Posts Tagged ‘Euro 2008’
Dutch aim to mount challenge
After Spain cast-off their tag as serial under-achievers at Euro 2008, the only team apart from England who go into the World Cup in South Africa in serious need of proving a point is the Netherlands.
Winless in major tournaments since 1988 and yet to taste success in a Football World Cup final, De Oranje possibly come into 2010 with their most settled squad and a decent chance of lifting the Jules Rimet Trophy next month.
Bert van Marwijk’s men were perfect in qualifying, although a Group 9 including Norway, Scotland, Macedonia and Iceland did not take an awful lot of winning. But going eight wins for eight was impressive nonetheless, and conceding only two goals along the way was another achievement.
It was also rare, along the way, that they ever had their first choice XI out on the field, with Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie and Wesley Sneijder all missing games as they eased their way into a trip to South Africa.
Now, as they head off to the tournament as one of the top five World cup 2010 favourites to win, all of their stars are on board and van Marwijk’s biggest problem might just be finding a way to fit them all in. After all, most teams would usually have at least three defenders and he has six top class forward options at his behest.
Strangely for a side with so many options, the Dutch failed to score all that many goals in qualifying (17), but much of that comes down to the formation they use which stifles opponents and plays some hugely effective counter-attacking football.
Quality out wide comes from Robben and possibly Dirk Kuyt, while van Persie, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and youngster Eljero Elia are all adaptable forwards who could star in the tournament if getting the chances in front of goal.
Sneijder and Mark van Bommel will run midfield and there is more than enough solidity at the back, where the experience of the side lies, to protect keeper Maarten Stekelenburg from their Group E rivals; Cameroon, Denmark and Japan.
The group looks eminently winnable and with Group F to come as a second round opponent, if they avoid Italy in the second round, the road to the final eight looks fairly straightforward.
Afterwards, of course, things get a lot harder, but this team has more than enough quality and experience to cope with anything thrown at it, as long as it has some mental strength previous squads have been lacking.
Tags: Achievers, Arjen Robben, Behest, Bert Van Marwijk, Cambria, Decent Chance, Dirk Kuyt, Euro 2008, Fareast, Finding A Way, First Choice, Font Definitions, Font Format, Football World Cup, Forwards, Jules Rimet Trophy, Klaas Jan Huntelaar, Mark Van Bommel, Mso, Orphan, Panose, Paper Source, Rivals, Robin Van Persie, Sans Serif, Solidity, Style Definitions, Style Name, Style Type, Theme Font, Times New Roman, Wesley Sneijder, World Cup 2010, Youngster
Spain the team to beat
This summer’s World Cup is wide open, just as it was last time out in 2006. Nine teams will arrive in South Africa knowing they have a realistic chance of going all the way.
They can be categorised as multiple winners of the event - Brazil, Italy, Germany and Argentina, single winners - France and England - and prospective first time winners - Netherlands, Spain and Portugal.
Brazil and Spain present the best cases for victory. They have the star quality, current form and strength in depth to lift the trophy, although as their previous record suggests, there is a difference in experience.
However, Spain’s poor World Cup record - they have only reached the semi finals once, in 1950 - is no longer a major factor. Their victory at Euro 2008 lifted the burden of underachievement and the largely similar squad can go for glory with confidence.
As impressive as Brazil are, Spain edge the five-time winners when it comes to quality. In a neat role reversal, the most fancied European team is full of flair and skill, the strongest South American outfit characterised by pragmatism and organisation.
Brazil are hardly short of game-changing players and any World Cup betting guide will reflect how close the two teams are. However, Spain’s fluid passing game, built on the technical brilliance of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas trumps a team who can be more pedestrian in their passing. In David Villa and Fernando Torres, Spain also have the ideal strike pair combination.
Spain are ranked as the world’s best team for good reason. Their record 35-match unbeaten run that ended last year demands respect, as does the way they responded to the defeat by winning every match since, including showdowns with Argentina and France. They are in the winning habit and should start the tournament as favourites in the World Cup odds.
Tags: Andres Iniesta, Betting Guide, Cesc Fabregas, Characterised, Demands Respect, Euro 2008, Fernando Torres, Going All The Way, Good Reason, Passing Game, Pragmatism, Realistic Chance, Role Reversal, Semi Finals, Star Quality, Technical Brilliance, Time Winners, Underachievement, World Cup Odds, Xavi
World Cup player to watch - Netherlands
Wesley Sneijder is perhaps the best possible representation of Dutch football. Technically proficient, capable of playing with both feet and versatile, he is a throwback to the golden age of Dutch total football. He is the man who makes the Oranje tick.
Bert van Marwijk’s outfit do not contain any superstars. Robin van Persie is the closest thing to a standout player, but the Arsenal man’s injuries and inconsistency means he has not properly established himself at international level. The Netherlands are a strong all-round team whose whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
The Dutch know Italy triumphed four years ago with a similar lack of star quality and the side should not be underestimated when making your 2010 World Cup predictions. Sneijder will offer the team an excellent creative outlet and his range of passing and energy in midfield make him the focal point of many attacks. Furthermore, it will be no surprise if he features in the contenders for goal of the tournament - as did he after his stunning volley against Italy at Euro 2008.
Sneijder is known in Netherlands as a dead-ball specialist. He delivers free-kicks with power and accuracy, as Inter Milan fans will testify. Most of his goals in his debut season at the San Siro have come from direct free-kicks.
A veteran of three major tournaments at the age of 25, Sneijder has experience as well as youthful energy. A hot-headed streak still needs to be controlled, but his appetite for a midfield battle shows how well-rounded his game is.
Holland’s FIFA World Cup betting odds make them seventh favourites for the tournament and Sneijder will play a key role in any success they might have. He has steel as well as class, which reflects the strength of the Dutch team. They will be hard to beat in South Africa and with Sneijder on song, they could go far.
Tags: Bert Van Marwijk, Creative Outlet, Debut Season, Dutch Football, Dutch Team, Euro 2008, Fifa World Cup, Fifa World Cup Betting Odds, Free Kicks, Greater Than The Sum, Inter Milan, Midfield Battle, Milan Fans, Robin Van Persie, Standout Player, Star Quality, Wesley Sneijder, World Cup Betting Odds, World Cup Predictions, Youthful Energy
Adidas Russia World Cup home shirt 2010
Russia have really come to prominence as a major force in European football over the last few years under the watchful eye of coach Guus Hiddink who took them to the semi-finals of the 2008 European Championship and now has them on the edge of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup. The new Russia home shirt that they will wear at the tournament should they get through their play off game has been released with Adidas being the shirt manufacturers this year.
Russia finished second in their qualifying group for the World Cup 4 points behind Germany, who never lost a game throughout qualification. For Russia to reach the finals in South Africa they have to beat Slovenia over two legs in a playoff.
The new Russia shirt, as mentioned above, is manufactured by Adidas with the shirt being a dark red colour this year with gold stripes horizontally across the shirt and a pattern between the top two stripes. The Adidas stripes are on the sleeves and shoulders in gold with the logo also in gold below the collar of the shirt.
The Russia soccer jerseys became one of the biggest selling shirts after the 2008 Euro Championship partly because of the success that the team experienced, but also because of the number of top name players that came to prominence in the tournament and got moves to bigger clubs . Andrei Arshavin is the best example with his performance in Euro 2008 earning his a transfer to Arsenal. The Russia World Cup shirt is available with the official shirt printing of your favourite Russian players including Roman Pavkyuchebko, Andrei Arshavin, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, Yuri Zhirkov and Aleksandr Kerzhakov.
If Russia reach the World Cup then big things are expected of them due to their good showing at Euro 2008 and their is no doubt that the Russian football shirts will again be one of the biggest selling during the tournament.
Click here to buy the new Russia World Cup home shirt
Tags: Aleksandr Kerzhakov, Euro 2008, Euro Championship, Football Shirts, Gold Stripes, Guus Hiddink, New Russia, No Doubt, Prominence, Qualifying Group, Red Colour, Russia World, Russian Football, Russian Players, Semi Finals, Shirt Printing, Soccer Jerseys, Two Legs, Watchful Eye, Yuri
Adidas Greece World Cup home shirt 2010
With the world Cup fast approaching the countries that have qualified or are in the playoffs are releasing new football kits for the tournament with Greece being no different. This is the new Greece home shirt that they will wear if they reach the 2010 World Cup.
The new Greece shirt is manufactured by Adidas who have a contract to manufacture the Greek football kit until 2012. The Greece World Cup shirt is mainly white, the colour traditionally used for the Greece home shirt, and it has a blue collar and the Adidas stripes on both shoulders are also blue. The Greece logo is on the left chest of the shirt and the Adidas logo is on the right chest. There is also a blue line at the top and bottom of the shirt.
Greece really came to prominence when they won Euro 2004, making Greece football shirts very popular that year, but have failed in recent tournaments to come any where close to matching that having failed to qualify for the World Cup in 2006 and not getting past round one in Euro 2008. The vast majority of the Greek squad all play in Greece with key players like Giorgos Karagounis playing with Panathinaikos but there are a few players like Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Vangelis Maoras, Vasilis Pliatsikas, Theofanis Gekas and Giorgios Samaras plying their trade out with Greece and playing for some of the biggest teams in Europe. Official shirt printing for al your favourite Greek players is available for the Greece home shirt.
When Greece reach a major tournament then the Greece Soccer jerseys are always one of the most popular shirts which is expected to be the case this year too if they qualify through the playoffs for the 2010 World Cup. Greece have been drawn against the Ukraine in the playoffs after finishing second in group two to Switzerland by only one point. The group was decided on the last game of the group with Greece needing a win and Switzerland needing to lose for Greece to qualify automatically, Greece got their win but unfortunately Switzerland managed a draw in their match against Israel to send them through as automatic qualifiers.
Click here to buy the new Greece World Cup home shirt
Tags: Adidas Logo, Blue Collar, Courier New, Euro 2004, Euro 2008, Fareast, Football Kit, Football Kits, Football Shirts, Gekas, Giorgios, Greece Soccer Jerseys, Greece World, Greek Football, Left Chest, Mso, Orphan, Panathinaikos, Paper Source, Prominence, Shirt Printing, Style Definitions, Style Name, Times New Roman, Top And Bottom, Vangelis, Vasilis, World Cup