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Robben: Impressed after coming on
Holland cemented their status as the team to beat in Euro 2008 after thumping France 4-1, and it may just have given new Chelsea boss, and current Portugal coach, one of the Dutch's main rivals for the tournament, Luiz Felipe Scolari some food for thought.
On the left side of the France midfield, current Stamford Bridge employee Florent Malouda meandered around, looking, and failing miserably, to find a way through the Dutch defence.
Chelsea signed Malouda for around £13.5million from Lyon last summer, and his performance on Friday night pretty much summed up his time in London to date - a massive disappointment.
He lacks a turn of pace, a final ball and cannot beat a man - major drawbacks for a wide man.
In contrast, former Chelsea man Arjen Robben came off the Holland bench to score one and set up another - for Arsenal's Robin van Persie - from the left flank.
He displayed everything Malouda did not with his blistering pace striking fear into the French defence and was a constant threat in his 45 minutes on the field.
How Scolari must wish Robben was still at the club, and on this evidence, the Brazilian may be in the market for a left-sided player this summer.
Impressed
Another Chelsea player, although probably not for much longer, is Khalid Boulahrouz, who once again impressed at the back for Holland.
He has been solid in the challenge and comfortable on the ball, looking a completely different player to the one who was sent out on loan to Sevilla last season. Could he have a future under Scolari?
Another Premier League player on the scoresheet was Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt, who was his usual tireless self, playing his part in a fine Holland performance while Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar was rarely tested in the Holland goal.
For France, Patrice Evra and William Gallas were exposed time and again at the back as Les Bleus pushed up looking for a way back into the game late on.
Holland are now favourites with some bookmakers for Euro 2008 and on the opening two performances, it's no surprise - Scolari could well have Marco Van Basten's men to negotiate in the last four before he embarks on his spending spree at Stamford Bridge.
Comments
Ben Keraro (Arsenal fan) says...
I followed the Holland v Italy game live like most of the others. I missed the Dutch game against the French. At the end of their first game, I thought to myself that if they ever repeated that blistering performance again at any stage in the group meetings, then they will have a good shot at the cup itself. This team has best individual talent besides Spain. Portugal plays so well as a team. That is what makes them a difficult proposition. But for the Dutch, every single player in the team would qualify for a starting position in any team in this tournament any time. That fact and the fact that overall, they have the best pace moving forward makes them the team to beat. Any one that beats the usually technical and tactical Italians the way Holland did then has a good chance to well. I am all for the Dutch and I hope they go all the way!
Posted 19:30 14th June 2008
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