Madferret
6-08-05, 9:44 AM
Dutch look to Robben and Kuyt for repeat victory
by Reuters
The Netherlands need victory in Finland on Wednesday to hold off an improving Czech Republic in what is now looking like a two-horse race in FIFA World Cup? qualifying Group 1. The Dutch may have knocked Romania out of the equation with their 2-0 victory over them at the weekend but despite winning six and drawing one of their seven qualifiers they are only a point ahead of the Czechs, whom they beat 2-0 at home last September.
The Czechs have won six in a row since then and will expect to make it seven at home to FYR Macedonia on Wednesday so the Dutch will need to match them against Finland. They won the corresponding fixture 3-1 in Amsterdam in October and would be delighted with a repeat.
Another performance like Saturday's against Romania should be good enough to achieve it. Wingers Arjen Robben and Dirk Kuyt combined to create and score both goals - one each - and should be the main supply line again in Helsinki. Ruud van Nistelrooy will retain his place in the starting lineup but, after a lively substitute appearance on his debut, Robin van Persie can expect another run-out.
Goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar will also be keen to impress on his 96th appearance for the Dutch following the weekend news he is leaving Fulham for Manchester United for next season.
The Dutch were forced to field an inexperienced back four against Romania but coach Marco van Basten was delighted with how they performed, particularly PSV Eindhoven's Theo Lucius and AZ Alkmaar's Barry Opdam, who both made their debuts. Khalid Boulahrouz, who was ruled out after suffering a training injury, has rejoined the squad but might have to settle for a place on the bench.
However, Van Basten had some harsh words for his midfield and is likely to make at least two changes for Wednesday. Van Basten said that Romania midfielder Dorinel Munteanu was given too much space and that was the reason he replaced Mark van Bommel with Nigel de Jong early in the second half.
De Jong looks set to start on Wednesday while Phillip Cocu, who has just about recovered from a knee injury, will return for the suspended Rafael van der Vaart. "Philip Cocu is an important in-form player for us with so much experience that I might take a risk with him," said Van Basten.
The Netherlands are in the driving seat in the group with 19 points from seven matches. The Czech Republic are second on 18 from seven, Romania third on 13 from eight with Finland looking out of it on nine points from six games.
Finland coach Antti Muurinen will include Jari Litmanen, well known to the Dutch from his many years with Ajax, but without fellow midfielder Joonas Kolkka, who is out due to a toe injury. Defender Petri Pasanen is also absent through suspension. The Nordic side will go into the game trying to regain some positive momentum from a stinging 4-3 defeat at the hands of the Czech Republic in their last qualifier in March.
They came down from 3-1 down to level with 11 minutes to go but a late goal meant defeat and the end of their hopes of reaching a major tournament finals for the first time. There was not much to take from a friendly against Denmark last week either, when a late goal gave the Danes a 1-0 victory in an uninspiring match.
Probable teams
Finland: Jussi Jaaskelainen; Janne Saarinen; Sami Hyypia; Hannu Tihinen; Mika Nurmela; Jari Litmanen; Aki Riihilahti; Peter Kopteff; Aleksei Eremenko; Shefki Kuqi; Jonatan Johansson
Netherlands: Edwin van der Sar; Theo Lucius, Johnny Heitinga, Barry Opdam, Giovanni van Bronckhorst; Nigel de Jong, Denny Landzaat, Philip Cocu; Dirk Kuijt, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Arjen Robben.
Referee: Alain Hamer (Luxembourg)
http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/fifa/gen/xp/20050604/i/1809470814.jpg
LINK (http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/050606/7/3t29.html)
by Reuters
The Netherlands need victory in Finland on Wednesday to hold off an improving Czech Republic in what is now looking like a two-horse race in FIFA World Cup? qualifying Group 1. The Dutch may have knocked Romania out of the equation with their 2-0 victory over them at the weekend but despite winning six and drawing one of their seven qualifiers they are only a point ahead of the Czechs, whom they beat 2-0 at home last September.
The Czechs have won six in a row since then and will expect to make it seven at home to FYR Macedonia on Wednesday so the Dutch will need to match them against Finland. They won the corresponding fixture 3-1 in Amsterdam in October and would be delighted with a repeat.
Another performance like Saturday's against Romania should be good enough to achieve it. Wingers Arjen Robben and Dirk Kuyt combined to create and score both goals - one each - and should be the main supply line again in Helsinki. Ruud van Nistelrooy will retain his place in the starting lineup but, after a lively substitute appearance on his debut, Robin van Persie can expect another run-out.
Goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar will also be keen to impress on his 96th appearance for the Dutch following the weekend news he is leaving Fulham for Manchester United for next season.
The Dutch were forced to field an inexperienced back four against Romania but coach Marco van Basten was delighted with how they performed, particularly PSV Eindhoven's Theo Lucius and AZ Alkmaar's Barry Opdam, who both made their debuts. Khalid Boulahrouz, who was ruled out after suffering a training injury, has rejoined the squad but might have to settle for a place on the bench.
However, Van Basten had some harsh words for his midfield and is likely to make at least two changes for Wednesday. Van Basten said that Romania midfielder Dorinel Munteanu was given too much space and that was the reason he replaced Mark van Bommel with Nigel de Jong early in the second half.
De Jong looks set to start on Wednesday while Phillip Cocu, who has just about recovered from a knee injury, will return for the suspended Rafael van der Vaart. "Philip Cocu is an important in-form player for us with so much experience that I might take a risk with him," said Van Basten.
The Netherlands are in the driving seat in the group with 19 points from seven matches. The Czech Republic are second on 18 from seven, Romania third on 13 from eight with Finland looking out of it on nine points from six games.
Finland coach Antti Muurinen will include Jari Litmanen, well known to the Dutch from his many years with Ajax, but without fellow midfielder Joonas Kolkka, who is out due to a toe injury. Defender Petri Pasanen is also absent through suspension. The Nordic side will go into the game trying to regain some positive momentum from a stinging 4-3 defeat at the hands of the Czech Republic in their last qualifier in March.
They came down from 3-1 down to level with 11 minutes to go but a late goal meant defeat and the end of their hopes of reaching a major tournament finals for the first time. There was not much to take from a friendly against Denmark last week either, when a late goal gave the Danes a 1-0 victory in an uninspiring match.
Probable teams
Finland: Jussi Jaaskelainen; Janne Saarinen; Sami Hyypia; Hannu Tihinen; Mika Nurmela; Jari Litmanen; Aki Riihilahti; Peter Kopteff; Aleksei Eremenko; Shefki Kuqi; Jonatan Johansson
Netherlands: Edwin van der Sar; Theo Lucius, Johnny Heitinga, Barry Opdam, Giovanni van Bronckhorst; Nigel de Jong, Denny Landzaat, Philip Cocu; Dirk Kuijt, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Arjen Robben.
Referee: Alain Hamer (Luxembourg)
http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/fifa/gen/xp/20050604/i/1809470814.jpg
LINK (http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/050606/7/3t29.html)