Isn’t it spectacular, how the Group of Death has seemed anything but it? The World Cup finalists of 2006, Italy and France, have looked jaded and are lucky to still be in with a chance to make the knockout stage.
This, despite the fact that in their group they have the Netherlands, a team that is just as unpredictable as it is orange. And Romania, who were never considered serious contenders.
But guess what — the Netherlands have wowed all with the football they have played in the Euro 2008. No longer are they the bickering team of the 2006 World Cup. This lot, much the same from two years back, has ironed out the differences, is limitlessly talented and playing the free flowing, attacking football you see in commercials.
Their coach Marco van Basten has been refreshingly brave in his tactics - never letting the team hold back despite being a goal ahead as early as 10 minutes against France on Friday.
What works for Netherlands is that they have looked a well-rounded team, — dazzling individual skill, effective in set pieces and destructive in counter-attack. One would have thought their style of play would mean a weak defence but surprisingly Khalid Boulahrouz, Andre Ooijer, Joris Mathijsen, Giovanni van Bronckhorst were almost impermeable both against Italy and France. On Friday, they soaked in the little pressure from the French team and never looked in any trouble.
But of course, it’s the forwards who have been the stars of the show. One of the most stylish players in van Basten’s team has been former Chelsea and now Real Madrid winger Arjen Robben. He has the stamina to match the abundance of skill he possesses. On the left flank, he can be as masterful as Cristiano Ronaldo. (It is another story that Ronaldo can play right, Ronaldo can play centre and Ronaldo always has a much bigger impact on any game by his sheer presence).
However, Robben has for company Robin van Persie, Dirk Kuyt, Wesley Sneijder, Ruud van Nistelrooy, all equally gifted.
This current class of Dutch players brings back memories of Euro 88, where Frank Rijkaard, Ronald Koeman, Ruud Gullit and Van Basten were in magnificent form and played dominating football, winning the tournament with ease.
After a week of Euro 2008, the Netherlands have emerged as one of the most entertaining teams of the tournament. The players have translated their coach van Basten’s vision into electrifying play on the field.
If they can continue to play their carefree football, even in the bigger matches to come, twenty years hence, Euro will again be painted orange.
