I'm curious to learn more about the England-Utah Jazz analogy though I admittedly haven't been a long time soccer fan.
I've been following futbol very closely for 15 years and if you compare any team to the jazz and/or the mavpr!cks, it just means you really, really hate them. Every national side has some players that are dirty and cheap. But I can't think of any player for the English national team that come close to being compared to malone, stockton, boozer, nowitzki or stackhouse. Except Vinnie Jones. And he played for Wales I believe. Top national teams I dislike are: the Azzurri the nationalmannschaft and the tricolores ( I should have them at the top, but they haven't beaten the U.S. when it counts so they'll stay at the bottom.)
I can't believe Holland played that well. They just pwned the Italians in every aspect of the game. Impressive win and entertaining match. Where is arno_ed by the way? I guess he must too busy celebrating with the other Holland fans now.
Nope, not long at all I guess. I used to follow soccer when I was in Elementary, I think back then Kluivert was still fairly young and Romario and Bebeto was in the ends of their career... then I moved to Houston in '97 and forgot about soccer and found the Rockets. Now I'm back in Asia and just started following them again.. so I don't have the hatred of Germany as most of you. I like Ballack, but that's pretty much it for the Germans. What I know now of Soccer is from those years of playing Fifa and W11. With that said, go Spain! Torres will own.
Don't worry i'm still here. there is defenitly a chelebration mood in the netherlands, however we all know that the next two games will also be tough. Ballack is from Eastern Germany, that is less bad than Western Germany. Between the netherlands there is a long history in soccer, 1974 we got robbed, in Germany, in the finals. But we finally got our revenge in 1988 (again in Germany). As a ducth boy you grow up wanting the germans to lose in soccer. Torres might not play in the starting line up tomorow. At least that is what they suggested in a dutch soccer discussion program. Oh and Poland got Screwed by the ref. That was not a penalty I feel sorry for Don Leo (Leo Beenhakker, the dutch coach of Poland)
Amazing - I'm loving it (I'm Dutch also). They played really well for the first time since 2004 (in a big game). But that one we lost against the Czechs so this one definitely has a sweet taste! Hopefully it's the start of something good... I think we have a chance tonight. I am hoping we will hold possession carefully and use the space the French will give us (as they have to win). It's amazing how van Basten now has a luxury problem, having to choose between Kuijt, Robben, van Persie, Sneijder and van der Vaart for the 3 midfield positions. We will see what happens tonight - I have good hope!
1974 was well-deserved for the Germans. 1988 you had a very good team, but some of your players behaved disgracefully (Koeman wiping his ass with Olaf Thon's jersey after exchanging jerseys after the match) 1990 at the world cup we owned you again, as always at the world cup. Again, a Dutch player behaved shamefully (Rijkard spitting at Voeller who had done nothing) Overall, I can see how the Dutch look with envy at our superior soccer history. This year, again, they might be the ones who play the "attractive" football, but let's wait and see who will come out on top at the end...
I knew you would reply. I'm sure we can debate about 1974 for years, we can just agree to disagree. In 1988 we had a good team, but we got lucky to qualify (the bom incident which almost got us suspended). And again against Ireland, i still do not know how the header by Kieft got past Bonner, i gues the soccer gods really liked us that year. I agree that Koeman behaved disgracefully (also kinda unlike him). 1990 I cannot remeber that tournament . We got overclassed, I never had the feeling we could win that game. Again Rijkaard spitting was a disgrace. But SJC even you have to agree that Germans are the inventors of the Schwalbe? There is just a good rivalry between Holland and Germany (even though I get the feeling it is more a rivalry for the dutch than for the German). It would be an ideal finals Holland- Germany. but i have my doubts either team will make it. Furthermore with which country do the germans feel a rivalry? (France?).
I think Holland were definitely the better team in the 1974 World Cup - I think most people will agree with this. They just had the best football. I actually agree with Cruyff that praise for good football is worth a lot, but of course I would not mind an ugly victory here and there!!!! I don't mind if we play ugly from now and win it, we have our beautiful victory under our belts! Rijkaard and Koeman were embarrassing to be doing that, I really don't like it. Very disrespectful. If van Hanegem had done it maybe I would understand (but not condone). Germany are actually playing decent football compared to previous teams.
This is just anecdotal evidence but there's a German guy that I know here in Houston that absolutely hates the Dutch and the English. Bringing up one of them is a great way to get him to go on a pissed off cussing rant. On one of his Dynamo (our local club) shirts he got a marker and wrote "**** England, **** Holland" on the bottom.
I definitely thought the Dutch were the better team in 1974. I also thought they were the best team in 1978 as well even without Johan Cryuff who decided he wouldn't participate in the World Cup for political reasons. Holland just seemed better in that final against Argentina in Argentina, but just got unlucky.
To add something to the Holland vs. Germany debate. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YGS5JWcv18o&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YGS5JWcv18o&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> Johan Cruyff starts around the 5:17 mark. But do check out Garrincha's story as well right before Cruyff's. Funny Stuff. WARNING: some foul language and very, very heavy English bias.
exciting first half. wait, not it wasn't---> no goals. soccer sucks * *j/k, romania really dodged a ton of bullets.
