Comments on: Netherlands-France Liveblog on the Main Page

By: Jan

Jan — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 14:40:11 +0000

I agree that the fourth goal wasn’t that important anymore, but what puzzled me is: why was Malouda marking Kuyt at that corner kick. He didn’t even watch the ball come in! And what the hell was Henry doing there in no man’s land?

Second goal: Gallas suddenly stopped running back to close the space between Robben and Van Persie. Why?

Third goal: it has been said already: Thuram and Coupet… Even Robben looked puzzled after he scored.

Bad defending by France and bad luck upfront.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:54:01 +0000

I agree with most of what you’ve said Mustafa, but let’s not give Domenech a great deal of credit for getting the team to the finals of the World Cup. Zizou was managing that squad from the third match of that tournament on. And as far as having Barthez come back to replace Coupet. That may not ever be happening, but Mandanda has had a lot of Barthez-esque moments this year (and I mean that in the good way).

By: Eoin

Eoin — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:17:09 +0000

Yeah, that’s what I have been thinking; I wonder how this actually reflects on the Dutch team. Obviously they are a good team, great on the counter-attack but I want to see how they react when they have to chase a game. Both of the games so far have played right into their hands, even if both Italy and France clearly have lots of flaws.

By: Mustafa

Mustafa — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:13:33 +0000

I think the 4 goals are deceptive,…when a fast paced team like Holland quickly goes up by 1 goal,…the tendency is for the other team to take more gambles to create scoring opportunities. Inevitably this gives more opportunities for Holland,..and thats how they pile on the points.

The Romanian keeper was great,…and the Turkish keeper was fantastic against the Swiss especially given the condition of the pitch!!! He made some tremendous saves.

By: Eoin

Eoin — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:02:28 +0000

Romanian keeper, Lobont, was a bit of a hero today as well.

By: Eoin

Eoin — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:01:53 +0000

Fair point.
What a turning point was Henry’s miss and then that penalty decision. Referees have been pretty frustrating so far. When illegally denying a certain goal, distinction between intentional and unintentional is irrelevant. Basically, it’s a penalty and the issue of intention should only be used for weighing up whether or not the offender gets a red-card. That said, it obviously doesn’t excuse conceding 4. The pace of the Dutch counter-attack is frightening. Teams will need to be so wary of that when they meet them in the knockout rounds.

By: Mustafa

Mustafa — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 23:57:13 +0000

Eoin,

I don’t have the clarity of objective analysis after what I witnessed,…only emotional analysis. And what I know is that for teams to when tournaments the goalie has to surpass himself. Perhaps its not fair to put all the blame on Coupet,..but I’ve witnessed many a game when the goalie was literally the only thing between victory and certain defeat. Heck,..even todays Italy-Romania game,…Italians would have been on their way home right NOW if Buffon doesn’t make that save. Meanwhile Coupet gave up the 3rd goal which in all rights he should have saved. If he saved it the game is still 2-1 with 15 minutes left,….plenty of time to even the score. The 3rd goal was the back breaker. While other players clearly messed up,…the most obvious mistakes belonged to Coupet.

By: Eoin

Eoin — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 23:45:06 +0000

Basically, they need Xavi in the centre alongside Toulalan plus Villa and Torres, with Ribery and Nasri as the supporting players. But that isn’t going to happen…

By: Eoin

Eoin — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 23:43:24 +0000

France desperately need a ball-playing midfielder, like Sneijder for the Netherlands. You are right in pointing out that makelele can’t cut it at this level anymore, while Toulalan is good at his job but is basically fulfilling the same role as Makelele and there is no creativity in the midfield, and nobody to spread the ball into the channels, a strategy rendered pointless anyway considering how hopeless Malouda has been all year. Ribery and Nasri should be sent to fulfill the aforementioned roles, and they need some more mobile and hard-working strikers. Govou could work out well, and Henry if he gets service and support from the midfield.

By: Eoin

Eoin — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 23:39:12 +0000

To be fair, it doesn’t matter if Northern Ireland didnt’ qualify, the fact is we exceeded all expectations in our qualification campaign, it was pretty heroic. France is like 20 times the size of us, and is World Cup finalists. Plus, I’m critiquing France, don’t start changing the subject to other teams, it’s pathetic, everyone realises England didn’t qualify and were crap, move on and try and consider the relevant issues. I am entitled to express my opinion. “There is only one person that lost the game for us”. Yeah, I think my points were valid. You named a host of problems, then scapegoated one player, who was actually one of the least influential players in France’s miserable campaign so far. That scapegoating in spite of all the other glaring problems is exactly what I was condemning you for.