Dutch getting it done at World Cup
RIO DE JANEIRO — It may not be the revolutionary, free-flowing Total Football of Rinus Michels, Johan Cruyff and Johan Neeskens.
More of an Any-Way-You-Want Football.
Tough or tender. Coarse or refined. Stylized or basic. High-minded or pragmatic.
A 5-1 dismantling of defending champion Spain proved this year’s Netherlands contingent can pop the cork and play the champagne stuff when asked. A nervy 3-2 dismissal of lowly Australia showed indisputably it possesses the spirit and fortitude to pull out results when they’re far below their best.
And finally, Monday, requiring only a draw to top a difficult Group B, they masterfully shackled a Chilean roster that had won hearts during this tournament. The Netherlands slammed the deadbolts on the game to the tune of a 2-0 whitewashing.
No, it wasn’t the most compelling match we’ve seen here. Far from it. But that was by the Netherlands’ choice. So consider it a stellar show of playing to circumstances and opponent; a demonstration, if you will, of credentials.
And in doing so, the Netherlands skilfully avoided host Brazil in the Round of 16.
“We will have to wait and see,’’ said coach Louis van Gaal at his post-match media conference, asked about the possibilities of a championship push. “It depends on many different factors.
“A team and coach don’t always control these elements. Today was a match played at the highest level and the most clever team won the match. Any team that ends up in the last 16 is a good team. You have to allow your squad to play according to the qualities they have. For me, it’s all about winning. We have got to develop a strategy that will help us win.
“It is nice for a coach to see that this is being confirmed by the results, because if that’s not the case, you would chop off my head. I played like this with (club team AZ Alkmaar), and we had the same strategies and style. And we were the champions. This has to do with the fact that my staff and I always want to score one more goal than the opponent. I’ve been saying this from the beginning.”
While it’s true the Chileans were missing the highly-influential Arturo Vidal to injury, no one should need reminding that Robin van Persie was strolling the Dutch sideline, serving a suspension. So, call that a wash.
Starting with a five-man back line, making their intentions clear from the getgo, the Oranje set about squeezing the life out of the Chileans.
“Our intention,’’ explained Chile’s coach, Jorge Sampaoli, “was to break down that hard wall of the Dutch defence. We couldn’t work it out. They were very much intact and played an intensive match.’’
After stonewalling for the better part of 77 minutes, the Chileans were reduced to launching 40-yard Alexis Sanchez speculations. That’s when the Dutch breakthrough finally arrived.
A Memphis Depay shot was tipped over the crossbar by Chilean ’keeper Claudio Bravo and, on the ensuing corner, the ball came to Daryl Janmaat. He crossed magnificently to Leroy Fer, who rose and powered home a goal just two minutes after he’d joined the fray as a substitute.
The group standing all but decided, the Netherlands counted a second when Chile was caught on the counterattack. Arjen Robben — showcasing his usual infuriating blend of sublime moments and ghastly theatrics — passed to Depay to cash in from the six-yard box.
Four years ago in Johannesburg, South Africa, Dutch dreams disintegrated in a display of prissy petulance and crude tackles (one chilling challenge saw Nigel de Jong attempting to cut Xabi Alonso in half with a David Carradine-style kung fu kick) during a 1-0 final loss to Spain.
That team, under the auspices of Bert van Marwjik, failed to adapt to the Spanish passing rhythms and found itself always a second or two behind. This team has shown that adaptability and may be its strongest asset.
Really, after what we’ve seen so far, is there a horse here at the moment that you’d rather slap a few thousand down on than van Gaal’s entry in Oranje silks when the contenders for this World Cup come pounding down the backstretch?