The New Look Dutch Team

So Brazil are out! In the league stages they were looking so sure of themselves and looked so comfortable that they were being seen as clear favourites to the title. But they were stopped by another team that was very comfortable and very patient. Anyone who saw the Brazilian team in the initial stages could not have but figured out the way they were playing. Just build and build build- retain possession keep on feeding their forwards the ball and with the kind of quality they had the goals were bound to come. And so it happened. They carried it on till quarter final when they met another team who had the same style and same attitude to the game. It is indeed remarkable as to how they built this attitude. One can understand Brazil having this kind of attitude having won the tournament five times and being runners up numerous times. But how on earth did Holland ended up having this type of mind as they have been the only team which has been consistently good and have never won the world cup. So one could understand if they had been nervous, edgy and prone to resignation when they are down 0-1 against the number one ranked team in the world.  But not this team. Not this team which has Arjen Robben and Van Persie and Von Bommel in its ranks. This team is equally comfortable in attack as well as defence.

So in their match against Brazil after getting their equalizer in fortuitous circumstances they were all over Brazil after that and had the strength and character to convert their dominance into goals. And having got this advantage they did not relax while Brazil shot themselves in the foot by getting Melo red carded in what was very stupid challenge. One expected better from a team that had so much history behind it. And in their moment of defeat they must have rued the fact that they could not get that goal from Kaka on account of a brilliant save by the Dutch goalkeeper. 0-2 down it would have been very difficult for the Dutch to stage a comeback. But, as it happened, there was a different stor  y to unfold on Friday night and the Dutch knocked out the pre-tournament favorites with, it must be said, with some ease. But to go all the way they have other stiff challenges to overcome. But with the kind of quality they have in their ranks they must be fancying their chances against Uruguay. After that there would be the small question of vanquishing either Germany or Argentina or Spain in the final. It would be quite an interesting match- the final match between the Dutch and either of the three teams. It would be the biggest match in the life of all the Dutch players and their true character  would be revealed there. For one I would be the happiest person if they go all the way.