Euro 2012 Preview - The Netherlands

With the Dutch starting their Euro 2012 campaign later today, i decided to do a bit of a preview based on the Dutch. Why you would ask? Well this is because of all the favorites, they seem to be the only ones that may have added an extra element to their game. We hope you do enjoy it as always and please lets have your comments. 

                                    Euro 2012 Preview - The Netherlands

The Dutch are renowned for their fluid attacking style, this they have proved to be their hallmark and are duly credited with the introduction and invention of Total Football. However, the Dutch have showed a different side to them, demonstrating that they could as well play ugly and that they  had added the physical side of the game to their already renowned fast and fluid attacking play as shown at the last World Cup in South Africa.

The Dutch are always considered amongst the favourites for every major international football competition and the Euros in Poland and Ukraine is no different, but over time the Dutch have continued to flatter to deceive with the exception of that brilliant side of 1988; if ever the Dutch could win something it may be this Euros. This preview aims to highlight the strengths, weaknesses, tactical philosophy, key players and the team’s chances at been crowned European Champions at the end of the tournament on July 1^st.

Dutch Strengths

No doubt their strength lies in their attack, with two of Europe’s hottest strikers in Robin Van Persie and Klaas Jan Huntelaar, the Dutch have absolutely nothing to worry about with respect to putting the ball in the back of the net and the only question is how many times they will score.

The Dutch scored 38 goals in qualifying for the Euros with Huntelaar finishing with 12 goals in 8 games, ending the qualifying campaign as top scorer. Robin Van Persie (5 goals in 14 matches for the Dutch) on the other hand, has added predatory and poaching instincts to his game over the last 18months to match his all round game. In RVP, the Dutch have a mix of Bergkamp, Cryuff and most recently Van Nistelrooy; he can link up play; he can provide assist from all sides of the pitch, he can fill in on the wings and most importantly this season he has added pure leadership qualities gained from been captain at Arsenal Football Club.

Going forward, the Dutch are absolutely flawless; coupled with the fact that they can spread the goals around the team especially with the dynamic and fast play of Arjen Robben coming from either the wings or through the middle as a second striker. The Dutch have a lot of goals coming from Midfield as well, with Wesley Sneijder adding goals to his all round creative play.

This strength may however be the Dutch’s Achilles heel with the continued debate on who to lead the line between RVP and Huntelaar; in my honest opinion, Huntelaar provides a fantastic option off the bench for the Netherlands, but no striker wants to sit on the bench. However, RVP offers more in terms of the variety of positions he can play in, his ability to create for others, he’s hold up play has improved significantly, he’s come off an injury free season unlike in the World Cup year. RVP should get the nod to lead the attack for the Oranje, offering better attacking variation and creating space for the midfielders when he drops off to join the play.

Dutch Weakness

Over the years, you could off the top of your head select the back four of the Netherlands; now it’s different. Gone are the days of Van Bronckhorst, Stam, Frank De Boer and Micheal Reiziger marshalling the Dutch defence. The defence is definitely a major source of worry for Bert van Marwijk, as he plots the Dutch’s passage to success at this Euros. There’s little wonder why over time he has tried to instil and add physicality to the Dutch game whilst ensuring that the team plays with two holding midfielders to ensure that adequate protection is given to the back four.

It has been well documented that the Dutch’s major area of concern in their defence is the left back slot, since Giovanni Van Bronckhorst’s retirement; no one has stepped up to take up the challenge and make the position their own. The central defensive pairing of Heitinga and Mathijsen has bags of experience, but is quite vulnerable to the occasional loss of concentration. The only positive on the defensive side for the Dutch is that they are have adequate cover in the Goalkeeping department, I cannot remember a Dutch team ever having 3 top quality goalies in one squad at the same time, that anyone of them could actually take up the role at very short notice.

Tactical Philosophy

A lot has been said about the choices Bert Van Marwijk needs to make to ensure that the Oranje machine is well oiled and ready to claim victory. Under Van Marwijk the Dutch have primarily played in a 4-2-3-1 formation with two pivots or better still two holding midfielders (in Van Bommel and De Jong); a school of thought is of the opinion that playing these two pivots slows down the team’s passing and eventual progress up the field, so there’s a preference for a deep lying play maker (Van der Vaart) to play alongside Van Bommel; now in my opinion, based on my earlier comments with respect to the defense the pivot approach favours the Dutch especially with the fact that Ibrahim Affelay may get the nod to play on the left (which makes the Dutch shape up into a 4-2-1-3 formation) leaving their problem position(left back) somewhat open. The double Pivot provides adequate cover for the full backs if caught out of position or cover the spaces left by the winger on the left.

The alternatives to the double pivot is to play a deep lying play maker (Van der Vaart) with Van Bommel, but we all know not many can play this role as exquisitely as say a Pirlo; Van der Vaart in my opinion is not best suited to this role, maybe as a second striker or in the hole behind the lone striker, these are roles that Van der Vaart has made his stock in trade not as a deep lying midfielder. The other option is to start Dirk Kuyt on the left, but with instructions to drop into midfield with the two pivots which invariably changes the Dutch formation to a 4-3-1-2, with Van Persie up top and Robben as the second striker.

Whatever, choice Van Marwijk makes will be whatever he deems best for his team, I think he will most likely go with the 4-2-3-1 with the double pivots of  Van Bommel and De Jong; sometimes a physical presence blends well with a fast paced, fluid attacking style of play that the Dutch are renowned for.

Will there be some Dutch Delight

Group B is the group of Death and only two teams will make it through; it will be tough and a lot will depend on what happens in the first game against the Danes. I think the Dutch can go all the way, but their star men must be on their A game.

Key Players

Robin Van Persie, Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder.

Player(s) to watch out for

PSV’s duo of Kevin Strootman and Jetro Willems

Prediction

The Dutch to play Germany for a second time in the competition in the finals, but it will end in heart break once again.


Note

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Adeyemi Adesanya 

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