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After the Danish heartbreak in the Group of Death B came the much bigger “Battle of Europe”, one of the most eagerly awaited games of the tournament, when neighbors and traditional rivals with a long history of Football between them (WC 74, 78, Euro ’88) faced each other. Germany was of course billed to be the side to watch for, but the Netherlands were in no way seen as the weaker side. But it turned out that the Dutch played as individuals while the Germans played as a team to take home victory scoring 2 goals against 1. It was imperative for the Netherlands to get a victory for their fancied team to stay in the championships, but it seemed that everyone but they themselves knew it. A large number of neutral fans supported the Dutch, mostly out of sympathy for them, hoping that they would finally win some sort of tournament somehow. But that was not to be. The Dutch defense was in tatters, the midfield out of sync and the lone striker Robin van Persie was out of sorts missing chance after chance and getting dispossessed. Robin van Persie needs a striking partner. 4-5-1 will not work for him, it has to be 4-4-2 with a beefed up defense, and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has to start. Not even once sis the Netherlands’ game that they would win this, in stark opposition to Deutschland’s confident game.
The Dutch looked visibly nervous, while the Germans were all cool like their Porsches. The game itself was nothing much to speak about, except it was Van Persie who was the villain this time, doing a Ronaldo of the previous game twice, missing with only the goalkeeper in front of him. He shot the ball weakly right into the arms of the German ‘keeper Neuer the first time and out of the field the second time. There was a moment of panic on the other side when Ozil who was flying throughout the game, smashed a close ranger past Stekelenburg and into the post. The Germans then took total control of the game with long passes and quick runs, and the most beautiful goal in the tournament was born, when a Bastian Schweinsteiger pass reached Mario Gomez standing with his back towards the goal. He received the pass, and in the same fluid motion did a ballet-like pirouette dancing around and shooting in the ball past Stekelenburg. The Dutch defense was all but invisible by now and the Germans were in total control. Schweinsteiger set up another quick one which Gomez again put in, a simple goal which left Stekelenburg not even a chance to react. The second half started with the Dutch pulling out Affelay and Van Bommel and putting in a much needed Huntelaar and Van Der Vaart, in hope of a counter attack. But individual brilliance is no match for a cohesive, disciplined and ruthlessly efficient team working like a well oiled machine. The Dutch were trying their best to squirm in past the air-tight German defense, but no go, while the Germans attacked proficiently. Sneijder shot a couple of goals wide and Robben failed again and again, though the chances they wasted this time around was much lesser than before, only because they did not get many chances. They finally found some cohesion and started attacking back and that saw results when Robin van Persie scored a typically brilliant RVP goal which brought some consolation to the Oranje. This charged the Dutch up and their pace but 12 minutes was too less for anything to be done. The final whistle sounded signaling the end of the Dutch’s disastrous campaign.
The entire credit of the German victory goes to Bastian Schweinsteiger, the midfield general who was responsible for both goals, and his co-playmaker Ozil and their air-tight defense, which seems to play as a single body and not many players. Even then, there were not many individually brilliant moments for the Germans, but the classy, planned game they played was in huge contrast to that of the Dutch. The Dutch had more possession, but victories are not decided on possession percentages. Anyway, the performance of the Dutch on field seemed to confirm the rumors about ego clashes and infighting in the Dutch dressing room. Arjen Robben walking off the other side of the pitch after being substituted seems to confirm this as well. Until they put aside those things and start playing as a team, there will be no redemption for them. I hope they understand, atleast for their fans’ sake. There goes another tournament and now we can hope for The 2014 World Cup.
P.S.: The “calculated” “still existing chances” are just over-optimistic people. For me, it is over.
