World Cup 2010: Slovakia stand in the way of hopeful Holland

by David Hytner

Dutch optimism remains in check. Holland have brought their inimitable colour to the World Cup finals and progressed to the second round with three wins from three, but one damning statistic serves to keep them grounded. Since Euro 2000, the men in orange have won a single knockout tie at a major tournament – and that was the most unlikely penalty shoot-out triumph over Sweden at Euro 2004, after a 0-0 draw in the last 16.

A question mark has rarely been placed against their talent and once again the squad brims with class players. The manager, Bert Van Marwijk, can call upon his big four – Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart – but the support cast is not bad either, with Dirk Kuyt, Klaas Jan Huntelaar, Ibrahim Afellay and Eljero Elia vying for prominence.

"Every game we start," said Van Persie, "there is a really nice belief that we will score. We always think there is a goal or two in us and if we don't score, we have all the players on the bench. It's just fantastic."

Holland's problem has, in recent times, been between the ears and we are not only talking about the psychological tensions that have led to fall-outs between some of the players. When the knockout stages have begun, the Dutch have lost their composure. At the last European Championship, having dismissed Italy, France and Romania in the group phase, the same team failed against Russia in the quarter-finals. They went down 3-1.

At the 2006 World Cup, after similarly encouraging group stage performances, when they beat Serbia & Montenegro and Ivory Coast, and drew with Argentina, they lost the infamous "Battle of Nuremberg" to Portugal in the last 16. The tie featured 16 cards – four of them red – but only one goal. It was also the Portuguese who beat them in the Euro 2004 quarter-final. Holland did not qualify for the World Cup finals in 2002.

Can it be different this time? Van Persie thinks so. The last-16 meeting with Slovakia in Durban will be fraught with anxiety, particularly if the Slovaks show the form with which they saw off Italy. But Van Marwijk's team are not all flicks and technique. They know how to get results.

They qualified for South Africa with a 100% record and in Group E, against Denmark, Japan and Cameroon, it was adjectives like solid, patient and professional which were applied to their performances. The only goal that they conceded was a penalty to Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o. There is a steely resolve about Holland's class of 2010. "I think it's the combination you have to have – the mental toughness and the talent," said Van Persie. "You have to put in the quality but as well as have the mental strength to do it over and over again. After a game, forget about the game and go on to the next one.

"Do we have that mental toughness now? I believe so, yes. We have to show that we have learned from the last couple of years. Most of our players have had two, three or four tournaments and we have to show that we have learned from that. Hopefully, I can give you a positive answer in a couple of weeks."

Happily for Holland, there is the feeling that the early performances have not kept pace with their results; that they have the scope to grow and improve. Unlike at recent tournaments, it is hoped that their best form now lies ahead of them. As ever, there is also the pressure on Holland to win in a certain way. Van Persie says that he thrives on it.

"The Dutch public are very critical, but I don't mind that," he said. "That's the way we are and this is the way we want to be as well. Our target is to play well and I think it's a good target. This is the target that I have with my club as well. At Arsenal, we want to win but we want to do it with quality, to play in the way that we believe.

"Our first three games here were basically not to our standard because we all know we can play much better, but you've seen in patches the kind of football that we love to play. Three games, nine points – that's OK because the group stage is all about survival. But I hope it can be the start of something. Physically and even mentally, there is more to come. It's looking good but now the tournament really starts."

Van Marwijk introduced Robben as a 73rd-minute substitute against Cameroon last Thursday for his first action of the tournament – the winger injured his hamstring in the warm-up game against Hungary on 5 June – but the manager is again likely to start him from the bench against Slovakia.

Robben is not yet fully match fit. Van der Vaart's place on the left is most threatened by Robben's return as Van Marwijk values the balance and work rate that Kuyt offers on the right. He might appear spoilt for choice. His team must now engage bodies and minds.


World Cup 2010: Slovakia stand in the way of hopeful Holland

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Fans will await this game. Will Team Holland win?

Only World Cup final place will satisfy Argentina: Tevez

by ANI

Ace striker Carlos Tevez, who delighted coach Diego Maradona with two goals in the last-16 win over Mexico, has said that only a World Cup final place will satisfy Argentina.

Tevez headed home on 26 minutes and Gonzalo Higuain added the second goal minutes later. Then Tevez’s kick from 25-yards sealed the win before Mexico’s Javier Hernandez pulled one back.

“This was an important step towards getting to the final, which is where we want to be,” The Sun quoted Tevez, as saying.

“We’re now in the quarter-finals and what matters is that we played well. We need to rest and enjoy this victory,” he said.

But Mexico boss Javier Aguirre slammed referee Roberto Rossetti for allowing Tevez’s offside opener.

Aguirre said: “It affected us badly and then we conceded again. I blame the referee’s mistake for the second goal too.”

Argentina now face Germany in Cape Town on Saturday.


Only World Cup final place will satisfy Argentina: Tevez
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Any World Cup team will only be satisfied if they see themselves in the finals. Unfortunately, only two will fight. Who will that be?

World Cup 2010 - Capello Will Not Step Down As England Manager

Fabio Capello will not step down as England manager following the Three Lions' 4-1 defeat against Germany.

The Italian coach was at a loss to explain his side's embarrassing defeat in Bloemfontein, but after the game declared he will not resign from his position, according to Sky Sports News.

Capello is however understood to be seeking a meeting with the FA following England's World Cup exit, which could fuel speculation as to whether he will remain as manager despite the declaration.

World Cup 2010 - Capello Will Not Step Down As England Manager

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Capello may not want to resign, but the management will decide on it. England players' opinions will also matter.

South Africa's FIFA World Cup boss denies helping brother benefit from tournament

Danny Jordaan, chief executive of South Africa's Local Organizing Committee for the FIFA World Cup, on Saturday rejected media reports that he had improperly arranged for his brother to benefit from the tournament.

Jordaan was responding to claims in the Mail & Guardian newspapers in Johannesburg on Friday that his brother was cashing in on the World Cup through a hospitality contract.

The Mail & Guardian also said there are tensions between Jordaan and Irvin Khoza, who is chairman of South Africa's FIFA's Local Organizing Committee for the FIFA, the South African Press Association (SAPA) reported.

During a media conference held at Johannesburg's Soccer City on Saturday, Jordaan said: "I cannot comment on that. All I know is that we are focused on dealing with the World Cup."

Jordaan also dismissed as "nonsense" South African media's repeated insistence on referring back to last year's South Africa Football Association (SAFA) elections, insinuating that there was tension between himself and Khoza.

Both Jordaan and Khoza stood for the SAFA presidency but withdrew at the last minute, allowing Kirsten Nematanandi to be elected. Nematanandi is seen by the South African media as a supporter of Jordaan.

According to SAPA, on Saturday Jordaan challenged reports by the Mail & Guardian that he had submitted an affidavit to his lawyers in an effort to take legal steps against the newspaper.

"Do you know the lawyers?" he asked.

"I'd be happy if you gave me their names."

Jordaan said he and Khoza were focused on ensuring a smooth tournament for players and fans.

However, he said that the failure of most African teams to qualify for the knock out round of the World Cup was a disappointment.

Of six African participants, only Ghana pulled through to play the United States on Saturday afternoon.

Host nation South Africa, along with Nigeria, Algeria, Cameroon and Cote d'Ivoire, failed to go further in the first FIFA World Cup on the African soil in FIFA's 106-year history.






 South Africa's FIFA World Cup boss denies helping brother benefit from tournament

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I do hope this is not true. Countries would like to host World Cup in order to help boost the economy and tourism of their countries - not for their personal gains. Why can't we just enjoy the games?