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Holland’s risky strategy pays off as they repeatedly catch Spain napping Holland’s risky strategy pays off as they repeatedly catch Spain napping
(2 months later)
It took only three matches of the 2014 World Cup to produce a more compelling contest than any witnessed four years ago. South Africa was a tournament of cautious, defensive play, with sides dropping back into their own half and waiting for opposition moves to break down.It took only three matches of the 2014 World Cup to produce a more compelling contest than any witnessed four years ago. South Africa was a tournament of cautious, defensive play, with sides dropping back into their own half and waiting for opposition moves to break down.
This match epitomised the opposite approach. From the outset it was clear that Holland and Spain were playing high defensive lines and pressing intensely in midfield. Louis van Gaal’s side spent longer without possession and therefore had more opportunity to prove their determination to press in the opening stages. The two central midfielders, Nigel de Jong and Jonathan de Guzmán, both pushed up into extremely brave positions, leaving space in front of the three-man defence. Considering Spain use a plethora of talented playmakers, it seemed a very risky strategy.This match epitomised the opposite approach. From the outset it was clear that Holland and Spain were playing high defensive lines and pressing intensely in midfield. Louis van Gaal’s side spent longer without possession and therefore had more opportunity to prove their determination to press in the opening stages. The two central midfielders, Nigel de Jong and Jonathan de Guzmán, both pushed up into extremely brave positions, leaving space in front of the three-man defence. Considering Spain use a plethora of talented playmakers, it seemed a very risky strategy.
This meant the two outside centre-backs, the left-sided Bruno Martins Indi and the right-sided Stefan de Vrij, tracked Andrés Iniesta and David Silva into deep, narrow positions. In turn, it left Ron Vlaar exposed to Diego Costa’s highly dangerous runs, and while he made a crucial double tackle early in the contest to halt the Brazilian-turned-Spaniard, Costa continued to cause problems in the channels, making another good run to tempt De Vrij into a clumsy tackle for the penalty. Clearly the Dutch were prepared to take risks and play an open, aggressive game. This meant the two outside centre-backs, the left-sided Bruno Martins Indi and the right-sided Stefan de Vrij, tracked Andrés Iniesta and David Silva into deep, narrow positions. In turn, it left Ron Vlaar exposed to Diego Costa’s highly dangerous runs, and while he made a crucial double tackle early in the contest to halt the Brazilian-turned-Spaniard, Costa continued to cause problems in the channels, making another good run to tempt De Vrij into a clumsy tackle for the penalty. Clearly the Dutch were prepared to take risks and play an open, aggressive game.
While Holland’s defensive line was occasionally breached, they did the same to Spain much more frequently, and much more ruthlessly.While Holland’s defensive line was occasionally breached, they did the same to Spain much more frequently, and much more ruthlessly.
Amazingly, but tellingly, the Dutch scored five goals despite their chief creator, Wesley Sneijder, having a rather quiet evening. That is not a criticism of the Dutch No10, simply a recognition that his team-mates constantly bypassed him and found Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben immediately: that duo had a running battle with the Spanish centre-backs, but also with the linesman, such was their determination to break the offside trap. Amazingly, but tellingly, the Dutch scored five goals despite their chief creator, Wesley Sneijder, having a rather quiet evening. That is not a criticism of the Dutch No10, simply a recognition that his team-mates constantly bypassed him and found Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben immediately: that duo had a running battle with the Spanish centre-backs, but also with the linesman, such was their determination to break the offside trap.
That was the main Dutch approach – balls over the top. The superb left-wing-back Daley Blind supplied the first two assists, beautiful lofted passes for Van Persie’s majestic diving header and Robben’s calm finish. The final goal also summed up the approach, with Robben breaking past the Spanish backline – this time with a dribble rather than an off-the-ball run – before he bamboozled Sergio Ramos and provided another calm finish. There were rarely long passing moves or crosses into the box – it was more simple: press, win possession, play a through-ball.That was the main Dutch approach – balls over the top. The superb left-wing-back Daley Blind supplied the first two assists, beautiful lofted passes for Van Persie’s majestic diving header and Robben’s calm finish. The final goal also summed up the approach, with Robben breaking past the Spanish backline – this time with a dribble rather than an off-the-ball run – before he bamboozled Sergio Ramos and provided another calm finish. There were rarely long passing moves or crosses into the box – it was more simple: press, win possession, play a through-ball.
This was old-school Holland, something we haven’t seen since the group stage of Euro 2008 when they thrashed Italy and France, – the sides who had contested the previous World Cup final – 3-0 and 4-1 respectively. This was an even more emphatic victory, against an even more dominant side, and might be remembered as the performance of the tournament.This was old-school Holland, something we haven’t seen since the group stage of Euro 2008 when they thrashed Italy and France, – the sides who had contested the previous World Cup final – 3-0 and 4-1 respectively. This was an even more emphatic victory, against an even more dominant side, and might be remembered as the performance of the tournament.