*Official* Netherlands vs Brazil (Quarter-Final One)

[BoyBrumby]

Backing yer Dutch to the hilt, but head sez Brazil.

Still think the Dutch defence is an accident waiting to happen, but on the plus side they haven't really played yet and have a 100% record. If they hit form...

[GingerFurball]

Originally Posted by PhoenixFire

I wouldn't be really that worried about Kaka, he's done sweet FA so far.

Apart from 3 assists.

[PhoenixFire]

He's looked absolutely dire in all the games that I've seen him play, slow on the ball, slow off the ball, runs into contact and gets tackled easily, sloppy passing and crappy shooting. If he carries on playing on like he is, he shouldn't really pose any problems to a half-decent defence.

[Pothas]

He is not at his best but he has not been that bad.

Dutch just need to get an early goal and it will be interesting, we have already seen what Brazil can do on the counter though.

Would expect Brazil to sneak past but think it will be tighter than some are imaginig and Robben is one of those special players who could just win you a game.

[Marcuss]

Sneijder not half bad at that either.

[shivfan]

Brazil are improving with every round....

[Kweek]

Originally Posted by shivfan

Brazil are improving with every round....

really? because i'm pretty sure we won't see much better out of them.

[Johnners]

Originally Posted by PhoenixFire

I wouldn't be really that worried about Kaka, he's done sweet FA so far.

Hasn't been at his best, but he's still been comfortably better than Van Persie (whose been absolute dogs bollocks) & Kuyt afaic

[Matteh]

Kuyt scored a goal from some distance as i recall....

[Johnners]

Originally Posted by Matteh

Kuyt scored a goal from some distance as i recall....

Hmmm fair point.

Edit: Wait, that was Sneijder wasn't it?

[Matteh]

There's no tongue in cheek emoticon. Kuyt's was the tap-in off the post from about a yard out.

[Johnners]

*redface*

[Goughy]

Originally Posted by GingerFurball

Apart from 3 assists.

Have I been away from the UK so long that now people seriously quote 'assist' stats?

[L Trumper]

Originally Posted by Kweek

have you seen brazil play football?

Maicon and Baston will be utterly hopeless against quality wingers (Elia, Robben)

The midfield of Brazil is their weakness, way to slow! van Bommel, De Jong and Sneijder will find a lot of space there.

Problem with The Netherlands is that we haven't played a decent team yet that will let us attack, so far we've played 4 teams (maybe not Cameroon) that basically dug themselves in and always had 9 man behind the ball.

put 25 euro on Holland winning via Unibet...odds are 4.09 I think, would make me a solid 100 euro's

Bastos vs robben is the key matchup..
there is no way dutch wingers going to get better off maicon, he kept all world class wingers in check with lucio's help through out the CL. Brazil midfield may be slow, but they no how to make fouls with out getting cards, also they make sure resulting free kicks are not in the range. Its not like van bommel, de jong are quickest on the field. Brazil also played against teams that parked the bus and stopped the play (except for chile), but they equipped lot better with it.
I don't see holland winning, unless robben take bastos to school. Also there is always the possibility of 0-0 and penalties.
Holland are more or less playing like they did in WC 06 rather than euro 08, which doesn't help them in the tournaments. No matter what people say, only time dutch go through latter stages of the competition is when they are playing attractive, counter - attacking brand of football. Not substance over style methods.

[L Trumper]

Originally Posted by Goughy

Have I been away from the UK so long that now people seriously quote 'assist' stats?

I thought all footballing nations are recording assist stats. Also recognize it as, kinda important one or am i missing something?