I agree Jonk not being available (he went home for the funeral of his best friend, who died in a car crash) is not good - he is the key to their midfield, and a great free-kick specialist - but Kluivert we can do without. He has an attitude problem. To get a red card in any of these crucial games is beyond the pale.
If I have seemed arrogant, it was unintentional; I'm just very enthusiastic about Holland's chances. Please do not compare me to the Klaun! I admit it is not impossible that Holland shoot themselves in the foot tomorrow and make an early exit (it has happened before), but I believe this team is different than its predecessors. If only they had Cruyff as their trainer! I also agree their performance against a sorry Belgian side was very poor - it should have been a blowout. If they play that way again they will not last very long in this tournament. But remember that Jonk did not start in that game and Bergkamp was not yet fit, and only played the last 20 minutes. Bergkamp and Jonk are the key to Holland's chances: if they perform at their best level, I really think this team will be very hard to beat.
Jonk may not be playing, but neither is il matador . I would rather have it this way than both of them playing. Mexico without Hernandez is a vastly diminished side. I can't wait till 10 a.m.. I'm here on the East Coast, staying up tonight doing research, so only another 7 1/2 hours until kickoff!
No problem being controversial - it's what makes this thread and the Cup so much fun. I think you are absolutely right that some big upsets are in store. Who knows? Chile over Brazil, Paraguay over France, Norway over Italy. I believe these games will see at least one major upset, though I would rate Italy losing as the least likely. (I'm going to have to take some chances and revise my predictions.) And Colombia-England Friday should be a great match, although I think the English have a better chance of upsetting Argentina, though I wouldn't really call that a realistic upset possibility. It would be nice for Holland though!
Well, tomorrow will be an interesting day. Here's to Germany having a tight game and the Yugos blowing out the U.S., setting up Holland-Germany!
By the way, "nothing" is spelled niks in Dutch. Tot morgen! |
