van Basten has been in the team that brought the only major title to Holland. Can he repeat success as coach of the national side?
Owing to the high quality opposition that it presents, Group C had already been dubbed by many as the group of death since the Euro 2008 draw a few months ago. Proposing a rematch of the last World Cup final between France and Italy and throwing in the mix the qualities of high ranking squads Romania and Holland justifies the title for this exciting group.
Holland
Holland are probably well described as successful losers. Whenever they have qualified for a major tournament they almost always make an impact at the competition and advance to the final stages only to stumble at the last hurdle.
Twice have they been on the losing end of a World Cup final, and combining the Euro and the World Cup events together they have ended their adventure four times at the semifinals and twice at the quarter-finals.
The truth is that Holland has always had some of the most talented players to grace the game all around Europe, yet never a real tactical mastermind that could take advantage of all the mature fruits that the Dutch soil was producing.
The Manager – Marco van Basten
The only Dutch player to ascend to the legendary status achieved by Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten has been less effective at directing a team from the bench. Ironically he did not remain true to his preferred style of football when he was still running on the fields wearing the right pair of shoes. The total football style so loved by the Dutch and well exemplified by their ultra offensive club teams in the Eredivisie has been set aside by the striker par excellence.
Marco van Basten has already declared he will be looking for pastures anew after Euro2008 is over. After a wobbly qualification campaign for the tournament that saw them take second place in Group G behind Romania and just one point above Bulgaria many were already questioning whether it would be a good idea to remove the manager halfway through. But in the end it was decided to continue with van Basten’s services up until after Euro 2008 so he will definitely be vying for the perfect farewell gift and bring home the same trophy he lifted to the air when he was still a player.
The Squad
The European nation which was closest to the kings of samba Brazil in the way they conceptualize football has recently turned its back on its roots and became a more pragmatic side in search of that tactical element which has always been somewhat missing from the national team of Holland.
The rearguard has been a wall of steel all throughout the Euro 2008 qualification stages. After twelve matches it was the least penetrated together with that of France and the Czech Republic. Just five goals conceded means that Heitinga, Boulahrouz, Mathijsen, van Bronckhorst, Ooijer and captain van der Sar have been doing a great job at the back.
Offensively the picture looks more bleak as amongst all the qualified teams for Euro 2008 Holland’s has by far been the worst goal record. A mere 15 hits with such names as Kuyt, van Nistelrooy, van Persie, Huntelaar and Babel in attack indicates there is something wrong in that department.
In fact, initially Real Madrid striker van Nistelrooy had been overlooked by van Basten due to personal problems between the two. However, an increasingly difficult situation prompted him to put aside any differences and recall the prolific forward.
The only attacker to perform consistently for the Dutch has been Arsenal-bound van Persie, who was one goal shy of equalling the tally of all the other Holland strikers put together. Liverpool players Babel and Kuyt have not been enjoying the best of moments in front of goal lately whilst Huntelaar has yet to make his mark with the national side.
The midfield is what keeps the offensive unit alive. With midfield maestros such as Sneijder, Robben, van der Vaart and Seedorf the danger balls will keep on coming indefinitely.
Prediction
Usually Holland are always given as one of the favourites for every major tournament finals they take part in. Heading into Euro 2008, however, the Dutch have never been so underestimated before. Partly because of the impending leave that van Basten will be taking from the national side soon after the competition is over and partly due to having been sorted into the most difficult group of Euro 2008.
Nonetheless I believe that this can actually work to their advantage. They can work their way up to the final only to once more face the jinx that has had them dubbed perennial losers of success.
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