Netherlands v Argentina - 2014 World Cup semi-final

Well, the second World Cup semi-final manifestly lacked the drama of the first, although I would contend that it constituted a more meaningful and genuine contest than Tuesday evening's surreal exhibition.

Although the opening minutes of the match saw a period of fluent and confident Dutch passing and possession, I thought that by and large Argentina had more penetration and energy for the bulk of the semi-final. They seemed much more capable of getting in behind the Dutch defence than Louis Van Gaal's men did with their backline. The tactic of targeting the Dutch left flank was particularly profitable, although ultimately it did not bear fruit in the form of a goal.

After the interval, it seemed that the Netherlands coach had remedied the problem by taking off Bruno Martins Indi. However, the overall pattern and tempo of play barely altered until the penalty shoot-out. Both teams were quite pedestrian, with only the very occasional moment of inspiration and/or incisiveness to relieve the general monotony and inertia.

I found the tense and tactical nature of the match quite interesting and absorbing, although I can appreciate how the billions of neutrals around the globe would have found it less than enthralling!  The Netherlands team defended capably, but their colleagues further forward seemed bereft of real ideas and panache. Were the rigours of the quarter-final against Costa Rica still afflicting Dutch limbs?  That said, the late chance spurned by Arjen Robben will haunt them.  He seemed to half-stumble, half-hesitate, and general weariness may have played its part.

Since the commencement of the 2014 World Cup, the "experts" have been bemoaning the apparent demise of the defensive arts in football. Well, last night they finally got some proper defending, from both teams, although the exponents were not over-taxed by the creative players on either side. Robin van Persie seemed listless and only half-interested, and it was little surprise when he was substituted, so ineffectual was he.

The Dutch again had a good spell in extra-time, but rarely did they look like achieving a breakthrough. Dirk Kuyt as ever was willing, honest and conscientious, and was one of the best players on the night. The Dutch again faded, and it was Argentina who had a couple of late chances to avert a penalty shoot-out, through Palacio and Maxi Rodriguez.

Argentina were emphatic and confident in the penalty competition, and we may eventually find out more about what went wrong with the Dutch in this regard.

On balance, I am glad that Argentina got through, both because of "the Messi factor", and because they were the better team overall during the match itself. Germany, though, must start favourites for Sunday's final. They are stronger on paper, and will be fresher. 

2014 World Cup - semi-finals preview

Some have declared that this World Cup has gone into decline since we reached the quarter-final stage, citing the dip in the "entertainment" factor.  This of course assumes that one became caught up in the hype about this being a "great" World Cup in the first place, and whether one falls into the trap of automatically equating "entertainment" with "quality".

 

First of all, teams cannot afford to take as many risks, and make mistakes, because one error could mean instant elimination.  What do the football "hipsters" expect coaches to do, leave gaps everywhere and allow the opposition's creative players the freedom of the park?  Secondly, the quality of defending, so derided by the pundits earlier in the tournament, as become greater and more consistently solid. Hence the relative lack of space, and goals, in the recent games.

 

I find it a bit puzzling why most people are citing Brazil v Argentina as the "dream final". Yes, it would be a dream to see the hosts pitted against Lionel Messi and co. in a feverish atmosphere. However, Germany and the Netherlands has equal allure and potency, and would arguably be a more interesting footballing spectacle overall. As it happens, in recent days, my mind has been wandering gradually towards the likelihood of a final between those two European nations.

 

Germany, to me, still look overall the best team in the tournament, with more options in creative areas, greater cohesion as a unit, and more energy and vigour in reserve. The fact that they will be facing a weakened Brazil in the semi-final only strengthens their prospects, although the circumstances surrounding the Brazilian team, particularly the Neymar injury and the Thiago Silva suspension, can not be under-estimated in their potential to produce inspiration from the hosts.

 

People are saying that the absence of their most talented individual will in some ways benefit Brazil, because it will force them to play more as a unit, and to vary their approach. This theory, of course, involves a pretty big assumption - that is, that the remaining Brazil players are up to the task of making such a revised approach work, and delivering a victory against Joachim Loew's side. Several individuals will very much need to "step up to the plate".

 

The emasculation of Brazil's attacking options must surely make it easier for Germany to concentrate on playing their own game, and fully utilising their manifold strengths in midfield and forwards. If they so desire, they could well dictate the tempo of the match. If Loew gets the balance and tactics right, then I can see Germany progressing to the final.

It seems that the outcome of the Netherlands v Argentina semi-final will rest primarily on what more outlandish tricks Louis van Gaal has up his sleeve!  In all seriousness, I see this tie as more evenly balanced than the other one, and therefore more difficult to call. Argentina have Lionel Messi, of course, but may be deprived of Angel Di Maria for the semi-final. He is their second most talented player, and after that the options begin to look a little barren in truth.

The Dutch have stagnated a little since their dazzling displays in the group stages, but Arjen Robben still seemed buzzing with energy and positivity against Costa Rica. Although Robin van Persie looked a little out of sorts, I can't see the starting line-up at least being affected by the coach's imaginative "horses for courses" initiatives. Further back, plans may be hatched in an attempt to negate the influence of a certain Barcelona player.

Notwithstanding the fact that it is my preferred final line-up, on balance I can see the last two standing after Wednesday evening being Germany and Netherlands.

Brilliant Orange - David Winner

Continuing my incessant posts about recent football-related reading, here are a few observations on another acclaimed work, Brilliant Orange, David Winner's exploration of Dutch football.  It is appropriately sub-titled "The neurotic genius of Dutch football".

Not your average football-themed tome, this one, drawing as it does parallels and connections between the Dutch approach to football and characteristics of the Dutch people and nation, even extending these analogies to its geography and topography. People may view some of Winner's arguments and theories as outlandish, or even pretentious, but they are so well presented and reasoned that they demand recognition and serious consideration.

The author observes how changes in post-war society, including some peculiar to Holland, affected the path which the game followed there. Much attention of course is focussed on the imperious Ajax team of the early 1970s, and the enigmatic and iconic Dutch national team from the same decade. The 1974 World Cup Final is analysed, both for how its outcome was determined by Dutch idiosyncrasies, and how that outcome in turn impacted on of generations of Dutchmen and women.

Another virtue of this book is its relative brevity. It says what it wants and needs to say without being excessively earnest or self-conscious. It is certainly not as laborious a read as some other books of its type. It employs diverse topics to get its point across. One is left in some awe of how the tale has unfolded,and with a much enhanced understanding of why it unfolded as it did....

Euro 2012 - Group B

An enjoyable and fascinating evening of football to conclude matters in Group B.Although the possible permutations for qualification for the quarter-finals seemed almost endless, in the final analysis Germany and Portugal fully warranted their progression, but there were some adventures and alarms along the way.

Not surprisingly, Germany topped the group, building on the favourable impression which they created during and since the 2010 World Cup finals.  It is noticeable when watching them that there is always an option available, by way of someone to make a run or receive possession.  This team has more flair than many German elevens of the past, although defensively they may be less solid and secure.  My other reservation is whether they have the same quality in depth as, for the sake of argument, Spain.  The substitutes who Germany brought on tonight, with all due respect, would not strike fear into opponents' hearts in the same way as their counterparts in some other squads.

I am by no means his greatest fan, but Cristiano Ronaldo certainly answered a few questions this evening, scoring two fine goals, and being unlucky not to score more.   The question might be whether he is able to "carry" the team further in the tournament, as the supporting cast has not been entirely convincing.

The Netherlands have been a major disappointment, with the odd flash of inspiration failing to compensate for a lack of cohesion, drive and consistency.  Like several teams at this tournament, they are entering a transitional phase, and the newcomers could not step up to the plate.  This, combined with the failure of one or two established stars to perform to their potential, sealed their fate.

A word of credit to Denmark, who gave a thoroughly decent account of themselves, tackling a very tough group with enthusiasm and courage.  Even they would probably admit that their current crop of players is hardly a vintage one, but they gave everything, and can go home with heads held high.

1974 World Cup Final

I recently watched a full video of the 1974 World Cup final, which pitted West Germany against the Netherlands. This viewing prompted a number of thoughts and observations about football, both then and now.

The final offered several fascinating sub-plots. The teams were captained by the imperious Franz Beckenbauer and the mercurial Johan Cruyff, the two most prominent footballers on the planet, following Pele's retirement. The countries offered slightly differing styles of play, pitting Holland's pure "Total Football" philosophy against the more pragmatic and vigorous German approach. The Dutch had sailed impressively through the tournament, becoming the darlings of neutrals everywhere, while the Germans had stuttered, failing to arrive at a settled line-up until the verge of the final.

The periphery of the final had little in common with today's bland, corporate and stage-managed affairs. Quaint bands in traditional national dress played the music, and the advertisement hoardings were a veritable mish-mash of brands, many of them relatively humble companies. None of your multi-national "official partners" here, thankyou very much!

Although the preliminaries were much more amateurish and informal than those of today, there was also the sense that the final was "an event" in its own right, and not just a homogenized cog in a larger wheel. I also noticed that Ruud Krol was sporting a rather fetching beaded necklace, which would probably earn him a suspension nowadays! Photographers seemed to freely roam the environs of the playing surface with impunity. However did we cope before today's obsessive regimentation and over-regulation? And the referee and his linesmen were clad in mere black and white, perish the thought!

So what of the match itself? Well, my overall impression was that the game had less of the sustained pace of today. There was slightly more space for players to perform in, and this was heightened by the lower fitness and endurance levels. Football as a spectacle benefitted from these factors, as technical flair, athleticism and tactical flexibility never overlapped more agreeably than in the early to mid 1970s. This intoxicating mix made the 1974 World Cup my favourite of all time. The 1970 tournament may have been more outwardly dazzling, but much of its excitement derived from the comical defending of some teams, and the effects of the heat and altitude of Mexico. Four years later, the overall quality was greater, aided by the advent of "Total Football" and its imitators.

Some words also about the refereeing of Englishman Jack Taylor;authoritative but unfussy, and not hamstrung by edicts and directives from on high. Matters were left to the individual interpretation of the man in the middle, and common sense was generally the guiding principle.

After the very early Dutch penalty gave them a 1-0 lead, the match became an absorbing chess match, with the men in orange seeking in vain to out-psych and demoralise their opponents. During this phase, the solidity exemplified by Beckenbauer steadied the Germans, and they had an outlet in the form of Paul Breitner's occasional surges forward.

These days we perpetually decry the cheating and gamesmanship in the modern game, but the first half in Munich contains a couple of reminders that this is by no means a purely modern phenomenon. Firstly, there was a faintly ridiculous incident, when van Hanegem lightly pushed Gerd Muller behind the referee's back, and the stocky little striker went to ground as if he had been hit by a truck. Then, in the incident which led to West Germany's equalising penalty, Bernd Holzenbein went down very easily, with little obvious contact from any Dutch defenders. Such things were not as prevalent or endemic as in today's game, but they were there all the same....

After the Breitner penalty, West Germany sensed the fragility of the Dutch team, and stepped up the pressure. Their runs became more purposeful and incisive, with Hoeness and Grabowski making much of the running. The left foot of Wolfgang Overath also became more potent a force.

By contrast, the Netherlands seemed to lose focus and cohesion, and there was a lack of inspiration and leadership within their ranks, with few players prepared to step up and assume responsibility.

The second, and decisive, German goal, showed the true value of Gerd Muller. The forward, with his lack of versatility and technical limitations, may not have conformed to the strictures of Total Football, but his predatory instincts were indispensable.

During the final, Franz Beckenbauer did not perform the expansive sweeper role for which he had become renowned. Instead, he was quietly effective in a predominantly defensive capacity, making several timely interventions and exuding calm and authority.

On the other hand, Johan Cruyff failed to fully impose himself on proceedings, and was kept well under control by Berti Vogts, and others. His verbal altercation with the referee after the half-time whistle summed up his frustrations.

Throughout the second period, the West German rearguard remained resolute in the face of ceaseless, and increasingly desperate, Dutch pressure. Helmut Schoen's men played as a genuine team, rather than a collection of talented individuals. Attacking and defending as a team, with the whole being greater than the sum of its parts.  Several players shunned individual glory, and applied themselves to the team objective. Much selfless running was evident.

I have often theorised that Total Football was Holland's undoing in the final itself. When the chips were down, they seemed to lack the will to adopt a more rigid or belligerent approach.

The 1974 World Cup took place just before my childhood obsession with football was sparked. Although the style of football purveyed by the tournament's better teams was revolutionary and fresh, there was also a sense that the "golden era" of the game was coming to an end. Some of the players who starred in the final had already reached or passed their peak, and their replacements were not of the same standard. Possibly in part due to the Dutch failure to capture the ultimate prize, that happy balance between flair, tactical innovation and physicality was disturbed, to the game's overall detriment.

The final in Munich may not have been a wildly exciting spectacle per se, but as a document of what football was, and perhaps never will be again, it is compelling viewing.

Final score:   West Germany 2 Netherlands 1