116 replies to this topic

[mikeford]

No Suarez for Uruguay

No de Jong for Holland

[ossie schreckengost]

the game we´re about to see is the most stupid, appalling, disgusting and disgraceful exhibition of football possibly in the history of the game.

the urus vs the dutch. two sides who get "it".

it will be glorious.

[Zososoxfan]

the game we´re about to see is the most stupid, appalling, disgusting and disgraceful exhibition of football possibly in the history of the game.

the urus vs the dutch. two sides who get "it".

it will be glorious.

I don't know what this means, but here's my two cents:

Uruguay have really thrived when their forwards get physical and can establish possession upfield, but their D has looked shaky in the knockout stages after a good start in group play. Suarez out really hurts this team, as Forlan, Abreu, and others have really played off of him effectively.

The Dutch defended a talented, albeit tactically confused outfit in Brazil, with a backup CB, which is very impressive, but it's their offense that continues to impress. Although the Dutch resemble the Spanish in that they have a talented striker pulling a disappearing act (RVP and Torres), the rest of the team has looked brilliant - Dirk Kuyt is replicating his Liverpool UCL hay days from a couple of years back, Arjen Robben has looked creative down the flank and constantly draws two defenders, and Wesley Sneijder has been a menace all over the field, including the cameras.

I expect the Dutch to dictate play and put pressure on early. As Uruguay defends, how they transition to offense will be key. I don't expect them to build out of the back, because their strength doesn't lie in their midfield, so I'll be watching how the forwards fare against the Dutch defensemen in stand up (back to the goal) play. If they can maintain possession, it will put the Dutch back on their heels, and if they don't, they'll be forced to drop more players (or risk it by keeping them up) and stick strictly to long balls.

I see the dutch drawing clumsy fouls from Uruguay in dangerous positions throughout the first half, but with the number and quality of the chances remaining pretty equal. Late in the first, Ned will put one in, then have a few close calls, but go into half time up one. Uruguay will come out aggressively in the 2nd, but Ned will be able to maintain possession and make chances on Uruguay's side of the field. I expect that they will put another one in on a dangerous counter midway of the 2nd half, then hunker down for the remainder. Uruguay could break down the Dutch defense though, so I'd say either 2-0, 2-1, and with a remote possibility of 3-1.

[Spacemans Bong]

The Dutch defended a talented, albeit tactically confused outfit in Brazil, with a backup CB, which is very impressive, but it's their offense that continues to impress.

No, the Dutch got lucky against a talented, albeit tactically confused outfit in Brazil, with a backup CB. Their defending was fucking awful in the first half, and at least four times in the second half their defending should have given up goals, just there was poor finishing by Kaka or Robinho, or no Brazilian to meet the ball. Heitinga and Ooijer were not very good at all.

And frankly their finishing was crappy too. They got an own goal (I don't care what FIFA says) and a goal by Sneijder off terrible Brazilian defending. Kuyt flubbed an easy chance, Van Persie's touch was so bad Sneijder actually shot the ball and Huntelaar gagged when a pass could have scored a goal for Holland.

They did some things well, like going down the right and using more of their best player (Robben) rather than trying to attack down Maicon and Alves's side, but I haven't been impressed by their performances against powder-puff teams and after re-watching the highlights I can't help but think they got tremendously lucky.

Saying all that, they will probably win. Robben's pace will really test the Uruguayan back four, which seems to struggle against really fast, direct running. No Suarez means that Abreu will probably play up front and that's a big step downward. The Dutch can probably afford to man-mark Forlan, who is the player of the tournament for me. It's certainly possible the Dutch have a sluggish game, can't finish and lose 1-0 on a piece of Forlan brilliance, but that's the only combination that looks possible for Uruguay to go through. But who knows, games like these are what make Uruguayan footballers get out of bed in the morning.

[Tony the Pony]

Holland will be without De Jong and Van der Wiel. Replacing Van der Wiel with Bouhlarouz should be no big problem, and Demy de Zweeuw is not much worse than De Jong.

Uruguay misses Suarez, but also FC Porto defender Fucile. I do expect Lugano to be back.

Looking forward to this match. Holland has only beaten Uruguay once. Ever. That was in 1974, and that World Cup featured a Holland - Germany final.

[MentalDisabldLst]

Why isn't Skrub here rooting for his native Holland?

[Tony the Pony]

He will be here rooting for his native Holland.
Beerrun starts in 10 minutes


EDIT: In fact, anybody in the Boston area is welcome to swing by. The weather is hot, the ocean refrshing, beer will be cold before 10AM and we'll have the match on, of course. 617-650-4488

Edited by Tony the Pony, 06 July 2010 - 08:16 AM.

[sleepyjose03]

Man that offer is tempting, Nils. Its a damn shame I am already at the office. Don't think I can get away with calling in sick at this point!

[Tony the Pony]

Don't think I can get away with calling in sick at this point!

The Allented Mr Ripley seems to think he can.

It's ON!

[Sille Skrub]

Why isn't Skrub here rooting for his native Holland?

I've been busy ironing my speedo all morning.

Hup Holland Hup!

[The Allented Mr Ripley]

Man that offer is tempting, Nils. Its a damn shame I am already at the office. Don't think I can get away with calling in sick at this point!

The Allented Mr Ripley seems to think he can.

It's ON!

I'm using the tried-and-true "afternoon meeting at the main campus" gambit. Hasn't failed me yet.

[EastCoasterOutWest]

Holland will be without De Jong and Van der Wiel. Replacing Van der Wiel with Bouhlarouz should be no big problem, and Demy de Zweeuw is not much worse than De Jong.

Uruguay misses Suarez, but also FC Porto defender Fucile. I do expect Lugano to be back.

Looking forward to this match. Holland has only beaten Uruguay once. Ever. That was in 1974, and that World Cup featured a Holland - Germany final.

Lugano may be more key to their play than Suarez. Once he was out of the match the Uruguayan defense looked disorganized.

[ifmanis5]

Show us your Oranje pride!

[Spacemans Bong]

Lugano is out, which means Martin Caceres makes his first appearance in the World Cup.

[DLew On Roids]

From @GrantWahl:

#NED lineup: Stekelenburg; Boulahrouz, Heitinga, Mathijsen, V Bronckhorst; De Zeeuw, V Bommel; Kuyt, Sneijder, Robben, V Persie
#URU lineup: Muslera; Mono Pereira, Godin, Victorino, Cáceres; Diego Pérez, Gargano, Arevalo Ríos, Alvaro Pereira; Forlan, Cavani

[hunter05]

I wish I could mute Harkes.

[URI]

I wish I could mute Harkes.

The vuvuzuelas aren't so bad now, are they?

[mikeford]

Come on you glorious Oranje bastards!

[mikeford]

The vuvuzuelas aren't so bad now, are they?

So very true. Why wasn't Harkes sent home with the USMNT?

[URI]

So very true. Why wasn't Harkes sent home with the USMNT?

They were afraid that old memories would come back and he'd fuck Duece's wife.

[Infield Infidel]

Van Bommel: TAKE NO PRISONERS

[Sausage in Section 17]

Anyone streaming? I'm in the middle of loading a U-Haul, and my DirecTV is disconnected.

[Thieving Venison]

ESPN360 is streaming it, but for some reason I can't seem to access it.

Anyone have an alternate online feed?

[teddykgb]

and my slingbox just shit the bed, so a working streaming link would be helpful

[DLew On Roids]

Dirk Kuyt has a posse.

[cannonball 1729]

Anyone streaming? I'm in the middle of loading a U-Haul, and my DirecTV is disconnected.

atdhe.net is always your friend.

[Infield Infidel]

what a shot

[DLew On Roids]

HOLY SHIT

[bandito0]

What a strike. An absolute lazer.

[Rossox]

What a strike. An absolute lazer.

Indeed, one of the best of the Tourney. That was a BLAST.

[johnmd20]

What a strike. An absolute lazer.

A phenomenal blast! Inspiring, I'm really hoping for a Netherlands-Germany final, so that goal was a good thing.

[URI]

Holy shit, what a strike that was.

[Vinho Tinto]

El Capitan Gio

[Harry Hooper]

Uruguay just got Broncked.

[ifmanis5]

How do you say 'Laser Show' in Dutch?

[bandito0]

Ouch. I wasn't sure if he caught him with the foot when it was live.

[Infield Infidel]

I always imagine that the little cooler the medic brings to the field is filled with a six-pack of the nation's most famous brew.

I guess that means Heineken in this case.

[Zomp]

Caceres shouldn't have been booked there.

[MentalDisabldLst]

Those seeking a stream are welcome to try this one, from Citi's intranet:

http://digitalmedia....9.199.3.11:2001

edit: or just the IP on the end of it, 239.199.3.11 port 2001

Edited by MentalDisabldLst, 06 July 2010 - 02:09 PM.

[Mystic Merlin]

OH MY GOD

[Infield Infidel]

Forlan!

[teddykgb]

Forlan is so money and he doesn't even know it

[Statman]

If you don't mind watching it in Spanish, Univision has a great stream up:

http://futbol.univis...artidos-en-vivo

[Zomp]

He is so sexy.

[Freddy Linn]

This is some good shit.

[bandito0]

Forlan again. The guy is a machine right now.

[ifmanis5]

Great strike but the keeper needs to stop that. Soft goal.

[Hendu's Gait]

Howard would have had it.

[MentalDisabldLst]

Wow was that a perfectly located shot. Almost looked like the keeper should have had it.

[Vinho Tinto]

Great shot. Bad job by the Dutch on allowing the pass to Forlan and giving him that shooting angle.