Snippets from the Dutch camp
- 17 Jun 06, 02:54 PM
MUNICH - As we travelled south this morning I pulled up at traffic lights on the outskirts of Stuttgart.
Another camper van stopped alongside me. The driver, resplendent in orange, turned towards me so I said "hello" - what I did not expect was his reply.
"Do you want a beer?," were his opening words.
"Sorry?"
"Do you want one?," he said, producing a half-drunk bottle as if to reaffirm the point.
"Um, a little bit early for me thanks." It had just gone 10 in the morning.
No question, the Dutch are here to party, behind the wheel or not.
The atmosphere in the team camp was one of jubilation and relief after their on Friday secured their qualification from the so-called .
The players seemed pretty relaxed as they walked through the mixed zone between their changing rooms and team coach after the match.
Several commented on the quality of Argentina and how it was undoubtedly a good thing that they do not need annything from their game against them on Wednesday to secure their passage to the second round.
Edwin van der Sar looked extemely perplexed that a journalist's opening question to him after they had just seen off a decent Ivory Coast side was whether he was disappointed that a traditionally attacking Dutch team had managed so few shots on target.
That interview didn't last long.
Mark van Bommel talked about how excited he is at the prospect of playing alongside Eidur Gudjohnsen for Barcelona next season, while Phillip Cocu explained that the players were finding it difficult to cope with the humidity.
The heat in Germany has been a real issue and the Dutch have struggled as much as anyone else.
As per usual, Ruud van Nistelrooy was descended upon by all and sundry the moment he appeared, while Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben were also in great demand.
Alas, both these players spurned my advances for a quick word.
They must discuss their excuses in advance because they both said "I have to go to the team coach".
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Hullo there,
Just a word from Africa
Its so amazing how african teams are being sent back home with no chances of ever getting to the semi finals of the cup.
Down here in Uganda people are not happy at all as their desperation gets bigger each game that gets underway.
Well- all African teams just get to know that all home is behind you even thought it is tought down there.
Big up U got there.
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The dutch team this time isn't as exciting as the ones they've had before, but they look tight defensively. They could go a long way.
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Dutch celebration is not unusual as they qualified as a fourth team for the second round. Ivory Coast is a very good side among the newcomer and they have some potential players and world will definitely miss them in the successive matches. Netherlands has showed some good skill based performance. So, the mystery of group of death has been resolved and two most favorite teams have at last qualified.
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The Dutch had two very tough games and they went in there and got six points. But they were not so much better than the Ivory Coast.
But its sad to see that a side as good as Ivory Coast wont be in the second round. Until the day African teams are also seeded at the World Cup they will always be placed in very tough groups even when seemingly weaker teams just sail through just because they were seeded.
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"Its so amazing how african teams are being sent back home with no chances of ever getting to the semi finals of the cup."
To get to the semi-finals of the cup you simply have to play well enough.
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In terms of seeding, the formula is based on two criteria: performance in the last three World Cups and the FIFA rankings for the last three years. The top eight teams by those criteria are seeded, so if teams wish to be seeded they need to consistently improve their performances and rankings.
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What's wrong with a beer at 10am, you wuss?!?!?
Seriously, Dan is right, the African teams are here by merit. If they get through to the knockout rounds then that will be by merit too. They are becoming, game by game, serious contenters for the 2010 World Cup, which by the way, is in South Africa!! Good Luck to them, I say! A shake up of world football is long overdue!! Too many European teams have dominated for too long.
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Why are many teams playing all in the one colour like holland, Italy, Swden and France. Clearly their kits on sale in the uk have different coloured shorts i.e the traditional white of italy and france ?
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Why are so many people complain about England's performance? Judging from displays by all 32 teams so far, they all deserved their place in this World Cup competition. They all have their strength and weakness. All respective national coaches and players have their own calculated tactics - it's more than a chess game. To think it's easy to play and walk over smaller footballing nations, you will be out after the group stage. Look at Mexico-Angola, IItaly-USA, Czech-Ghana.
As for England, I think they will play better when they play against bigger names e.g. Germany, Argentina etc etc. so bring them on and give England a game or test.
Come on England.
With a bit of luck, England could play in the final and with a bit more luck and fortune....... you never know!
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Dan, you are right with the criteria used for seeding. For the African (and Asian teams) to improve ranking quickly they need to constantly compete against the top ranked nations and the only place to do that is at the World Cup. Beating other African or Asian countries wont improve ranking much because they are ranked lowly as well. Friendlies help but dont carry much weighing. You come to to the World Cup without seeding like Ivory Coast and you are out in the first round and past performance is therefore affected. So in the end its a no win situation.
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Talking of African teams..Ghana has a great chance. They ran Italy ragged taking most of the play but failed to finish. The Czechs now had a taste of 'real football'. Played like it used to be played, before the highly paid over rated mob took over. The Ghana team in my opinion deserve to go into the next round. What is good is they play 'their game'. They appear not to bother with inflated reputations of so called world class players. So non stop Ghana is for me the team to watch. Football at it's best!
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Wes, I think the Ivory Coast have been very unlucky with the draw more than anything. If they had been in Group B instead of Trinidad and Tobago, for instance, then I think they would have progressed to the knockout rounds easily ;-)
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Dear Sir: As a Asian do`t believe the continat are serious about wining& to go to second stage.They are happy just to participate&get famus at home for the commersial end .They do`t tacel or play like a man &worth call the Game Socare which is a sissy game for Weman in north America!Ido love Football but can`t bring myself down to watch local matches.Only Prim Liouge, Liga Spaniol&Serie A.The africans are catching up with the rest of the World Tecknical& Tactical they need a bit of Money.In the conterary the Asian are repeating the same mistake over&ovre, can`t see the light in the end of tunnel.
Yours Watababe japan
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