Quote:
Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan
A black mark? They had 20 shots on net, and how many posts/bars did they hit? They pretty much dominated the entire game. Sometimes they don't go in, but they still managed to get through.
Seems like it doesn't really matter how they play or what the result is you find a way to slam the team or the way they play. They're in the semis........they're a lot better than what you give them credit for.
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I have never said they're anything but one of the best teams in the tournament. That is a completely different issue from me not liking them. Same as with Canucks back when they were good.
20 shots, sure, but not really that many great ones. This wasn't Belgium vs. USA. Netherlands has the best group of strikers in the tournament by a ridiculous margin and their midfield is among the best. It doesn't take a great coach to win the shots in that situation. They were 2 nervous players away from losing this game.
Look at Algeria vs. Germany. Löws idea of a lineup was a bloody mess. They won because their players were so much better, but if that was a coaching match, it would have been a clear loss. That game was a huge black mark on Löw.
This was not impressive by van Gaal. Maybe a black mark is a bit of a stretch, but in the end they had by far the easiest opponent of the four finalists, and yet they were the only one that couldn't score a single goal.
I don't see how that is NOT some seriously unimpressive coaching.
This was the first really defensive squad they faced, and they didn't have a real strategy for it. Mexico, Spain, Chile and even Australia to some extent played an offensive style.
Good thing for Netherlands there's no defensive teams in the top 4.