Good afternoon folks. I’m coming to you from an undisclosed location in the Western part of the United States and while I promised myself I would stay away from SBI today, I just can’t. SF is doing a great job holding things down today, but I still had to check in and see how the SBI Mafia is doing today.
The Netherlands is about to face France in what is arguably the best Euro 2008 match-up so far (okay, one of them) and I’m pretty pumped to see how it goes.
I will do a running commentary for the match, or at least the first half. Feel free to follow the match. If you’re watching, or wishing you could watch, then please feel free to share your thoughts on the match below.
Enjoy the match.
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49th minute- Okay folks, I’m done with the commentary for the day. I may check back in and post in the comments, but those of you participating can take it from here. Thanks for following along again and for making SBI your place to follow Euro 2008.
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HALFTIME– Netherlands 1, France 0. The Dutch got off to a flying start with an early goal, but the French took over the last 25 or so minutes of the first half. Will they find an equalizer? It looks like they’ll have their chances to.
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42nd minute– It’s very strange to see the Dutch sitting back and defending. Is it the French pressuring or the Dutch actually trying to protect this lead.
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37th minute– France has taken complete control of this match. They’re moving the ball around, but haven’t found the golden chance to beat Van Der Sar yet.
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36th minute– France finally plays some good attacking soccer, creating a beautiful sequence that leads to a shot that is saved. France comes back with another attack but Ribery’s shot is smothered by Van Der Sar, who is on great form.
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32nd minute– Makelele gets a gellow for a nice smack in the face of Rafael Van Der Vaart, who is making a meal of it.
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29th minute– Still waiting for France’s attack to show up.
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23rd minute– Govou forces a save from Van Der Sar, not a bad shot and not a bad kick save by Van Der Sar.
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21st minute– The French are on their heels so far. One thing that seems interesting is France’s inability to hold onto the ball.
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15th minute– The Dutch look a step quicker than France early on. France looks a bit old, sort of like Italy did against the Dutch.
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12th minute– Nigel De Jong with a crunching tackle. He’s had a strong tournament.
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10th minute– Kuyt beats Malouda in the penalty area to power home the header from close range. The Dutch are cruising.
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10th minute- GOAL NETHERLANDS!!!! Dirk Kuyt with the header!!
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7th minute– It still boggles my mind that David Trezeguet didn’t make the France roster. How does that happen? He should be there and should be starting.
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5th minute– The French attack looks a bit off early on as the Dutch look like they’re giving France some space to operate.
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2nd minute– Thierry Henry is back in the lineup for France, with Karim Benzema going to the bench. Benzema looked a bit overmatched in the opener against Romania.
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1st minute– And we’re off.
i loved every single one of william the terror’s hup hollands haha
Ives,
Do you think that the Netherlands will throw their third match against Romania (2pts) so they won’t have a chance to play Italy(1pts) or France(1pts) again it the Semifinals of the Euro 2008?
coach bradley must be an advisor to the french. Two holding mids, and keep them in throughout the game even when you fall behind by two, three goals. Because if you do get a chance to score you want the ball on the foot of one of those mids.
Holland.
Wow.
Wow.
speechless (except to say that Danny nailed it with his comment).
After watching those two group C games today…This is why I love Football, Futebol, Soccer…What ever you want to call it lol…Ain’t no other sport like the beautiful game
What a game! Goals 3 and 4 were a joy to behold. I’m a bit nervous for the Dutch moving forward, it’s all going so well, will they freeze if they find themselves in a close game?
I give the goat of the game to my favorite french whipping boy Toulalan, who gave no challenge to Robben on goal 3, back when it mattered. Give France a blood transfusion, starting with Diarra. And they need to pull it together, there is still Italy to eliminate!
Great game for a Dutch Fan, and sorry for those of you who are not. Hup, Holland!!
@Manic: you raise a good point about the Dutch fielding a team that takes something off Romania. Because Romania can still advance with a tie. So, that means the France/Italy game MUST be played for a win. As someone posted earlier, that game should be a doozy.
To start with, the Dutch were deserved winners. They have played beautiful football, and are a perfect example of football at its best.
Domenech is driving a Porsche 15 miles an hour the way he has aligned this team. Based on the selections so far I have no belief Domenech will change his attitude before the next game. Frankly, this team doesn’t deserve to advance based on the way its played over the 1st 2 matches.
I hope France get the win over Italy, but how could you have any confidence that they will. I am confident that the Dutch will put out a side that will at least get something from Romania.
Sneijder!! Beautiful strike, 4-1 Dutch.
2 games. 6 goals by 6 different players. what a wealth of talent.
I failed to mention that he fell down in the attempt and failed to take it.
van Nistelrooy on the other end with a header that takes a superb effort by Coupet to keep it out!!
A lot of people criticize the Dutch defense, and I suppose that’s fair. But, the depth at the midfield and striker positions is absolutely frightening.
@William – You do have a point there. I guess I don’t see the backups for the Dutch being that bad, even if they do sit the A-team.
@ManicMessiah – I sorta want Domenech fired also. The sooner the better. Maybe send him a star chart that has, “You’re Fired” written in the stars.
A France player in the box with a golden opportunity to score, wide open. Who is it? Makelele, who of course is still on the pitch down by 2 goals.
GOOAALLLL!!!!!! Robben. 3-1. Hup. Holland!!!
Anelka on for Govou. Thank goodness France is keeping his 2 defensive midfielders in.
OMG…why do I have to be working and not watching this game on TV!!
If there was a way for Domenech to be sacked before the end of this game, that would suit me just fine.
Henry!!!!
Beautiful flick into the goal, and France are still in it!!
And, even if the Dutch did rest players, you’d have to figure Robben and van Persie would be in to get minutes coming off injuries.
Ugh, Robben!!!
Gotta love that lighting Dutch counterattack.
@Boheme: there exists another possibility entirely. Suppose the Dutch clear the bench to rest their A-tem for the quarters. This would be viewed by conspiracy theorists as a “give away” to Romania, ensuring that neither France nor Italy advance. These sort of things have happened before.
I’m pretty much guaranteeing the Dutch beat Romania. Since that is the case, the France vs. Italy match is just going to be awesome. All to play for…both teams needing a win. Should be fun…especially when Italy loses!
who made the play at midfield saving it from a throw in? that was awesome!
The substitute scores for the Dutch!! 2-0 to Holand. They strike on the break, with a beautiful ball from Robben to van Persie, with his finish just managing to trickle in off the French keeper.
Gomis on for Malouda, which is much too late for a change.
Robben to Van Persie!!!! 2-0
2 years ago Henry puts that shot it.
Forgot to mention that the SIX DIFFERENT channels of golf work fine…overkill much?
The Dutch are struggling on defense, so they… take out Kuyt for van Persie. It may prove to be a foolish decision, but how can you not root for the Dutch (even though I’m rooting for France).
NoWobVid:
Mine has cut out also. The golf works fine, which is killing me.
54th- Henry is alone on the keeper who rushed from his line, but tries to chip it over and failed. There is no way he can miss that chance.
49th minute- Bright start to the 2nd half for France. A handball decision may have gone the wrong way in favor of the Dutch.
Seeing the replay, it wasn’t intentional, but it probably stopped the ball from going into the net, so if the ref saw it it had to be called.
Is anyone else not able to watch on ESPN360? Mine failed late in the first half, both english and spanish feeds.
Looks like the Oranje are going to need a second goal. It’s not like them to sit back and play defense. I hope the second half starts with an offensive flurry.
Toulalan is worthless IMO. But his astrology is probably right.
The Dutch are up 1, and they take of a defensive player in midfield for an attacking one, while France do nothing.
Dutch sub Robben on at half for Engelaar. I like the sub, they were a bit sluggish.
gotta go gents – off to catch a plane!
The French look old and slow again, although Holland seem to be sorta lulled down to their pace. Or over-confident.
I said in the other thread but I think all were here, if I cared about France I’d be furious at them playing Toulalan instead of Diarra.
Tho maybe not so much anymore…
Is it just me, or should the French (esp the defense) be wearing the “traffic cone orange” jerseys?
You think Ribery would have looked to pass off if that was anyone but Makelele?
Netherlands: 1-Edwin van der Sar; 21-Khalid Boulahrouz, 2-Andre Ooijer, 4-Joris Mathijsen, 5-Giovanni van Bronckhorst; 17-Nigel de Jong, 8-Orlando Engelaar; 18-Dirk Kuyt, 23-Rafael van der Vaart, 10-Wesley Sneijder; 9-Ruud van Nistelrooy.
France: 23-Gregory Coupet; 19-Willy Sagnol, 15-Lilian Thuram, 5-William Gallas, 13-Patrice Evra; 10-Sidney Govou, 20-Jeremy Toulalan, 6-Claude Makelele, 7-Florent Malouda; 22-Franck Ribery, 12-Thierry Henry
Usually, I pine for HD for big matches, but not today, Ribery gives me nightmares in HD.
France has finally decided to start participating in the match.
This is going to have to be a helluva game to top the Romania-Italy game (who ever would’ve thought *that* sentence would be written)…
3 players warming up for France; Diarra, Gomis, and Nasri, I think.
GOOOOAAAAALLLL!!!!!!!!!! Hup, Holland!!!
I meant, assuming US fans were lucky enough to have those problems.
Dirk Kuyt works hard, but every time I see him play I think that there certainly must be better players than him available.
As for Trezeguet, you are completely right, Ives. Between that, and Domenech’s insistance on 2 defensive minded midfielders in the center, I think The angry outpouring of US soccer fans might crash the internet.
Malouda was standing next to Kuyt, but I wouldn’t call it defending. 1-0 Netherlands.
Ives, might we you see wandering HDC on Sunday?
Ives, might we you see wandering HDC on Sunday?