Quote:
Originally Posted by GirlySports
Think that was a good idea resting 8 guys? I thought they would try to carry some momentum into the QFs. Think Croatia and Holland will do the same thing?
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I don't think they will, and not because Van Basten would rather see Romania than Italy or France, (Champions don't care who they face, and if Van Basten fancies his Oranje to be champions, they'll beat Romania to prove they can and to strike fear in their next opponent) and not because he fancies a return to a Serie A coaching position.
However, I expect a few strategic changes to the starting line-up, but no more than 3-4, and all the starters will be replaced by guys with playing experience in the tournament (like Van Persie and Robben).
Why is it such a dangerous thing to do? Its not easy to tear a team apart and put it back together again, and the team struggling to retain its chemistry could be the razor thin difference between a close win and a close loss. These guys don't play together day in and day out like a club squad, its hard to build true chemistry at this level, and the Dutch have it.
Frankly, if Germany gets their act together, Scolari might rue his decision to field a B squad. Momentum is everything in a brief tournament, and the poor display by the "Bs" may have stalled it.