Holland studs playing tonight: Kuyt, De Jong, Robben, Snjieder, Van Brockhorst
This is a great prep for June 12th. Big team in Holland, on their turf and under 100 days until the WC starts. The remaining warm up games are vs. the Czech Republic on May 25 (East Hartford) and vs. Turkey on May 28 (Philly).
The US is debuting their new kits- I like them. A lot. Very classy, not unlike Audrey Paige :)
2 min. Robben is so good- so much confidence, skill and is making things tricky on the right side already.
5 min Both teams pretty much just settling in, getting used to playing together. Nothing too, too dangerous on either end.
7 min Spector gets completely worked on the left by Elia who sends a routine ball into the middle which turns dangerous due to confusion over what to do about it.
10 min Holland getting into somewhat of a groove. US getting some build up as well but seem to get interrupted by nonsense calls.
13 min Either we are purposely giving Holland a lot of space and trying to keep the play in front of us or we're just not with it in terms of team defense.
18 min Our set play defense is horrible so far. Holland showing their class in the last several minutes- very attractive, fun soccer to watch.
22 min Jozy gets a shot off in the box, deflected but just shows how instinctive he is in the box. Love it.
23 min Holland comes back down field. Geez, they are just so good. So much technical ability, able to find all kinds of space, lots of movement. We're breaking up some plays, but we either need to be faster or tougher or something.
24 min Spector is a giant. He works it down the right, wins a throw that leads to a cross.
28 min When we do get a chance at possession, the team seems to all be on the same page: look for 3 or 4 passes and then something long to free our speedy strikers. I'd like to see more patience, more switching the field, etc.
30 min Holden gets tackled hard. After what happened to Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey, I'm nervous. Holden hobbles off, Beas is warming up.
32 min Torres has a terrific shot at goal from about 25 yards out- goes just a bit high.
36 min Game has sort of come to a grinding halt.
39 min PK to Holland. Called on Bornstein- Eh, silly foul, certainly a lot of dramatics in the dive. Kuyt takes it. Goal. Holland 1 US 0.
42 min
Peter: i'm not using this is as an example, but i'm just not convinced w/ bornstein as our starting LB if it comes to that
me: yeah, i've always liked him (he played at wake) i think he
is our best defender when he decides to attack
Peter: did not know that
me: he's got wheels, might not make the best decisions
wow
Peter: he is decent going forward
me: Bornstein basically handballs it in the box. on accident. it bounces up at him. no call
Half Time
Subs- Holland goes with the always dangerous "AAR" move. Huntelaar comes in for Robben, Vlaar in for someone. We put Edu in for Torres.
46 min Jozy makes a delightful little nutpeg in the corner to school his Dutch defender.
49 min Somehow the dutch fail to score on a breakaway. Timmy does well and Bornstein gets a chance to come back a little. But wow.
Dutch are starting to carve us into pieces with through balls, give and gos, all kinds of creativity.
51 min We look horrible in terms of d we are all over place in the back with little to no communication. It comes with not playing together but it makes me nervous all the same.
55 min US gets a nice little string of passes, give and gos and all, but denied by an inexplicable call from the ref.
58 min Like him or not, Beas has been a presence on the field. One of the few US players to do that today. Landon has been involved and Jozy too, but everyone else has been sort of absent.
The "AAR" move goes into its second phase Van Der Vaart in for De Jong.
65 min I don't know what it is, but this game isn't doing anything for me at the moment. I might be too used to watching quality club teams who click with one another- the US is definitely not clicking. Harkes seems a bit obsessed with Heitinga or some Dutch defender "who is having such a great season at Everton"
69th min BS call on us- apparently our high kick was more dangerous than an identical high kick from somebody in a holland jersey.
Pearce comes in for Demerit.
Ok, I think I'm done blogging this game. May take a nap these last 20 min
Just kidding- Bornstein played at UCLA. I'm thinking of another defender.
ReplyDeletenice blogging Jules. good recaps
ReplyDeleteGood blog. I felt the US team did comeback in the final throes of the game which showed some good indicators of team fitness. US: Good to play against the best, the team adjusted to their opponents as the game progressed and I think with another match or two they will perform well. Donovan basically not there tonight. Tim Howard had a terrific game. Findley not ready for prime time.
ReplyDeleteNetherlands: a terrific team they have all the earmarks of a finalist. Their center mid, Sneijder(?) is the best player I have seen in along time.