Euro 2008 Group C Preview : Netherlands v Romania

Netherlands

vs

Romania

Tuesday, June 17, Kickoff 2045CET
Berne (Switzerland) – Travel to Berne

THE BIG PICTURE

A win for Romania puts them in the quarterfinals, and sends both Italy and France home without their supper. The Netherlands have already clinched top spot, and so this is a glorified friendly for them, and they have nothing to worry about but fitness ahead of their quarterfinal matchup with either Sweden or Russia.

Netherlands

Three Key Players:
I’m actually not going to name three key players, because really there are none for this match. The key points for Holland in this one are 1) no injuries, 2) get a run out for some backups and young hopefuls, and 3) keep the momentum that has made them the favorite for the tournament title.

Netherlands squad
Netherlands Team Profile

Team News:
The Dutch have not only led the tournament in scoring, but also in discipline, with only two yellow cards in their first two games. But those two players, defender Andre Ooijer (he of the uncalled handball) and defensive mid Nigel de Jong, will surely be riding the pine for this one.

Visit Jan at the Netherlands Euro 2008 Team Blog for more.

Buy Netherlands team gear here.

Romania

Three Key Players:

• Adrian Mutu – The fiery Fiorentina man did well to take advantage of a poor passback and score Romania’s only goal against Italy. His attempt at a penalty? Not so good. He was one spot kick away from leading his side to the quarterfinals in the last match, and failed. He will be very hungry for another chance at glory.
• Răzvan Raţ – Rat has been a key part of the strong Romanian defense thus far, and the left back will have to be at his best against the strong Netherlands attack that has put 7 past the World Cup finalists already. Let’s just hope he stops taking out his own players.
• Nicolae Dică – Dica has been, in my opinion, the most underused player on the Romanian side. He came into the tournament in blazing form, but has seen limited time, coming on in injury time against France, then only getting a real run in the Italy match due to the injury to Mirel Rădoi. If he gets good minutes, and gets played in an attacking role, he could be the key to the match.

Romania squad
Romania Team Profile

Team News:

Mirel Rădoi is out for the tournament after his collision with Raţ in the Italy match, and will likely be replaced by Dica. Dorin Goian will miss this match with a yellow card suspension, and four other Romanians are on a single yellow as well. Unlike the Dutch team, though, there will be no resting players here. They need this win, and will tak advantage of any player except Goian and Radoi to get it.

Visit me at the Romania Euro 2008 Team Blog for more.

Buy Romania national team gear here

BIG BATTLES

Netherlands vs Their own momentum
If you are Marco van Basten, do you play a strong squad (minus the players on yellow) and try to maintain the fantastic momentum, or do you rest and recover, and treat the game as the friendly it essentially is for you? The answer might go a long way toward determining the winner of Euro 2008.

Adrian Mutu vs. Adrian Mutu
Il Fenomeno has always been his own worst enemy. You could see in his eyes when his penalty was saved how devastated he was. Can he use that frustration to his advantage, or will he let it overcome him and take him out of the game?

Stingy Romanian defense vs. High-flying Dutch attack
Holland has scored 7 goals in this tournament so far, to Romania’s one. But the Tricolorii have also only let one past, two if you count Luca Toni’s perfectly onside header. In qualifying, they shut out the Dutch side twice, with the matches ending 0-0 and 1-0. The Romanians will not be a side to tear this tournament up with offense, but they can defend, and Netherlands will need to find a way to solve a defense that France could not, possibly with a squad of second-tier players.

THE LAST WORD
Romania was the only team that really put the brakes on Holland in qualifying, keeping them scoreless in two matches. But this is a different Holland side, and they come into this match with all the confidence in the world, after two of their most dominating performances in recent memory. This could go either way, and the Romanians will be hoping that in-form players like Wesley Sneijder and Orlando Engelaar will be watching this one safely from the stands.

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LIVEBLOG

Follow the Netherlands vs. Romania LiveBlog here.