Dutch dreaming of destiny

Two weeks ago few Holland fans would have dared dream it possible to win the 'Group of Death' so handsomely by beating both Italy and France, indeed cynicism about the chances of the Netherlands 'Elftal' was all around.

Some wondered how much authority Oranje coach Marco van Basten would have over the squad when he was soon due to depart for Ajax.

This theory was given credence by star striker Ruud van Nistelrooy who in a pre-tournament interview criticised Van Basten's methods, while many fans and journalists were deeply unhappy with the manager's decision to scrap the time-honoured 4-3-3 system with flying wingers for what seemed to be a more defensive 4-2-3-1.

How can we be successful in Switzerland and Austria, complained the traditionalists, if we play a game alien to our nature?

The doubters need not have worried. A goal-difference of 7:1 and maximum points from their encounters with Italy and France has stylishly qualified the Dutch for the last-eight and in the time it takes Arjen Robben to dash down the wing, they have gone from a side with a permanent question mark against their name to firm favourites.

A straightforward 2-0 win against Romania in their final game further underlined the progress of the Dutch as they topped Group C with maximum points.

'I've never been one to be hung up tactical systems,' says Hans van Breukelen, Holland's keeper when they won the continental title for the first and only time in Germany back in 1988.

'In our country we have a great reverence for 4-3-3, for the Ajax way of playing. But there are other systems and you have to be open-minded. Marco Van Basten thought a change of shape would better suit the players he has at his disposal. He had the courage to be flexible.

'It's been wonderful watching us dismantle the Italians and the French. We've proved ourselves to be the complete team. Collectively we look strong, we have a vast array of individual attacking talent and are able to take the game to the opposition or hit very effectively on the break. Our combination play has been outstanding, we're able to change rhythm quickly and at the back we've been pretty solid', says van Breukelen.

The former Dutch stopper has also been impressed with the current keeper and the team's skipper, Edwin van der Sar: 'He's been making great saves at vital times, the sort of brilliant stops which discourages the opposition. Right now he's at the top of his game.

'What we have going for us is that we have goals and individual class all over the attacking-third. Van Nistelrooy is simply an instinctive goal-poacher of the highest order and we have a super blend in attacking midfield: the guts and drive of Kuyt, the ball-skills of Van der Vaart and Wesley Sneijder, who is probably the player of the tournament so far. Sneijder is not really a frontrunner, nor is he a genuine schemer. He's a bit of both and defenders have trouble knowing how to deal with him.'

Apparently Arsene Wenger declared on French TV before his country's game with Holland that the Oranje were not strong enough to beat Les Bleus and that the Netherlands' weakness was their defence.

Well, Arsene is certainly entitled to his opinion, but the statistics of the moment say different. The likes of Andre Ooijer, Khalid Boulahrouz and Joris Mathijsen may be journeymen and left-back Giovanni van Bronckhorst plays in midfield for Feyenoord these days, but they are gritty in the extreme and work superbly as a unit.

'We are still astounded how well the back-four has stood up to the likes of Toni and Henry,' says Jan Hermen de Bruijn, the editor of Dutch football magazine Elf.

'We have a world-class keeper in Van der Sar, but we thought the defence lacked some mobility and concentration. They have proved us wrong. Against the French in particular they showed a lot of guts to keep out the French when they were dominating.'

Former Denmark and Ajax coach Morten Olsen sees the introduction of two defensive midfielders into the set up as the key. 'Now there are two guys to sweep up in front of the back-line [it] has brought them a lot of stability. In my opinion Nigel de Jong has been a revelation. He did a fantastic job taking care of Ribery. He played the Frenchman with great intelligence and athleticism.'

During the qualifiers Marco van Basten came in for much criticism for the performances of this team, some were cruel and dismissed the Dutch's lack of artistry as downright ugly displays, other more generous observers merely labelled the displays 'nondescript'.

Dutch footballing legend or not, Van Basten felt the heat. So it must be deeply satisfying for him to hear the hard-to-please Dutch media singing his praises and lauding his tactical acumen.

'At half-time, we had a problem as the French were getting on top,' opines Erik Oudshoorn of the NRC Handelsblad newspaper.

'Many coaches would have looked to reinforce on the defensive side. Van Basten instead brings on an extra forward in Robben for defensive midfielder Engelaar. It worked like a dream, Robben making one and scoring another. Suddenly we had a deep threat thanks to Robben's pace. Van Basten was positive. His risk paid off.'

Now the all-important question is whether Holland can maintain their magical momentum. Teams who fly out of the traps in big international competitions do tend to blow up in the latter stages.

Frans van den Nieuwenhof of the Eindhoven Dagblad believes the tens of thousands of Dutch fans who have taken over Berne should try to keep a sense of perspective.

'Of course we've been playing brilliantly,' he accepts. 'Our counter-attacking has been fantastic, but I'm not sure we have the passing ability in this team. To beat both the winners and runners up at the last World Cup is quite an achievement, but we have to remember there were spells in both matches when we were hanging on.'

Group stage performances don't always decide the destiny of major tournaments, but Holland head into the next phase of Euro 2008 with optimism they wouldn't have dreamed about a fortnight ago.

---

Any comments? Email Us

Click here to visit the Soccernet Store