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Report: United States to play Netherlands in 2010

U.S. Crest Netherlands crest 

 

During this World Cup cycle, the United States national team has tested itself against some of the very best teams, including Spain, Brazil, England and Argentina.

You may soon be able to add Holland to that list.

According to the LA Times, the U.S. is likely to play an exhibition against the Netherlands on March 3 in Eindhoven next year. The game has yet to be confirmed or denied by U.S. Soccer officials, but there is no question that the Dutch, who have already qualified for the World Cup, would provide a tough challenge.

The last time these two teams met was back in February 2004 at Amsterdam Arena, when the Netherlands defeated the Americans, 1-0, courtesy of a goal from then-teenager Arjen Robben.

What do you think of the U.S. potentially playing the Netherlands? Think this U.S. team is capable of stunning the Dutch? Who else would you like to see the team schedule before the World Cup (assuming they qualify)?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. @rkupp

    “The biggest reason for the dismal showing in ’06 was the failure to play any tough competition in the 6 months leading up to the cup.”

    Huh? In 2006, we played Germany in Germany. In fact, IIRC, that game was also in March – probably the exact same international fixture date that this Holland game is on this time around.

    Also, just as a bit of a downer here – IMO, that game against Germany in 2006 was the beginning of the downfall of the 2006 team. We got absolutely slaughtered by Germany (4-1, but could have been worse). The team was never the same again – and it showed in our awful performance at the WC.

    Let’s hope that this matchup doesn’t signal a like drop in play in the months leading up to the Cup.

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  2. the Dutch match will be great- let’s schedule at least one more against another Qualifying group winner– maybe denmark since they’re relatively close by, but i wouldn’t mind slovakia or serbia.

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  3. Don’t take Beckerman to Holland… we may never see him again.

    Posted by: Brett | September 25, 2009 at 12:05 PM
    ———————

    I think Beckerman has more green stuff in his basement than all of Holland

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  4. I’m extcited! I can fly 1 hour from Birmingham UK to Amsterdam for less than £100. I was hoping they would play England but, this is better.

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  5. For me, the Dutch are pound for pound the best team on the planet. What I mean by that is that they are only a nation of 16 million people and no one can face them and take them lightly. I love their style of attack, attack, attack. If the US could pick a style of play to emulate until we could develop a unique one of our own, I would pick the Dutch style of play. Very excited.

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  6. If it happens, this is fantastic, a great test for the team and players against one of the better European national-team sides, a great tuneup, exposure to a different style of play, a possible confidence-builder, etc. This is EXACTLY the type of opponent the US should be scheduling in the WC run-up.

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  7. Excellent prep for what will probably be a tough group draw in S Africa. Agree with PetedeLA – we DEFINITELY need to play against a sub-Saharan African team. Recommend Ivory Coast as they will probably be 2010’s dark horse

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  8. Would love to see a tough Sub-Saharan African team like Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon or Ivory Coast and a tough conter-attacking team like Russia or Paraguay.France would also be nice.

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  9. The more quality games we have after qualifying the better. Bradley will need a chance to get Jones, Bradley, Edu, Feilhaber sorted out along with more looks at left back (castillo).

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  10. Great news.

    The biggest reason for the dismal showing in ’06 was the failure to play any tough competition in the 6 months leading up to the cup.

    Not only does this start to address that, but it signals that Bradley and the USSF aren’t going to make the same mistake.

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  11. If I have the cash I may have to take a vacation in March. The outcome wouldn’t be so good for us though, if the Dutch come to play.

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  12. Well, it’s a March qualifier, and the US does well in getting these one-off matchups, especially when the US is willing to travel. It’s even smart considering most of our WC players will be playing in Europe, and it will not wear them out with excessive travel at the end of the club season. It’s a great matchup for an international date, but a lot will happen in the following months.

    I’m more interested in seeing the US get a decent send-off series. We should have felt their form off when we saw the team struggle in 06 to Morocco, Venezuela, and Latvia. Get a decent set of opponents for those three games, and I’ll be happy.

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  13. There are two things I hate in life: people intolerant of other people’s cultures…..and the Dutch.

    In all seriousness, I’ve always loved the Netherlands style of play. I’d love to see the US play Portugal, Paraguay, and Russia.

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  14. Great match for us. Holland will control 60% of the possession or more, get experience against that style of play will be very valuable.

    Can we take some of our u17 over there and just drop them off at some of the academys for the next couple of years?

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  15. That is an exciting friendly to line up. If both teams play their A-team it will make a great test for the US. Netherlands could actually play into the US counterattacking style since they tend to throw numbers forward.

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  16. Frickin awesome. By the time the World Cup comes around, the US will likely have played most of the top 10 teams in the world.

    If they schedule matches against France and Ivory Coast, I don’t see how any fan could complain.

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  17. I remember after the US – Holland game leading up to the 2002 WC a player was quoted (I think it was Edgar Davids) saying that the US could make the quarterfinals.

    I wonder what they’ll say this time?

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  18. These, are the kind of games we need to be playing these days. We’ll never take it to the next level spending our Friendlies against Swedish/Welsh/Polish “C” Teams.

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  19. I’m gonna go ahead and start saving up for that trip. Like, now. Thankfully I’ve already got DC next month paid for. Maybe Santa will help. I just know I’ve always wanted to see the Oranje play in Holland, and this seems a wondeful time/opportunity to do it.

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  20. This is awesome. Potential revenge from last year’s painful OLY game, and a great side to play against before SA (assuming we qualify). Can’t get any better.

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  21. Just like Strider: I’d like to see us take on an african team that has qualified in Germany or England in our warm up. Assuming 1)we qualify and 2) that the team isn’t in our group. Then play a strong CONMEBOL team away or at a neutral site.

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  22. Exactly what we need. A strong opponent in Europe minimizing travel for most of our players. 1 or 2 more would be helpful, say Tunisia there and one of the CONMEBOL qualifiers here in Jan or Feb.

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  23. this would be great for us! as far as other teams id like to schedule before the WC, i wouldn’t mind getting another shot at England after they worked us last year… the way they’re playing under Capello now, that game would be a huge benchmark going into the WC…

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  24. Sweet, I am excited. I remember that game well.

    The Bruce did a terrible job of scouting the Netherlands in that game. They left the right flank wide open, hoping to capitalize on Hejduk’s speed and fitness. Apparently no one told Arena that this Robben kid is really good and fast as well. Whoops. Other than that the US played a decent game. Convey had a terrific opportunity to tie it but blew the shot. Reyna was a beast that game too.

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  25. It would be great experience prior to the world cup and would be beneficial with our heavily Euro-based squad as far as travel. We have played some good teams this cycle: England, Spain, Argentina, Italy, Brazil, Egypt, Spain, Brazil.

    It would be great to have the Dutch next year. One of the delays in confirmation could be the draw for the World Cup in December. We won’t play them if they’re in our group so USSF might be waiting to make any announcements. I would also like to see one more big team on our schedule next year. An exhibition against a team like Australia on the west coast would be good.

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