they seem to be winning despite his tactics.
Well, I think one of the things a lot of people have against him is that he lacks history. He never played for one of the big teams like Cruyff, Rijkaard, Gullit and others did. He never coached one of the big teams either. He played for ADO Den Haag (under Ernst Happel), Sparta Rotterdam, FC Utrecht, and the Chicago Sting. He was basically chosen by Rinus Michels to be his assistent in 1984, because of the great grades he made when taking the football trainer’s exam of the KNVB (Koninklijk Nederlands Voetbalbond, the Dutch version of the FA). After EURO '92 he becomes the “bondscoach”. Then, after the '94 World Cup he became coach of PSV Eindhoven and then the Glasgow Rangers, before being hired as “bondscoach” again in 2002.
The decision was already unpopular then. Some people (for instance Marco van Basten) were not happy that the coach who had just been fired (Louis van Gaal), was one of the people who decided who the new “bonscoach” would be. Van Gaal was one of few people who wanted to see Advocaat become the new “bondscoach”.
I think the Dutch have always been unhappy with their “bondscoach”. It is a Dutch disease to have to discuss, pick apart, and criticize every decision ever made. They just don’t believe in accepting commands from above; everything has to be questioned first. The only “bondscoaches” who are repected to this day are Rinus Michels, and maybe Ernst Happel and Frank Rijkaard, although Happel probably shouldn’t count, since he was an Austrian. 
What’s a “bondscoach”?
Also many great managers have had pretty mediocre careers Clough Played for Hartlepool, ferguson was no great success at Rangers, Shankly at Huddersfield, Wenger only played in the french league (when it was crap). And so on.
Howver Englands best two results in competitions (WC winners and Euro semis) have been under ex spurs players, so maybe there is something in it.
“Bondscoach” is the Dutch word for “coach of the national team”. It’s because the ruling body of the Dutch Football Association is called the KNVB (Koninklijk Nederlands Voetbalbond), so the coach of the national team is the coach of the “voetbalbond”, thus the “bondscoach”
I finally got to see some of the games this past weekend. Sad I had to fly to another country to do so; I truly hope to find the semifinals here somewhere. Anyway, I watched on Spanish language FoxSports. But the best part was the announcer sang little songs of praise of Baros everytime he put one in. And a different song for each goal. I think he sang one for the other Czech striker (Koellner?) but I don’t recall for certain. Those wacky latino broadcasters sure are a lot of fun!
For me it seemed the Danish strikers just couldn’t find the net. The Czechs didn’t give them much chance, though. And then eventually Nedved and Co. stretched out the Danish backline and Baros’ speed and touch won out. Very pretty to see.
You just made my day 
Glad to be of help. So, I guess you’re a Celtic supporter?
Well, I can easily go out of town for a few days, and have my fellow Dutchman Mycroft Holmes protect the interests of the Dutch! And to think he’s an honest to God German. 
I have very little to add to Mycroft’s words, but I will say that it’s a shame Kluivert hasn’t had a chance this tournament. Obviously Dickie Brains has his favourites, and Patrick isn’t one of them. But I have a soft spot for the guy. I still think he’s one of Europe’s best strikers, even though he’s had a rough year. I understand Van Nistelrooij and Makaaij getting the nod over Kluivert, but it still irks me. He’s grown tremendously over the years, and is a very hard worker for the team even when he isn’t trying to score - moreso than can be said for Van Nis and Makaaij, IMHO.
Advokaat made a rather emotional press conference last night. He accused the Dutch press of going way too far in their commentary after the match against the Czech Republic (I agree - terms like “hanging” and “should be stoned to death” were used), declined to answer whether he would quit after the tournament (my guess is the same as Mycroft’s: he will), and closed of with a hilarious joke when he was posed the question which party he’d like to meet most in the final, Greece or the Czech Republic?
“The Czech Republic. And then I’ll take Robben off.”
Well, I hope he was joking, anyway. :eek:
Damn, I’m nervous. Less than 24 hours. What are the bookies saying, owl?
I’d have to disagree on one thing, though, Mycroft. Rijkaard was vilified after his short stint as bondscoach. I like him, but I don’t think he’ll ever train Oranje again. I think he’s a little too timid for it, anyway.
Cruyff will never do it - he can only lose, unless he makes us world champion. Gullit would be an excellent choice, IMHO, and lately, the name Foppe de Haan has even popped up in the grapevine. :eek:
I like Foppe, he’s fantastic. But he’d probably be better off managing the Frysian national team.
Wow, I hadn’t heard that! If Foppe’s name is popping up, why not go whole hog and hire Foeke Booij (current trainer of FC Utrecht) or Frans Adelaar (current trainer of De Graafschap and former trainer of FC Utrecht).
Then again it might be hilarious to see Foppe doing interviews for international television in Frisian. I can already hear him, after losing a game: “In nederlaach, mar fan nederlagen leare je it measte.” (Translation: “A loss, but from losses you learn the most.”)
I still think Ronald Koeman will make a good “bondscoach” someday, but it’s still too early now. My personal preference for now would also be Ruud Gullit.
A German who speaks Frysian?? Admit it, you have one of those 20 meter motor yachts, don’t you? I can just picture you, sitting on the control deck, German tricolore flying in the wind. One hand on the steering wheel, as your mighty belly is exposed to the world - bottle of Warsteiner in the other hand. Your wife wears far too much make-up, and is ridiculously tanned for this climate. A dachshund is yapping away on the bow.
C’mon, am I close?
[sub](I know I’m not, but it’s funny anyway. Go on, do a caravan story, and explain to the viewers at home that “NL” means “nur links”. :D[/sub]
Actually, I don’t have a 20 meter motor yacht or a dachshund (I like to call them hot dogs with legs), and I prefer Grolsch to Warsteiner. The mighty belly fits pretty well. I do however own a caravan, a Chateau Caratt 480KMU, and have been known to drive it on the German autobahn (with the obligatory NL sticker on the back, so the Germans know ahead of time that I will be blocking the passing lane as much as possible).
I guess I have become more Dutch than German by now. :eek: I also don’t speak Frisian. I cheated and googled “Foppe de Haan” until I actually found a Frisian quote. I also know all fifteen verses of the Wilhelmus by heart, and can sing it completely off-key just like all good Dutchmen. Just kidding. I only know the first verse, and I always find it funny how the Dutch kind of mumble and sing more softly when they get to the second line: “ben ik van Duitsen bloed”.
A caravan, my word! It should have been a Kip, of course, for full dramatic Dutch effect.
And the reason people mumble the second line is because they’re ignorant of its true meaning. In middle Dutch, “Duytsch” meant “of the people”, “common”. So, Wilhelmus van Oranje isn’t saying he was German (in fact, his family came from France - guess which French city? :)), he was saying he was a regular bloke. But this is becoming quite a bity of a hijack, I’d say!
HUP ORANJE!!
Oh my. Getting so nostalgic. Mum, dad and me in the caravan, south of France, every year. Bring own coffee and the crucial “koffiemelk” (I still get my mum to bring that over).
Back to football…
True, he wasn’t saying he was German, but he was German and not French. He only earned the title “Prince of Orange” because his uncle René van Châlon and his aunt Anna van Lotharingen died childless, so that “Willem de Zwijger” inherited the title and lands of Orange. He was born in Dillenburg an der Lahn, (now part of Hessia), and German was his mother tongue. To actually be able to “earn” the title of Prince of Orange, Willem was taught in Brussel (by Maria of Hungary) and he was raised as a Catholic (he was born and baptized Lutheran). After his break with Philip of Spain (due to Willems hate of the Spanish Inquisition, and suppresion of freedom of religion), he re-converted to Lutheranism.
There is a pretty good biography of Willem here, but it’s in Dutch. Well, enough hijacking. I’m already a nervous wreck and it’s still eight hours and fourty-five minutes to the begin of the game tonight. I have a strange feeling that penalties will decide it again, and this time Oranje will win again!
They don’t have “koffiemelk” in Ireland? What a bunch of barbarians!!!
You continue to baffle me.
Yes, I phrased that poorly - I knew all that, even though upon rereading, it looks like I don’t. What I should have said was that the “Van Oranje” name stems from the French town of Orange, and that the word “Duytschen” didn’t signify “German” in this particular case, but stringing them together like that seems to imply Willy was born in France, which was not the impression I was trying to make.
And I agree, Pookah! What complete Neandethals. No stofkoei[sup]1[/sup] either?
[sup]1[/sup] = Completa.
/
betting in 90 mins:
11/8 portugal, 9/5 Dutch, 15/8 Draw, Van Nistlehorse to score 1st - 3/1
Either team to win 1-0 6/1
(also: Czechs 8/13, 4/1 Bubbles, 9/4 Draw.)
That 9/5 Dutch win looks worth a speculative punt.
I just hope that I get home in time to watch it owing to a strike by overpaid, underworked, always on the sick, £35k a year, bacon butty eating, tube monkeys.
Mycroft: Given that you are a dutchman with a caravan can I assume you take chocolate sprinkles everywhere witrh you?
And my dear dutch people - leave Advocaat alone. He’s got your famously fractious players playing almost like a team. Most of the dollies have remained in the collective pram, and you’re probably going to win the damn thing.
Do you want to swap for an overly cautious, tactically inept, Italian minded Swede? He’s yours for £4,000,000 a year. Thats six million of that toy money you have over there.
Actually, I’m a German with a caravan, but yes, my kids are crazy about “hagelslag” (the Dutch name for chocolate sprinkles), so I take it with me. I also take “filet americain”, “bitterballen”, “kroketten”, “kipcorn” and mix to make “poffertjes” with me. Maybe I should have my DNA checked?
That makes you sound more like a Klingon.