles and (even) more fire on the Dutch team saturday - things like this affect everyone.

yea that's really sad

Nice that it's on ABC.

Hup Holland !

Netherlands will have the same starting lineup as the first two games, so Boulahrouz is playing.
Robben's groin injury is playing up again, Van Basten said he might not be fit enough to play at all.
Can't wait for the game to start.

You know an American was born at the tail end of the Cold War when:

He bets on Russia with no shame.

I admit it, I'm a sucker for underdogs.

this is just crazy, did anyone see pictures from Basel today ? The whole town is packed with dutch colours, wow !
Hoping for a good game, could live well with either team advancing, no preferences for me tonight.

Robben scores first one for the Dutch side, game finishes in a draw 2:2, Russians move on after the penalties.

I'm Tivoing this game because I have a dutch friend that can't watch it until later this afternoon.

the dutch need robben so he and kuyt can play the wings so they can play a deeper game.

but russia could surprise them, arshavin is controlling the ball the way he wants and a shot by kolodin could go in in any minute.

oh! and van der sar the key player so far.

Easily outplayed by the superior Russians.

Come on Holland.

Russians up 1-0! Great goal right there.

Pavlyuchenko!