Group B: Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia

[Babylonian]

Holland playing very Atleti like.. Everybody should be scared..

 

[Catorce]

Kluivert-esque header! vs Brazil 1998 Also: Depay What a spectacular player!

 

[Galning]

Not as impressed with the Dutch. Really don't like their playing style.

 

[BerkeleyBernie]

Not as impressed with the Dutch. Really don't like their playing style.

They're pragmatic. They are completely capable of a tiki-taka game. In the last World Cup, they played all their qualifications open and attacking, but went all Mou defensive in the Finals against Spain.

They'll set up however they think they need to, based on the opponent.

 

[kaisers0ze]

Did u guys realize what this 5 - 3 - 2 formation did for holland in this group stage?

5 against Spain
3 against Australia
2 against Chille

I think exactly as LvG wanted.

 

[kaisers0ze]

They're pragmatic. They are completely capable of a tiki-taka game. In the last World Cup, they played all their qualifications open and attacking, but went all Mou defensive in the Finals against Spain.

They'll set up however they think they need to, based on the opponent.

Exactly. Another dimension is that this team is fairly new playing players from their home country league... You dont have a full season to get them adjusted to each-other and play attractive tiki taka. Just these 3 - 4 weeks which you should make the best of.

 

[PaulFCB]

Kluivert-esque header! vs Brazil 1998 Also: Depay What a spectacular player!

I remember that goal without ever re-watching it on YouTube or anywhere else.
Too bad they VdS didn't save any penalties, they should've won that WC with Dennis GOAT .

 

[Catorce]

Not as impressed with the Dutch. Really don't like their playing style.

To a certain degree I actually am impressed. But still, my heart says it just isn't the way we play football. All in all, I can understand LvG's choices with this group. Just a very few actually good players and a bunch of talents behind that should do good in 2016 or 2018. Pragmatism all the way, and I hope it gets us far.

But yeah, I hope we revert back to classic Dutch 433 which gave the world great football.

 

[BerkeleyBernie]

Just a very few actually good players and a bunch of talents behind that should do good in 2016 or 2018.

But yeah, I hope we revert back to classic Dutch 433 which gave the world great football.

Agreed.

 

[Ode to Django]

They're pragmatic. They are completely capable of a tiki-taka game. In the last World Cup, they played all their qualifications open and attacking, but went all Mou defensive in the Finals against Spain.

They'll set up however they think they need to, based on the opponent.

That's the way to be

 

[BerkeleyBernie]

That's the way to be

Especially in a knockout tourney. If Spain were to play in a league composed of all the WC finalists in a 62 game season, I suspect they would still emerge in the top 4, working out any kinks and rotating in the younger players (and of course, Casillas to the bench). But no such luxury here, mistakes are deadly.

 

[Jesse1509]

If we played 4-3-3 against Chile and/or Spain we probably would've lost. We're not capable of building up from the back the way we used to. Our only chance of winning is playing the way we do now: pragmatic rather than beautiful. Of course I'd prefer us playing in a more beautiful way, but I'd always choose winning over that.