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"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
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Uruguay-Netherlands 2-3
Kuyt: "Never knew Robben could head a ball that well "

Tuesday 6 July 2010

Holland are discovering unsuspected qualities at this World Cup. After Wesley Sneijder headed home the winning goal against today it turned out that Arjen Robben knows how to handle a high cross as well. The Bayern Munich player scored Holland's third with his head.

Dirk Kuyt, who crossed the ball which Robben headed home, couldn't believe his eyes when Robben headed the ball into the net like a true specialist. "I never knew Robben could head a ball that well. But there have been a few unsuspected qualities to emerge during this World Cup."

The goal wasn't a coincidence though. "During the break Arjen said to me that he was left unmarked when he came inside. I saw him coming inside and tried to play a gentle ball into the box. Arjen then headed it in fantastic."

Dirk Kuyt was one big smile when he talked to the press after the game. "To reach the final of the World Cup is just great. We knew it wouldn't be easy against Uruguay and especially in the first half we lost the control of the game for a while. After the break we regained control and were able to decide the game. Now we want to win that final. I have played one big final so far (Champions League-final with Liverpool against AC Milan), and I lost it. I don't want to experience that again. This one I want to win."

Goals

   
0-1 18' G Van Bronckhorst
41' D. Forlan 1-1  
1-2 70' W. Sneijder
1-3 73' A. Robben
90"+2 M. Pereira 2-3  

 

Cards

 
21' M. Pereira  
30' M. Caceres  
  30' Sneijder
  78' K. Boulahrouz
  90'+2 M. van Bommel

 

Lineups

   
Uruguay   Netherlands  
Muslera   M. Stekelenburg  
Maxi Pereira   K. Boulahrouz  
Godin   J. Mathijsen  
Victorino   J. Heitinga  
Caseres   G. van Bronckhorst  
Perez   M. van Bommel  
Alvaro Pereira 78' S. Abreu D. de Zeeuw 46' R. Van der Vaart
Gargano   W. Sneijder  
Arevalo   A. Robben 90' E. Elia
Forlan 84' S. Fernández D. Kuyt  
Cavani   R. van Persie  

 

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