the __earthinc

A great face-off is due tomorrow at three in the morning, Malaysian Standard Time. It’s the second round and the loser will drop out – winner takes all (tag). That alone makes this a crucial match to both teams; the teams are the Netherlands and Portugal. On top of that, tomorrow’s game will be a replay of the Euro 2004 semifinal between the two sides. In that game, the Dutch lost 2-1 to the Portuguese. This means, naturally, it’s time for revenge and I am convinced that the odd favors the Dutch this time.

Unlike Euro 2004 which Portugal was the host, this match is practically a neutral ground. More importantly, the ground is closer to the Netherlands than Portugal. So, Portugal has no home advantage as it had two years back. In fact, it’s all too possible for the Dutch to gain home advantage instead.

Another reason why I have the audacity to bet on the Dutch is because unlike Dick Advocaat, Macro van Basten – the Dutch trainer – doesn’t need to bother with harsh criticism prior to an important game. During the group stage of Euro 2004, Oranje met the Czech and at one point during that particular match, the Oranje was in the lead – two goals against one. Then, instead of fighting further, Advocaat substituted Arjen Robben for Bosvelt and regressed into the Italian game which is all about defending. I – I dare bet many others too – disagreed with that move. Even worse, Oranje suddenly lost control of the game. Insteado of leading, we were struggling and eventually lost it.

We exploded in anger and Advocaat was slapped with abuses by fans. Relationship between the manager, the team and the fans soured and I do think that contributed a lot to Dutch loss in the semifinal of Euro 2004. Advocaat resigned after Euro 2004 ended.

That was two years ago but this is a different Dutch squad in different circumstances. It’s youthful team. There’s no more Reiziger, no Davids, no Makaay, no Overmars. No Advocaat. Younger and energetic players now are part of the first team – players like Sneijer, Robben, van Persie, van der Vaart, Heitinga – even the coach is new. Suffice to say, it’s a whole new squad.

Finally, it’s Marco van Basten! An Ajacied at the helm!

So, I predict a 2-1, orange in color.

p/s – after a hiatus measurable in months, ReCom.org is back. I’m not sure if it’s going to be as fun as it used to be.

pp/s – I didn’t watch the Dutch-Portuguese game because I had to wake up early to renew my passport today. So, I did the best I could do and checked the score line first thing in the morning. And all I have to say is this:

I shall now sit quietly at a corner with a funny looking hat on my puctured head.

ppp/s – ref memang buta macam kayu. About the match, here is a heated argument. And I hate van Bommel. I hate him at P$V and I hate him now. And to hell with Figo!

This is the worst game ever!

p4/s – I would like to retract my “I hate van Bommel”. But Luis Figo, to hell with him. He needs to be reprimanded. And God Save the Queen. England or not, I hope the boring English beat the Portuguese sorry ass!

The most exciting group in the 2006 World Cup so far is not the so-called Group of Death which many have identified as Group C (tag). In my opinion, rather, it is Group E instead. Ghana and the United States this morning managed to throw their group wide open after both embarrassing the Czech Republic and Italy respectively.

The Czech-Ghanaian was fast. Almost ice hockey-like. For me, I definitely didn’t expect the Czech to lose the match. Previous before the World Cup in Germany started earlier this month, the Dutch had the misfortune to meet the Czech and with that qualifying group, the Czech was the Dutch biggest fear. Even in Euro 2004, the Dutch lost to the Czech Republic in the most disappointing way – Oranje was leading 2-0 only to lose the game 3-2. Given that reputation, I see the Czech with high regards. And since I’m familiar with Galasek (former Ajacied) and Grygera (current) – and then there are Milan Baros, Poborsky, Petr Cech – it’s hard to chew the fact that Ghana won 2-0. For this reason, I salute the African.

Roughly an hour after the Ghanaian victory, there was the US-Italy match. For those that know me, I have no love for the Italian team. They would bore me to death with their “defend, defend and defend” mentality. Defense is an important aspect of the game but overdoing it is another story.

And as I’ve blogged last week, due to diplomatic reasoning (you guys can blame Bush Jr. for that), I have no appetite to see the United States progresses beyond group stage. This is one of those matches that I would rather see both lost. And really got what I wanted! Two red cards for the Americans and another one for the Italian. But whatever it was, United States is the one laughing all the way to the changing room. The US, despite drawing, managed to humble the Italian, almost as how the American did to the Portuguese four years back. The score line was one all despite the fact that the United States was playing with nine men.

Hah! I bet the Italians were even defending when they were at risk of facing a major embarassment.

At the end of the day, this means anybody could qualify to the next round. Since I don’t want to see both the Italian and the American to progress to the next stage, I’m naturally rooting for the Czech Republic and Ghana.

p/s – alright. I’m confusing myself with the plural Dutch, Czech, etc with the singular versions.

The Netherlands is set to play Argentina in the final match within Group C. Despite being a high profile game, it’s a meaningless meeting because both teams have qualified for the second round of the World Cup (tag). Therefore, it’s better for us to look beyond Argentina and see who would be up against the Dutch in the second round instead.

With Portugal beating Iran 2-0 and Mexico managing only a draw against Angola, the Iberian country is currently first in Group D. Next week’s Portugal-Mexico match will decide the champion of the group and since Mexico fails to impress me, I think Portugal will best Mexico. Back in Group C, after seeing how Argentina played, I don’t think the odd favors the Dutch. So, second place is a rational expectation for the orange jerseys.

Given that, and that the fact that winner of both groups will play the other group’s second placed team, I expect the Dutch to meet the Portuguese in the second round.

If everything turns out as I’m predicting, the Dutch-Portuguese would be an interesting – and meaningful – fixture. It might even reignite the Dutch-Portuguese rivaly that nobody has seen since the Dutch first arrived in the Malay Archipelago during the 17th century. And just as how history had unfolded, I believe the Dutch will be victorious. With Deco, Figo, Ronaldo and a few others in the Portuguese squad, it would be tough match nonetheless.

Alrighty. It’s Czech Republic versus Ghana. Time to pay the idiot’s box a visit.