From: JK on
Ruud Gullit on ESPN was saying before the second SF that he wanted
Germany to win because he felt the Dutch match up better with them. He
may have a point. If Spain comes to play, they're the best team, though
obviously anything can happen.

But he also went on to say that the Dutch want Germany for a chance to
erase all that history, specifically the 74 final. And that's why I
think NL might be better off with Spain. The Dutch have been very
successful in large part because of their mental fortitude in this
tournament, particularly against Brazil and Uruguay. I would worry
that the added weight of a matchup with Germany which carries so much
baggage, (and whether they would admit it or not, the fear of losing
another final to Germany) would threaten to disrupt that; the players
would start thinking about more than just the game, and let their
emotions get the better of them and lead them to mistakes. (I think Van
Bommel's improbable run of avoiding a red card would be over as well :))

As German teams go, this is about the most likable you'll ever see:
there isn't an Ollie Kahn or Effenberg or Andy Moeller in the bunch,
(and Ballack's not there). Still, the Dutch don't need to be playing
against history also.


From: Paul C on
"JK" <jknapp(a)oacpc.com> wrote in message
news:i14ptc$367$1(a)news.eternal-september.org...

>
> As German teams go, this is about the most likable you'll ever see:


It's just a pity one can't say the same of the Netherlands team.


From: JK on
Paul C wrote:
> "JK" <jknapp(a)oacpc.com> wrote in message
> news:i14ptc$367$1(a)news.eternal-september.org...
>
>>
>> As German teams go, this is about the most likable you'll ever see:
>
>
> It's just a pity one can't say the same of the Netherlands team.
>

No, definitely not. :) Just one more way the two have assumed each
other's personalities I guess!
From: Mehdi on
> Subject : Thought on the Final
> From : jknapp(a)oacpc.com

> I may be wrong, but I think we're now in the second-longest drought for
> the Germans in terms of winning either WC or EC (post WWII period). They
> went 18 years between 54 WC and 72 EC, and in two years it'll be sixteen
> years since EC 96.
>
> Of course if they keep playing in finals, that drought will end
> eventually, and probably soon.

The drought was the reason for the focus on youth development. As
Beckenbaur said they dropped the ball following re-unification, they
became complacent. That youth policy bore fruit under Hrubesch two years
ago. It will take a bit longer at full level but not much. Remember
Brazil went through a similar drought following the 1970 World Cup.


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