Hey, London_Calling, don’t associate me with them damn egg-chuckers. I meant Oldham Athletic, underachieving beggars of the Second Division.
I ran across this, and thought it belonged here.
From The Economist, June 24, 2000, p. 97 (the book review section).
Brilliant Orange: The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Football. By David Winner. Bloomsbury; 256 pages; 14.99 pounds.
[skip]
That, Mr. Winner argues, is that way that Dutch football, at its best, works. Rather than sticking to their allotted places, like their peers from other more boring countries (eg Germany), the Dutch drift around the field looking for space (if they have th ball) or trying to destroy it (if their opponents do). And, in forming those pretty sporting patterns, they say a great deal about their own country’s art, history and geography.
I don’t think that I should post the whole thing, copyright and all that, but it can be found at http://www.economist.com/tfs/home_tframeset.html
Go to the archive and search under the title. (You do have to register, but it’s free.)
It sounds like an interesting book and thesis, and perhaps something Dutch football fans can take comfort in. Coldfire, have you heard of the book, and if so, what’s the buzz on it?
And have you recovered yet? (From the loss and the hangover?)
Well, the best team won.
I’m quite happy. Though by the time it went to golden goal, I would have been almost as happy if Italy had won it. Anything but penalties.
I was so happy to see Pires play a crucial role in the winning goal - I’ve been a big fan of his for a while, and he’s so underrated, I was screaming for him to be brought on well before he was. I just hope that’s not true that he’s going to (shudder) Arsenal …
That sweepstakes site I mentioned at the start of the tourney? Well, it hasn’t been updated yet, but by my reckoning I finished in joint fifth place (out of 52 entries) and my estimate for total goals in the tourney was closer than any of the other joint fifth placers, so I can maybe say I finished four-and-a-halfth out of 52 
Not bad eh.
Just glad it was (mostly) a good game. I’m so tired of crap finals.
Final table remains unchanged – it wasn’t helpful that Coldie and mattk predicted the same bloody thing !!!
I therefore announce, it gives me great pleasure, unaccustomed as I am, a funny thing happened on the way here,
THE JOINT WINNERS OF THE GRAND SDMB EURO 2000 PREDICTION COMPETITION ARE……
(In the orange corner and representing what might have been if they hadn’t have missed 4 (or was it 5) consecutive penalties)
COLDFIRE
(And in the red faced embarrassed corner representing Neanderthal tactical thinking and medieval mind sets)
MATTK
Congratulations boys – mine’s a large one (ho ho)
(Incidently, between us we predicted the results of 64 Group 1 matches and got…errrr 6 right. Don’t tell anyone)
ruadh - Yep, I agree the best team won. I’d just be a little curious to know how France might have got on if they had the worst manager. Just kids stuff like asking central defenders to not head the ball back somewhere into midfield but rather risk a sideways nod to, yikes ! another defender would be so refreshing in an England team.
I’m so distraught. The progress made by Venables leading up to Euro 96 hasn’t been maintained, let alone built on by his idiot successors. The England players seem stuck in a mental straight jacket circa 1950. This must be the only country in the world where intelligence in sport is actively frowned upon. Players using two feet – we haven’t even got one that can use a left foot. It really is pitiful. We have to break out of this cloth cap mentality.
BTW - anyone know how many of that French team were actually born in France?
Mattk – Oldham Athletic. I admire your courage.
Dpr – We need more volunteers. I’m definitely up for Wimbledon but lets see if anyone else is game on. The BBC showed the 1980 4th set tie break at lunchtime today. Mac down 2-1 to Borg and won the epic tie break to make it 2-2. Complete classic – on the edge of your seat even though you know the result. Beautiful stuff. I notice you don’t have Henman getting past Phillopoussos – that’s going to be a very interesting game. Serena Williams – also very interesting. And some physique.
Yup, the best team won. Is my French colleague gonna give me shit about it for the next 4 months? You betcha.
Still, having seen the match, I’m convinced that the Dutch team could have beaten either team. But hey: we didn’t beat Italy in the first place. It’s the fate of our team: the team that should have been the Champion. Oh well. Tokyo, here we come. I hope 
Punkyova: I don’t know that book, but I’m always a little skeptical about writers that try to sociologically explain the playing style of a sports team by its 500 years of cultural and human heritage. I mean, what would that say about ENGLAND, for crying out loud??
It suggests we have a fixation for things globe shaped but have a problem retaining possession…North America, India, midfield, on the wings. This list is not definitive.
I’ve just heard that Dino Zoff has resigned. So out of four quarter-final teams, Coelho (Portugal), Zoff (Italy) and Rijkaard (Holland) have gone.
These quarter-finals are certainly bad for your career.
I resent that! At least we made it to the semifinals 
I was completely surprised by Rijkaard’s resignation (is that the right word?). So were the complete board of the KNVB (Royal Dutch Football Association) and all the players. I wouldn’t be surprised if a certain Italian team has signed him already.
From the press conference:
- Frank (Rijkaard), will you be active in football in the future?
- Yes, I certainly will.
- As a coach?
- Why, yes. No point in becoming a player again at my age.
- As a club coach?
- Yes, of course as a club coach! Although I’ve heard that Germany needs a national coach as well
This was of course a wisecrack aimed at the idiots who came up with the idea that Louis van Gaal should become the next German coach. Van Gaal politely declined the idea, saying that a German coach should be, well, German.
The bad news is that Van Gaal is almost certainly going to be OUR new national coach. The arrogant bastard.