Holland still fail to impress

Wednesday 13 August 2008

The Dutch Olympic football team are yet to play a decent game in China, but Foppe de Haan's men are in the quarterfinals.

Oranje achieved qualification by a minimal victory over Japan (1-0) and the helping hand of the Nigerians who beat the USA (2-1).

Holland finished second in group B with five points, two points behind Nigeria and one ahead of the USA.

De Haan's team will now face Argentina, the winners of group A, in Shanghai on Saturday.

To be absolutely sure of the quarterfinals Holland had to accomplish a 2-0 win over the Japanese.

A quick goal was therefore needed, and that showed in the lineup.

De Haan had fielded a three man offensive line with Makaay, Sibon and Babel and two men on the wing: De Guzman and Drenthe.

Hedwiges Maduro and Urby Emmanuelson were the two holding midfielders and the defense saw the return of Calvin Jong-A-Pin to the starting lineup in favor of Gianni Zuiverloon.

Roy Beerens and Otman Bakkal also did not start.

The big number of changes indicated that De Haan wanted to have an effect on his team, and though he took a lot of risks the Friesian hardly had any other options.

Despite weeks of preparations the team was still searching for it's best shape after two group games.

As were the players: looking for some stamina and team spirit.

The spirit was good today.

For the first time the Dutch team appeared motivated, but good football was still hard to spot.

Still that was also due to the aggressive Japanese.

The Asians were already eliminated from the tournament after defeats in the first two games, but they had come out unwilling to be defeated a third time.

Again it was clear that that is the main problem for the Dutch: physical power.

"If you don't win the challenges you can not win the game," De Haan had said after the USA game.

After a first half without any real chances for both teams Holland came out a lot better in the second half.

They went close twice, both times from a free kick.

De Guzman hit the top of the cross bar and Drenthe hit the outside of the post.

Morishige did the same at the other side.

After the break the Japanese were surely no less than the Dutch, but little over fifteen minutes before the end Oranje did go one up.

Honda fouled Ryan Babel in the box and even though it was the slightest of pushes the referee pointed to the spot.

Sibon then did what he did on Sunday: with a cheerless drive through the middle he saved the young Dutch side.