The Dutch were poor, but were they THAT poor?

The story of the group stages has certainly been the failure of the Dutch, World Cup finalists two years ago and many people's favorites for the tournament, to register a single point which sent them crashing out of the tournament with just two goals to their name. A squad that included Robin van Persie, Klaus Jan Huntelaar, Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder and Rafael Van der Vaart, who between them scored 127 goals in the season just gone, was certainly expected to do far better.

Whilst much was made before the tournament of how one of the great strengths of the Netherlands would be how little their team had changed two years on from their clash with Spain inside Soccer City, it actually turned out to be perhaps their biggest weakness. Their success in South Africa was predicated on having 6 players, the back four plus Nigel De Jong and Mark Van Bommel, to be defensively secure and thus allowing their front four of Van Persie, Robben, Sneijder and Kuyt to influence the game at the other end. Yet many of the players who served Van Marwijk so well two years ago, struggled badly this time round. Gregory Van Der Wiel, has not progressed as many expected and is very suspect defensively, whilst Jonny Heitinga who enjoyed an excellent season with Everton appeared very out of form(which could potentially indicate an injury or just tiredness at the end of a long hard season). Joris Mathijsen was never properly fit and was always going to be a risk when he was rushed back in. You feel sorry for Jetro Willems who certainly has potential but unfortunately looked totally out of his depth and was consistently caught out of position and regularly gave the ball away. Although you had to feel some sympathy for the youngster given the way in which he was constantly berated by his team mates, Sneijder and Robben in particular, which could hardly have helped his confidence.

In terms of the midfield, Van Bommel has been a consistently underrated player in the past decade, although his attitude and general demenour certainly don't help. It is certainly not coincidental that every club he plays for, usually wins the league and challenges in Europe. However it did appear that his body was no longer able to cope with 3 high intensity games in such quick succession, especially after the sapping heat of their opening game against Denmark in Kharkiv.

Whilst the Dutch formula in South Africa did not make for particularly entertaining spectacles nor free flowing football, it was clear to the naked eye that Bert van Marwijk's team had a clear philosophy and an excellent understanding of what each individuals role was. These two factors were shockingly absent from their displays in Poland and Ukraine with the zenith of this disorganisation being the 2-1 defeat to a Cristiano Ronaldo inspired Portugal.

Although given brief hope by Van Der Vaart's early strike, Holland never looked comfortable in the lead and Portugal always seemed confident in their ability to level the game. First and foremost the lack of midfield protection for an already shaky defence was glaringly obvious. Although in an unenviable position, given that Holland needed to win by two clear goals, Van Marwijk's decision to use Van Der Vaart as one of the two central midfielders backfired horribly. Despite his goal and nearly scoring a second one, Van Der Vaart demonstrated a total unawareness of his defensive and positional duties. He was continually caught up the pitch and often ended up wandering in to Sneijder and Van Persie's zone to little or no effect.

If Van Marwijk wished to have Van der Vaart involved further up the field he may well have been better served dropping Van Persie, as he looked uncomfortable playing as second striker and instead using Kevin Strootman of PSV, who is not as purely defensive as Van Bommel nor as purely attacking as Van Der Vaart but somewhere in between.

It is slightly strange that Van Marwijk chose not to use Strootman for even a minute of the three games and yet was so willing to use Ibrahim Affelay from the start. Although Affelay is a talent, he had played no football going into the last two warm up friendlies yet Van Marwijk chose to go with Affelay ahead of the more experienced option of Kuyt. In terms of technical ability and talent it is no contest between Kuyt and Affelay but Kuyt's defensive qualities not to mention his selflessness may have been of use to the Dutch. Not only is Kuyt famously hard working and defensively diligent (and thus could have offered far better protection to either Van der Wiel or Willems) but he is also an incredibly selfless player going forward. In an attack full of players who are the focal point of their club sides, there were a number of occasions when forwards, Robben in particular, were guilty of taking unnecessary touches on the ball and holding onto possession for too long.

Equally the movement to create space for others was not as good as it could have been and it is telling that it was Huntelaar, who is a far less selfish and egocentric as many of his attacking colleagues, who created the space for Robben to play the ball inside for the opening goals against Portugal by making a diagonal run across the back line.

Having said all this there is certainly an argument to be made that the Dutch were not actually as poor as they are being made out to be in some quarters and that Van Marwijk is not as culpable as some would argue. Firstly as Zonal Marking points out, there is little Van Marwijk can do when two of Europe's most prolific strikers miss hugely presentable chances in every game. Equally the poor goal keeping of Martin Stekelenburg, for Mario Gomez's second goal can hardly be blamed on the coach.

Additionally it should be said that whilst Van Marwijk may have been overly cautious with his selection of both Van Bommel and De Jong in midfield; two points should be remembered. One, those two had been instrumental in the Dutch reaching the World Cup final as well as a highly impressive European qualifying campaign and two, the Dutch were drawn into the toughest of the four groups and as such one can hardly castigate Van Marwijk for being slightly cautious given the quality of opposition that the Dutch have come up against.


Changes will probably be made, Erik Pieters when fit will resume left back duty. Van Bommel has probably played his last tournament and will give way to a younger player, probably Strootman. The most interesting prospect is what Van Marwijk, or the new coach if one is appointed, decides to do up front. Given the fact that the Dutch public practically demand 4-3-3 or some variant, there is room for only one central striker. Given that Van Persie has not performed for the second tournament in a row, not to mention the fact that there have always been those who believe Holland play better with Huntelaar, Van Persie may find himself playing second fiddle during the World Cup qualifying campaign.

Ultimately the Dutch have had a hugely disappointing tournament and have fallen below the standards both set and expected of them. However had they won their opening game against the Danes, which they had more than enough chances to do so, as well as having a stonewall penalty denied, then things could have been very different.


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Olympic Football

Whilst the eyes of the footballing world are firmly fixed upon Poland and Ukraine at the present time, an even bigger sporting event lies just around the corner. The London Olympics promises much. Michael Phelps, the most successful Olympian ever, will look to add to his 14 gold medals in the pool. Usain Bolt will attempt to better 9.58 and talks optimistically of going sub 9.4, and Jessica Ennis will feel the pressure of an expectant nation all around her, like Cathy Freeman and Michael Johnson before her, as she looks to win gold in the heptathlon. Yet for all this excitement and expectation, there is an increasingly unpleasant sideshow that has developed over the past 18 months, the Great Britain Olympic football team.

In an ideal world, sports such as football, tennis, basketball and others would not be in the Olympics. Many argue that the games should remain the exclusive enclave of amateur and not professional sportsman. Personally speaking this is less of an issue for me given the fact that the days of top amateur sportsman are well and truly over and whilst there are notable exceptions the vast majority of top athletes are professional in every meaningful aspect. No, the major issue is that sports whose greatest glory is achieved outside of the Olympic games should not be part of the games. The Olympics is meant to be seen as the defining moment of an athletes career, the very pinnacle of their sport and yet the ultimate achievements in football are World Cups, Copa Americas, league titles and Champions League victories. In tennis, the achievement of  triumphing at Melbourne Park, Roland Garross, SW19 and Flushing Meadows will always be valued above Olympic gold. In basketball an NBA championship is valued above all others, the list goes on.

That is not to say that those who have tasted success in both do not treasure their medal, it is a well known fact that all the top male and female tennis players are relishing the opportunity to win gold on the grass at Wimbledon this summer.

However as previously stated sports such as this are here to stay in the Olympics so those who genuinely hope to see these events removed will be disappointed. To get back to the main point of this piece though is that the Great Britain football team really has no place in this Olympics.

This is the first and will most likely be the last time that GB ever enter a football team into the Olympics, so straight away we have moved from the Olympics being the pinnacle of sport to it being used as a glorified exhibition opportunity. Maybe the next time an American city hosts the Olympics they could ask the Harlem Globetrotters to play. Because that is the equivalent of what this football team represents, especially if, as expected, David Beckham is rewarded for all those sinew stretching, physically exhausting and mentally grueling five years in Major League Soccer. The fact that Beckham will be included is the single biggest indicator of the farcical nature of the GB football team. Whilst many athletes have done everything within their power over the past four years to earn a place at the games, Beckham looks set to be included primarily on the following criteria



1) It will make a fitting tribute to the closing chapter of his career
2) He is originally from the East End and therefore has the chance to play in front of his home crowd
3) He will guarantee a far greater public interest and media attention in the football tournament (because football is so rarely covered and talked about in this country)
4) And finally because with Beckham involved, all those involved now that there is a far greater chance of selling out the Millennium Stadium and Old Trafford etc.

I am aware that this may be reading like a very personal and harsh attack on Beckham himself but that is not the intention whatsoever. Beckham was a good player (yes good, not outstanding and certainly not world class, a legend or any other label of such ilk) and of course he would want to participate in the London Olympics. The point is he should never have been given the opportunity. Lets leave aside the actual existence of the Olympic football team and look at the selection process overall.

Admittedly the situation has been complicated by the regrettable but inevitable decision of the FA to not allow players who have gone to the Euro's to participate. Even still the notion that there are not three more qualified over age players than David Beckham is laughable. It looks increasingly likely that Craig Bellamy and Ryan Giggs are set to join Beckham in London this summer and one can have few arguments with that as say what you like about them as individuals, they are both still important performers in a top European league, something which cannot be applied to Beckham.

There are too many players to list who would be of far greater value to team GB but it is hard to escape the fact that the policy seems to be less about using the tournament as any kind of learning experience or building process, the powers that be simply want to get bums on seats and put on a show. Not a morally reprehensible act by any stretch of the imagination. But certainly not a true reflection of what the Olympics should be about.


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Five to Watch at the European Championships

With the European Championships around the corner, here is a list of five players who could be set to use the tournament to spring themselves into the world's spotlight.

Kevin Strootman, PSV Eindhoven, The Netherlands

In a Dutch squad brimming with established talent, Strootman may well slip under the radar of many but the PSV Eindhoven midfielder is supremely gifted and could be a star of the tournament, if Bert Van Marwijk is brave enough to start him that is.

Whilst caution was Marwijk's nature during the 2010 World Cup when he fielded both Mark Van Bommel and Nigel De Jong in central midfield, he has often altered this shape post Johannesburg and lined up with a deep lying playmaker alongside a midfield destroyer with either Strootman or the more experienced Rafael Van der Vaart. The best explanation of the difficulties the Dutch face when they line up with both Van Bommel and De Jong is best explained by Johann Cryuff

 "The problem with two holding midfielders is quite simple, but somehow many coaches don’t see it. The build up happens too slow. Holding midfielders always need that extra touch. Always need to have a look when they have the ball already. That takes time away. The opponent can position themselves to stop the killer pass and the forwards are all marked. Plus, having two holding midfielders means there is one less creative play-maker. It’s a double edged sword."

If you were to compare Strootman with a more established player in the tournament you could do worse than to compare him to Andrea Pirlo. Not only is there a certain similarity in the languid, effortless way the two glide around the pitch but Strootman's early career has in many ways mirrored Pirlo. In the early stages of their careers both men were deployed in a more advanced trequartista role before moving back to play more as a regista and both possess a majestic range of passing.

With Wesley Sneijder still struggling to regain the form that saw him win the treble with Inter Milan in 2010 before heading to South Africa and reaching the final, the Dutch may be in need of a new midfield maestro to load the bullets for Arjen Robben, Klaus Jan Hunterlaar and Robin Van Persie. Strootman may just be that man. A problem for the Dutch over the years is that they become too reliant on Sneijder as their creative force and that if he is off form they can struggle to open teams up.

The neutral should hope that Van Marwijk deploys Strootman from the start alongside Van Bommel rather than letting caution get the better of him. Having said that that formula did take the Dutch to the brink of World Cup glory so do not be surprised to see Strootman consigned to the bench in the opening games, especially given the formidable group the Dutch find themselves in. Equally with Holland drawn in the toughest group one could hardly blame Van Marwijk for sticking with what has served the Dutch well. However if the Dutch fall early expect to see the discussion of the two holding midfielders raise its head in the post tournament inquiry. Indeed Strootman could stand to become a more appreciated player without actually taking any significant part in the tournament.

Mats Hummels, Borussia Dortmund, Germany

Alongside Vincent Kompany and Thiago Silva, Hummels, 23, has probably been the outstanding centre half in Europe over the past two seasons. Released by Bayern Munich as a youngster, Hummels has flourished at Borussia Dortmund under Jurgen Klopp and is a vital part of a team that has won the Bundesliga for the past two seasons.

Whilst Germany have often entered tournaments recently with question marks over their centre halves, this time round they enter the tournament with not only Hummels but also Holger Badstuber and Jerome Boateng who have been instrumental in taking Bayern Munich to the very brink of Champions League glory.

Hummels is the epitome of a modern centre back, comfortable on the ball, quick enough the recover from the few mistakes that he does make and commanding in the air and predictably enough for a German he is a good penalty taker too. His disciplinary record is testament to his ability to anticipate danger and time his challenges; in the past two league seasons he has been booked three times, which for a centre half is quite exceptional.

It is no secret that Hummels is one of the jewels in the crown of Klopp's exciting young side and all the top clubs have looked at Hummels with Barcelona and Manchester United two of the most likely suitors. If they do want to prize Hummels away from the Wolfstaddion they will have to part with the best part of €30m or if you rather 10 times what Bayern Munich sold him for.

Lukasz Piszczek, Borussia Dortmund, Poland

Quietly and without too much fan fare Poland have assembled a team that could well be a dark horse in Euro 2012. If they are to achieve anything then Borussia Dortmund right back Lukasz Piszczek will have to continue the form that has caught the eye of Real Madrid and Manchester United this season, with Sir Alex Ferguson believed to have flown to watch Dortmund recently to run his eye over Piszczek and a number of his team mates.

If you have a case to be regarded as the best right back in a league that includes Philip Lahm in its ranks, you must have done something right and Piszczek has been in outstanding form this season. With four goals and six assists Piszczek is as dangerous going forward as he is solid defensively. His understanding with fellow teammates and countrymen Robert Lewandowski and Jakub Blaszczykowski will be critical if the Poles are to progress from a very winnable group that includes Greece, Russia and the Czech Republic.

If Piszczek does enjoy a good tournament do not be surprised to see a host of clubs attempting to prize him away from Dortmund, with Manchester United and Inter seemingly at the head of the queue.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arsenal, England

Roy Hodgson's first England squad has been viewed as cautious and leaning heavily on experience, with this in mind Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, or the "ox" as he is know by Arsenal fans, could be the one wildcard in Hodgson's pack.

Blessed with pace to rival Theo Walcott coupled with Wayne Rooney's physique, Chamberlain is certainly a player of whom much is expected. After surprisng everyone this season including himself, Chamberlain could be a crucial impact substitute for Roy Hodgson at Euro 2008. Capable of playing on either flank or more centrally, Chamberlain possesses quick fit, an electric change of pace and an eye for goal.

Although seemingly destined to play the role of "supersub" at best in Euro 2012, there is certainly an argument to be made for unleashing him in England's opening match against France. Firstly Chamberlain, in his first Premier League start for Arsenal caused Patrice Evra, who will start ahead of Gael Clichy despite his indifferent form for the past two seasons, one or two problems. Secondly as Michael Cox has articulated France's likely centre back pairing of Adil Rami and Phillipe Mexes can be susceptible to pace in behind partly due to their poor covering play.

Alan Dzagoev, CSKA Moscow, Russia

Four years ago in Austria and Switzerland, Russia surprised many by reaching the semi finals before being outclassed by the eventual champions Spain. Many have said that Euro 2008 was the peak for that generation of players and that they would struggle to reproduce the level of performance that saw them reach the last four. Maybe so, but there is still plenty of quality in this Russian squad and CSKA's Alan Dzagoev may be the best of the bunch.

Four years ago it was Andrei Arshavin and Roman Pavlyuchenko who announced themselves to the world by their performances and this time it could be the turn of the precociously talented Dzagoev, who has been tipped for big things since CSKA signed him in 2008. Dzagoev will play from the right of a front 3 in Dick Advocat's fluid 4-3-3 but do not expect him to stay there. Russia's greatest strength is the fluidity with which they play, no doubt helped by the fact that up to 7 of their starting 11 play for Zenit St Petersburg. Dzagoev will have a license to drift inside which in turn will create space for the powerful and direct right back Aleksandr Anyukov to exploit.

One area of concern for Russia will be where their goals are going to come from, despite a number of talented individuals they have consistently struggled to find the net, although a recent 3-0 win over Italy could be a timely confidence boost going into the Euro's. Again Dzagoev has a key role to perform as much of the center forwards job in this Russia team, whether it is Pavlyuchenko, Pavel Pogrebnyak or most likely Aleksandr Kerzahkov is to create space either by physical presence (Pogrebnyak) or through drifting wide (Kerzahkov and Pavlyuchenko) to allow for Dzagoev, Arshavin and Roman Shirokov in particular to ghost into goal scoring positions.


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Special thanks to Michael Cox and Zonal Marking for the squad previews www.zonalmarking.net