BronckVan and Robben The Dynamic Duo to the Rescue!
07/07/10 02:04
The Netherlands turn back the clock!
Tonight saw the first of the semi finals for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and this first showdown was between Holland and Uruguay who some felt (me for one) that they were lucky to have even got this far after they dismissed Ghana in a rather unorthodox fashion. The Dutch were the hotly tipped favourites to advance through this match but you could never count out the resolute nature of Diego Forlan and the Uruguayans even if Luis Suarez was having to sit this one out.
After a steady start, suddenly the match was ignited in explosive style in the 18th minute when Gionvanni Van Bronckhorst melted a left peg firebomb of a piledriver in the top right corner that even the mighty Stevie Staunton would have tipped his hat to! I can just here the Alan Partridge commentary over that one. The keeper got a fingertip to it but there was so much power on it barely diverted the direction as the Jabulani flew in excess of 60mph (96.54km for all you Dutch fans), proving to the England team there is nothing wrong with the ball after all.
Whilst this lead might have collapsed a weaker team, Uruguay stayed solid and 23 minutes later that man Forlan popped up with a left footer of his own as he swerved the ball away from the diving Mr Stekelenberg to even the score sheet 1-1, I really don't remember him being that good at Manchester Utd. The Man from Del-Monte-video he say yes - game on! Half time rolled in with honours even and all to play for.
The second half started quite open with the team in pale blue testing the Dutch keeper once again but Wesley Sneijder, the hero of the Quarters for Holland, managed to sneak in a rather speculative shot that carried a faint whiff of offside from his colleague Robin Van Persie but between the sticks it went and the Cloggies were once again in the lead. They then started to rule the pitch and just three minutes later sealed the deal as Robben nutted in Holland's third. The South Americans pushed really hard to get back in the game and in the 92nd minute did manage another and they frantically carried the ball back to the centre circle to get the game underway again and try for an equaliser. The extra time really seemed to go on for an eternity but finally the whistle went and the Oranje army march on to the final for the third time. Can they go one better than the total football teams of '74 and '78? Come Sunday evening, we will know.
And so to the Footcall league...All top three players had Holland to win so no change there but with 7 points still to play for we will see if Paul or Martin can overtake Kevin. Other movers topside include Peter Mulvey, Nick Stacey and Keith Firmston now doing well in the money bracket. Tony Gardner, Me, David Blakeman and Mark Brown all picked up 3 points and Patrick "Why Did I Pick England to Win?" Ferguson once again gets another few points to add to his haul. Ric Robinson and Christine Jenner will be celebrating their points earned in honour of hero Johann Cruyff. Adam Billington, Lyn Rennie and look Where's the Salad Doris? James Ridley got it right as well to move him on to the first page of the league (crucially above Eddie). Dave "The KO Points Machine" Hope is now unbelievably also nearing the first page. Christopher Crouch and Paul Harrison bring up the rear of those that had a Dutch victory. Hopefully that covers all the winners today.
Spain v Germany tomorrow and I'm thinking this could be decisive in the world of Footcall.
See ya!
Dj