Dutch Football - Team Bejing Olympics - Holland-Nigeria 0-0

"The intellectualisation
of football has
always foundered
on a simple problem-
-the players. Doing
all your most
rewarding thinking
with your feet seems
to dull the philo-
sophical impulse.
Unless, of course,
you are Dutch.
According to legend,
Europeans played
a moronic, muscular
version of the world's
game, until Holland
proclaimed its vision
of total football in the
1974 World Cup,
and enlightenment
dawned."

From:
Brilliant Orange: The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Football

Roy Makaay checked in hospital

Thursday 07 August 2008

It remains to be seen whether Holland can play striker Roy Makaay in their second Olympic group match against the USA on Sunday.

The Feyenoord-player sustained a foot-injury in the first half of today's opener against Nigeria (0-0) and visited a local hospital after the game for a check.

The former La Coruna and Bayern Munich-player said there's no fracture but that his foot is seriously bruised.

Pictures were taken to be sure.

"Roy is really injured, I'm afraid" said coach Foppe de Haan.

The coach will at least have to do without Evander Sno on Sunday.

The Celtic-midfielder was sent off in the last minutes of the game.

"He will be suspended," De Haan said.

"I didn't think it was a red card. But still, I have lost two players. If it temperatures will be as high on Sunday we're in for a treat."