Group D Result:
Germany 2: Schneider 21, Hamann 49
Netherlands 2: Makaay 24, Van Nistelrooy 88
Possesion
Germany 50% Netherlands 50%
Shots
Germany 5 Netherlands 7
Cards:
Germany: Y/C for Nowotny
Netherlands: Y/C for Cocu
Fouls:
Germany 3 Netherlands 5
The clash of the old rivals took place today which turned out to be a tense affair through out the match. Coach Nifty abandoned the lone striker system in place of a 3-5-2 formation with 2 out and out forwards, who both got on the scoresheet. The Germans also played a variation of 3-5-2, as they went out to match the dutch man for man. The Dutch got off to a slow start and couldnt quite find a rhythm, hitting a few hopeful balls and not getting their passing game going. The Dutch lack of rhythm and concentration was exploited to full effect as Schnider ran in from deep, twisted the defense and unleashed a good shot which beat Van der sar. This stunned the Dutch into action and it didnt take long for them to find an equliser. A Van Nistlerooy run and shot hit the keeper and fell kindly on the head of Makaay who was in the right place at the right time. A bit of a fortunate goal, but the dutch had no complaints. Credit to the dutch though, as they played their way back into the game with their passing and attacking attitude increasing as thr match went on. A few more efforts by The Dutch, most notably from wonderkid Van Der Vaart with a dipping 25 yard shot before half time. The Half ended well for The Netherlands, with the Germans becoming a bit edgy, but alot of that was down to their improvement of play, denying the Germans the ball.
The second half started much the same way as the first did, with the Dutch falling asleep again, losing thier way and the Germans punished them dearly. Goal scorer Schneider, crossed the ball which was not cleared well by Stam, and Dietmar Hamann pounced to head the ball home, again, sloppy play in defence from the Dutch, now staring down the barrel of defeat. But an inpired subsitution from coach, Nifty changed the complexion of the game. He brought on Zenden for Van der vaart, and switched Overmars to the right, Zeden took up position on the left wing, and Seedorf moved to just behind the forwards. The dutch then began to play better with more of a natural balance on both flanks. Time was still running out for the dutch though, and with all their attacking play, were still searching for the equiliser. Germany were still dangerous on the counter attack and a good move down the middle which found Ziege in space, who hit a stinging shot from 25 yards went just wide. A let off for the Dutch, which surely would have been the killer. With time running out the Dutch needing that second goal pushed everyone forward in a last gasp frenzy, and in the 88th minute, they found their get out of jail card, which came in the form of the move of the match. Overmars found himself in space on the right but with his back to goal, had to improvise and he produced a stunning backheal pass into the path of Makaay, who swivvled and crossed with Van Nistlerooy arriving in the box to head home from 6 yards out and grabbing a precious point for the dutch. So both strikers linked up well then, as both Nistlerooy and Makaay made goals for each other and scored one a piece.
I am sure now, that the Dutch need to put all the in-fighting aside and now concentrate on their next match. This was a hard fought draw with Germany feeling that should have won this, but the Netherlands played well in patches, but need to tighten up at the back. So a Jackle and Hyde performance from the Dutch Maestros, and a good display from the Germans, as the clash of the old rivals ended Germany 2, The Netherlands 2.
Germany: (3-5-2) Kahn, kehl, Nowotny, Worns, Jeremies, Ziege, Schneider, Ballack, Hamann, Kuranyi, Klose
Netherlands: (3-5-2) Van Der Sar, Stam, F. De Boer, Heitinga, Cocu, Davids, Overmars, Seedorf, Van Der Vaart, Van Nistlerooy, Makaay
highlights