Star-studded Dutch need miracle to qualify
Source: Agencies |
June 15, 2012, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THEY arrived with a star-studded squad and genuine hopes of the title. After two lackluster displays, the Netherlands are down and almost out of the European Championship.
A 1-2 loss to archrival Germany on Wednesday left the Dutch bottom of Group B with no points after two matches and reaching for the calculator to determine how they can stay alive in the tournament. First-half goals by striker Mario Gomez put the Germans in control before Dutch forward Robin van Persie pulled a consolation back with 15 minutes left.
"This is a big blow but we must remain believers," said playmaker Wesley Sneijder, arguably the Netherlands' best player against Germany.
This group was always likely to be the toughest of the four at Euro 2012 but no one expected the Dutch to be in the situation they find themselves six days after their opening game.
Germany has six points and needs one more against Denmark on Sunday to guarantee advancing. Portugal and Denmark are on three points.
"We have six points from the so-called Group of Death, which is very good and we have opened the door to the quarterfinals," said Germany coach Joachim Loew.
For the Netherlands to go through, they must beat Portugal by at least a two-goal margin and hope Denmark loses to Germany. "We still have a chance, so we have to believe in it," Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk said. "And the players think just the same way about this."
A midnight flight took the Dutch team back 1,200 kilometers to Krakow, Poland, for two more days of training before facing Portugal, against whom they have a history of losing on the big stage.
In 2004, the Netherlands lost to the Portuguese in the semifinals of the European Championship. Two years later, they lost to them again in the second round of the World Cup.
More worrying still ahead of the must-win game was Arjen Robben's show of petulance when he was replaced late on. He showed his disgust by walking off the opposite side of the pitch and sullenly walked round to the side of the dugout.
A 1-2 loss to archrival Germany on Wednesday left the Dutch bottom of Group B with no points after two matches and reaching for the calculator to determine how they can stay alive in the tournament. First-half goals by striker Mario Gomez put the Germans in control before Dutch forward Robin van Persie pulled a consolation back with 15 minutes left.
"This is a big blow but we must remain believers," said playmaker Wesley Sneijder, arguably the Netherlands' best player against Germany.
This group was always likely to be the toughest of the four at Euro 2012 but no one expected the Dutch to be in the situation they find themselves six days after their opening game.
Germany has six points and needs one more against Denmark on Sunday to guarantee advancing. Portugal and Denmark are on three points.
"We have six points from the so-called Group of Death, which is very good and we have opened the door to the quarterfinals," said Germany coach Joachim Loew.
For the Netherlands to go through, they must beat Portugal by at least a two-goal margin and hope Denmark loses to Germany. "We still have a chance, so we have to believe in it," Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk said. "And the players think just the same way about this."
A midnight flight took the Dutch team back 1,200 kilometers to Krakow, Poland, for two more days of training before facing Portugal, against whom they have a history of losing on the big stage.
In 2004, the Netherlands lost to the Portuguese in the semifinals of the European Championship. Two years later, they lost to them again in the second round of the World Cup.
More worrying still ahead of the must-win game was Arjen Robben's show of petulance when he was replaced late on. He showed his disgust by walking off the opposite side of the pitch and sullenly walked round to the side of the dugout.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
