Van Marwijk counters criticism
Friday, 18 June 2010
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| Bert van Marwijk |
In the Dutch media there has been
a lot of fuzz about whether Bert van Marwijk should
start with Eljero Elia instead of Rafael van der Vaart
against Japan.
Pundits, experts, ex-players, columnists
and of course the 16.9 million managers back in Holland;
all had their opinion.
Before the game against Denmark
it was 'obvious' to many that the Big Four (Robben,
Van Persie, Sneijder and Van der Vaart) should play.
It annoyed Van Marwijk.
After the 2-0 victory over the
Danes, the taking off of Rafael van der Vaart and the
good 20 minutes of substitute Eljero Elia everyone demands
Van der Vaart's head on a plate.
So far Holland boss Van Marwijk
has kept his cool amidst de melee, but yesterday he
was lured into a reaction.
"Isn't that remarkable that
the same people who were screaming for the 'Big Four',
are now screaming to replace Van der Vaart with Elia,"
Van Marwijk sad on Thursday.
Yet the Dutch manager realized
he might have handed those people the ammunition himself:
"So far I had never heard people discussing the
depth - or rather the lack of it - in the team, until
I brought it up after our victory over Denmark. Since
then I hear everyone repeating it."
Although Van Marwijk claims a bit
too much fame for himself (lack of depth had been discussed
here and there) he has a point: 'depth' seems to be
the magic word these days.
In spite of all the discussion
Van Marwijk will start the same
11 against Japan as he did against Denmark. After
the game against Denmark the team was satisfied with
the result, and a victory against will almost certainly
put Holland through to the next round. But the team
also wants to show the world their stylish football.
Especially Robin van Persie and
Rafael van der Vaart left the impressive Soccer City
in Johannesburg unhappy. They didn't shine against Denmark
as they had done during the practice games coming on
to the World Cup. Van Persie blamed himself. Van der
Vaart complained about the circumstances.
Unlike Johannesburg (alt. 1700
meters) Durban is at sealevel. De much discussed Jabulani
is less quirky there. Germany played it's fantastic
opening game against Australia (4-0) in Durban and Spain
lost it's opener against Switzerland (0-1) in the stadium
where Holland face Japan tomorrow.
The last training in the stadium
was spoiled by the weather today. It's been raining
extensively in the past few days and to spare the soaked
pitch, Holland had to train in the nearby Princess Magogo
Stadium.
Saturday's game will be the second
encounter with Japan and the first in competition. The
only encounter so far was a friendly that Holland won
3-0.
***
Holland
and Japan head-to-head.
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