HOLLAND - NIGERIA : 2 - 2
It is not certain if Holland played in 4-3-3 or in 4-2-4 but that's not the matter as this could not explain their defeat... sorry, the draw-game. It was quite certainly a hybrid of the two formations, quite well-oiled (although not completely), and the Nigerians simply were as astute and as efficient, twice finding the nets them too.
A game of much animation with four goals, technical, physical and quite tactical, very pleasant. Not really an upset for Holland but they are warned. Very good start from Nigeria by not loosing and by showing some very good things. They learned from the best.
GOALS :
36' : Cruijff (Neeskens long ball to Basten who puts it back with the head to Cruyff who arises in the box and shoot. Scoring their first goal in the tournament by Cruyff looks like the perfect start for Holland).
50' : Yekini (Oliseh's long pass in the depth to Yekini who beats Koeman on speed and force then pierce Van Der Sar with an unorthodox shot with the tip of the shoe).
78' : Kluivert (from a right inside/ winger position, Cruijff crosses the ball to Kluivert who pushes the ball in the net at close-range while falling under the weight of Okechukwu).
85' : Kanu (Kanu is at the penalty mark to smash in a precise ball coming from the right, signed Finidi. He also benifited from a call for the ball by Amokachi that left him almost unmarked to head the ball).
MotM : Finidi. Is he a midfielder or a winger ? His activity, tactical intelligence and technical finesse was worth an extra player for Nigeria on the field. The equalizer came from one of his precise crosses of the ball.
Could have been Cruyff the genius, the author of one goal and one assist, but his team still has to organize itself better offensively... and defensively as well.
Disappointment : Van Der Sar. He did not look at ease in anything he did. He communicated his stress to his defenders, as experienced and mentally strong they are. He must move on now and forget about this bad initial game. Unless, he simply lost his spot to Van Breukelen there ?
RATINGS :
Holland :
Van der Sar 3,5 - Suurbier 5,5 - Rijkaard 5 - Koeman 4 - Krol 4,5 - Davids 6 - Neeskens 5,5 - Cruyff 7,5 - Robben 6 (Gullit 68') - Van Basten 5,5 (Kluivert 75') - Rensenbrink 4,5 (Bergkamp 63'). Tot.: 57,5.
Nigeria :
Enyeama 5 - Yobo 5,5 - Chukwu 5 - Okechukwu 4 - Keshi 4,5 - Oliseh 6 - Finidi 8 - Okocha 5 - Amunike 5,5 (Lawal 80') - Yekini 6 (Kanu 80'), Amokachi 6. Tot.: 60,5.
Comments on the players :
Van Der Sar : seen above.
Suurbier and Rijkaard : had a decent game, no more, no less. Rijkaard got trapped on the equalizer though.
Krol : we did not see him going forward much as he was challenged by Finidi both ways and for he had to cover for Koeman. Had an honest first half and a difficult second half.
Koeman : when on the ball, he was good. Less so when defending.
Davids : very active defensively, this with a good understanding of his three forwards (less so with Cruyff).
Neeskens : he abused of the long balls, just one ending up to be efficient, it was for goal #1. Defensively, he was disturbed by Finidi and did not receive much help so the impression that he was a bit lost at times. This Holland all-time team still has a lot on their plate to adjust its gears and the performance of Neeskens symbolizes it.
Robben and Rensenbrink : see below in the "from the bench" section.
Cruyff : reviewed above.
Van Basten : his aerial presence was determining on the first goal of the match. Then, in spite of his moves, he did not receive many balls. Half his own fault (maybe he was not incisive enough), half the fault of his teammates, Cruyff included, the latter privileging other solutions, the most often on the wings (rightly or wrongly?).
Enyeama : he did not do miracles but nothing can be really reproached to him. Average at best, but still more reassuring than his Dutch colleague.
Yobo : he was the most reassuring Nigerian defender.
Chukwu : had a decent game overall but lacked of edge to deserve more than a 5. Yobo corrected a big mistake that he made. Hopefully, since it's a team sport.
Okechukwu : looked good until... the first goal. Then he was less at his ease and that shown on the Kluivert's goal.
Keshi : lined-up at the left back position, the central defender had here... the performance of a central defender. He did not have the easiest task, dealing with Robben, then Gullit but also Cruyff.
Oliseh and Okocha : way more than Okocha, Oliseh was the director of the Nigerian midfield (his famous connection with Yekini gave a goal). In addition to that, Oliseh contributed defensively, which Okocha did in too few occasions.
Finidi : see above. Man of the Match.
Amunike : the shadow-worker of his team on this one. Had decent link-up plays and most of all had to help his midfield. Davids quite clearly dominated in his area with also Suurbier who was more covering than attacking. Average plus.
Yekini and Amokachi : Yekini, full of determination, scored the first equalizer then had a couple of other chances. He did his match. Amokachi did not put any stats that will remain, but his activity and sense of the game was a real asset for his partner in attack and for his team.
From the bench :
Gullit : swapped positions very well with Cruyff, causing confusion in the Nigerian defensive system. He was not meant to play at all in this first game but Robben made a sign to the bench after an interesting first half, with some great accelerations. Without making any warm-up, it went well for Gullit in spite of the doubts about his physical condition and now the doubts are turned to Robben whilst Overmars did not receive any sign from the staff. It remains to be seen if Gullit can play 90 minutes.
Bergkamp : good entrance that worried more the Nigerian defense than Rensenbrink who was more predictible in his moves as he was there.
Kluivert : will cause headaches to the coaching staff ?
Lawal : was the same as Amunike for the last portion of the match.
Kanu : his equalizer tells the story.
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| Finidi George - complete footballer |
CHILE - NORWAY at Stadio San Paolo, Naples, Italy (capacity 54.700)
CHILE - NORWAY : 2 - 0
It was a first between these two nations and it seemed that Chile, galvanized by the ambiance, made the San Paolo stadium their own.
GOALS (Figueroa, Zamorano)
57', Figueroa "gol iluminado" : the Norwegian defenders jumped too high.
79', Zamorano : the Norwegian defenders did not jump high enough.
That's their first World Cup goals. The assists were signed Vidal (fk) and Beausejour.
Yellow cards : Rojas 10', Rekdal 28'.
Man of the Match : Elias Figueroa. He was decisive at both ends of the pitch.
RATINGS :
Chile :
Bravo 6,5 - Medel 5,5 - Figueroa 8 - Quintano 5,5 - Beausejour 6,5 - Vidal 6,5 - Rojas 5 (Marcos 70') - Hormazabal 5 (A. Sanchez 70') - L. Sanchez 5 - Zamorano (Robledo 85') 6 - Salas 5,5. Tot. : 65.
Norway :
Thorstvedt 4 - Berg 4,5 - Bratseth 4,5 - Johnsen 4,5 - Riise 5 - Odegaard 5 (Lund 75') - Rekdal 5,5 - Leonhardsen 5,5 - Thoresen 6 - Iversen 4,5 (Solskjaer 71') - Haaland 4,5. Tot. : 53,5.
Focus on... the goalkeepers !
Bravo : he noticeably saved two long-range shots by Leonharsen and Haaland and a header by the same Haaland, all in the first half. In the second half, just two norwegian attempts were on target and he handled it without difficulies.
Thorstvedt : a good first half, even very good with a superb horizontal save on a sudden shoot by Salas. A disastrous second half when not helped by his defenders, he's a bit faulty himself on the first goal then concede a second goal which was hanging over his head (and his defenders head as well) since the goal made by Figueroa, as Chile continued to push and send crosses that he had a hard time to handle.
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| Don Elias at San Paolo |
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