Euro 2004: First Round, Group D, Day 1
Posted by Pierre Igot in: FootballJune 16th, 2004 • 3:46 am
Nothing too surprising in the ultimate outcome of the first two games in that group, called the “Group of Death” because 3 of the 4 teams (Germany, Holland, and the Czech Republic) are considered potential candidates to go through.
The Czechs got a bit of a scare against Latvia, but recovered quite convincingly in the second half and did end up getting the win that they needed.
The game between Holland and Germany lived up to expectations in that it was a rather ugly encounter, with little class and far too much animosity and physical challenges. Van Nistelrooy was his typical self, lurking in the penalty box when he wasn’t trying to push his way in, and he managed to score the equalizer, but there wasn’t much to be enthusiastic about on either side.
It’s too early in the competition, of course, but it’s hard to imagine either team getting very far with this attitude and lack of creativity. Unless of course they manage to fool referees into thinking that they are the victims rather than the perpetrators, which, with Ruud van Nistelrooy as a leading example, is not impossible. Let’s hope not.
June 21st, 2004 at Jun 21, 04 | 3:19 am
It’s not my fault if Ruud always spoils the football viewing experience for me :). I will readily admit that he has some skill from close range and is often able to put it in in rather difficult/acrobatic situations. But that doesn’t make up for his many flaws: a systematic tendency to try and bully his way into the penalty area, always claiming to have been fouled when he’s the one who commits the fouls most often; a tendency to fall theatrically; very little constructiveness in his game; and very little involvement in building scoring opportunities. He’s basically a poacher. A very good poacher, but a poacher nonetheless.
June 21st, 2004 at Jun 21, 04 | 3:11 am
Instead of this ongoing prejudged bashing of Van Nistelrooy -ever so boring!- you really should have praised this wonderful goal that he scored.