Netherlands vs Romania, 17.06.2008 at 20:45

[bagzi_cg]

After impressive wins over Italy and France, Van Basten’s squad’s rates have grown high, now they are seen as possible main favourites for the crown. After not so convincing qualifiers this squad simply exploded in the final tournament. [B]Romania[/B] found themselves in a situation where they hold destiny in their own hands and they weren’t' given much chances before the competition started. Van Basten will probably combine the line-up and try to spare key players and prevent suspensions before the second round. [B]Romania[/B] coach has problems with his line-up. Few central defenders will be absent, Goian and Radoi. This will cause some rotations in the squad so it is clear why [B]Romania[/B] boss fears the rivals' attack. [B]Romania[/B] will have to play more openly, Marica is back in the team and there is also the possibility that Piturca could opt for a two-forward formation.
I don`t see [B]Netherland[/B] losing this match.

Last 5 [B]Netherlands[/B] matches:
13.06.2008 GROUP C Netherlands-France 4:1
09.06.2008 GROUP C Netherlands-Italy 3:0
01.06.2008 FRIEND Netherlands-Wales 2:0
29.05.2008 FRIEND Netherlands-Denmark 1:1
24.05.2008 FRIEND Netherlands-Ukraine 3:0


Last 5 [B]Romania[/B] matches:
13.06.2008 GROUP C Italy - Romania 1:1
09.06.2008 GROUP C Romania - France 0:0
31.05.2008 FRIEND Romania - Montenegro 4:0
26.03.2008 FRIEND Romania - Russia 3:0
06.02.2008 FRIEND Israel - Romania 1:0

[slipkid]

I think 2/1 is very generous on the Dutch team. I know it will be an altered starting 11 etc but those picked will still have something to prove and want the win. To cut the risk slightly I'm going with [B]Draw no bet[/B] (Netherlands) at 11/8 (betdirect). GL all!

[KONG]

To be honest i'm not betting on this group. Could see it could either way. Think I will bet first when we go on to quater finals

[Carl]

Romania win then they go through with Holland regardless of the other game.
Van Basten to put out a 2nd string so Im all over Romania 1-0 ,2-0 ,2-1.

[bagzi_cg]

Here are some tradition:

TOTAL OF 10 GAMES – 6 Netherlands wins, 3 draws, 1 Romania win

6 GAMES IN NETHERLANDS –4 Netherlands wins, 2 draws

3 GAMES IN ROMANIA – 1 Romania win, 1 draw, 1 Netherlands win

NEUTRAL GROUND – 1 Netherlands win

[DJ]

Depends on the team selected by Van Basten but I think there will be goals in this match. I think Romania will attack needing the win but Holland, likely playing Van Persie and Huntelaar will still be good on the break. I'm looking at this game and see the possibility of over 2.5 goals which is available @ 2.14 and a bit on 2-2 @ 20 although those odds for the 2-2 don't appear so magical as I'd hoped.

[carlin12]

going for a 2-1 scoreline for Romania and having a good sized bet on over 2.5. holland will be playing in a low gear for 90minutes trying not to get booked.

[Kozzin Benson]

I agree there could be goals in this game.
I wouldnt like to predict a win either way as the weakened teams issue is a tricky 1 & could be argued for & against.
I am on attila the hun (1-1) & desmond (2-2).
Also over 2.5 & over 3.5.
Good luck al!

[winningman]

Holland will play a second string side and rest 5 players that started against France. Robben, van Persie, Hunterlaar are expected to start...2nd string? 2 of them scored against the French.

Holland starts with +0.25 handicap, which looks like a bargain....

[uhudazflo]

the dutch's so called 2nd string will be out to try and gain a 1st 11 pllace in quarters and they can play with no fear as they are already in quarters.

ive been impressed with romania in opening 2games and think they can do it but im gonna watch 1st 30 miins b4 ii bet.

remember a draw might be enough if the other game ends as a draw.

should be a goodd night oof football

gl all

[ThePope]

Arjen Robben looks in great form to me, and with him likely getting his first start this evening, I think the 4/1 (William Hill, Sky Bet) available on him to be an anytime goalscorer looks a good bet.

11/1 is also available on him to be the first goalscorer.

[winningman]

[B][COLOR=red]Netherlands[/COLOR] v Romania[/B]

Romania face a weakened Dutch team who will give the likes of Klaas Jan Huntelaar, Arjen Robben & Robin van Persie their first start in the tournament. Did I say weakened?

Let's face it, as much as you think that the Dutch will take it easy, their line-up would suggest otherwise. I agree, they would not be as gung-ho as before like how they were against the Italians and the French, but they would most probably make it difficult for the Romanians to squeeze even a draw. I trust the Dutch to give it a go like the Croatians, to play for the team & country. The word "second-string" & "weakened" is irrelevant when talking about the Dutch squad. The have the most solid squad in the tournament. They are a team who fear no one at the moment and the belief that they would let Romania win in order to remove the threat (threat? what threat?) posed by Italy & France in the latter stages would be proved unfounded. From a Dutch perspective, if either one of the World Cup finalist progresses, it would do the Dutch more good than harm. Having beaten Italy & France once, if they do meet again in the semi-finals, the Dutch would gladly carry out another rout.

Worth a mention that Romania took 4 points off the Dutch in qualifying, beating them away 0 - 1. Here's a look at the qualifying table:

Romania 12 9-2-1 26-7
Netherlands 12 8-2-2 15-5

Netherlands averaged under 2 goals per match while Romania averaged over 2 goals per match. However, on tournament cform, it looks to be the other way round.

Both teams will play it slow in the opening 10 - 20 minutes and probably pick it up a gear just before half-time. Relying on swift counter attacks, the Dutch forward players should draw first blood and van Persie or Huntelaar looks good buys. Dutch should grab a goal just before half-time and should keep a clean sheet as well. The Romanians looked dangerous going forward but did not make full use of the opportunities. If not for a blunder by G. Zambrotta, they would still have zero goals scored to their statistics.

Pick Netherlands
Should maintain their 100% record and win by 2 goals or more @ 7
Klaas Jan Huntelaar 1st goalscorer @ 8 or Robin van Persie 1st goalscorer @ 9

[blackcrow]

[B]Under 1.5[/B]
The first priority for the Romanians is not to lose this game because of they do, and the Itlaians and French draw then we have a three way tie and possibly they will get knocked out. So they will look to ensure they don't concede and their defence has been excellent in their first two games. What should help them here is the absence of several Dutch players who will be rested. These two teams played in the qualifiers for this tournamnet and they ended a 0-0 draw and 1-0 win to Romania. While the Romanians are nothing flash up front they do have the ability to score, so look for them to push for a goal in the last 15 minutes to ensure qualification to the next round, or if they do score early, they will sit on the lead and defend for the rest of the game, while the Dutch will have no reason to over exert themselves

[Carl]

[LEFT][B][IMG]http://www.farbets.co.uk/images/Flags%20Euro%202008/holland.gif[/IMG] Holland -v- Romania [IMG]http://www.farbets.co.uk/images/Flags%20Euro%202008/romania.gif[/IMG][/B]
[B]June 17 1945 BST [/B]
Both teams qualified from the same group and it was Romania who topped it by 3 clear points over the Dutch. Romania kept clean sheets in both games winning the home tie 1-0 so they must go into this game with confidence hoping that they can qualify with Holland.
If Romania can do what France and Italy failed to do – beat Holland on Tuesday night – they will book a place in Euro 2008 quarter-finals. Judged purely on performance so far that would appear unlikely, as the Dutch have slammed in seven goals, and played the most attractive football so far. However, having already qualified, Marco Van Basten’s side may take their foot off the gas, and they will shed no tears if by losing they also knock out France and Italy. Adrian Mutu has more to prove than most having missed a penalty against Italy that would have sent them through.

[B]Recent Holland form:[/B]
13/06/2008 Holland 4 - 1 France
09/06/2008 Holland 3 - 0 Italy

[B]Recent Romania form:[/B]
13/06/2008 Romania 1 - 1 Italy
09/06/2008 Romania 0 - 0 France

[B]Key Match Facts:[/B] Romania have not conceded more than one goal in any of their last 13 competitive fixtures.
[IMG]http://www.farbets.co.uk/images/ourtip.gif[/IMG] Romania 1-0 win @ 5/1 Ladbrokes[/LEFT]

[drawback05]

I expect Romania to win by 1 goal, priced at 11/4 with Paddy P.s (Lump on !!)
As a cover you could back Italy at 20/1 to win the tournament. If they get out of jail tonight it will be like the 2006 scenario when a late spotter against Australia was needed for them to proceed. And if I was Dutch, I'd prefer Romania to go through, as they don't 'grow' into tournaments like France and Italy.

[winningman]

[quote=drawback05;1114989]And if I was Dutch, I'd prefer Romania to go through, as they don't 'grow' into tournaments like France and Italy.[/quote]

Doubt this crop of ageing French & Italian players are capable of "growing" into this tournament. They have struggled to mix new blood with old and the likes of Henry, Materazzi, Zambrotta, Anelka, Gallas, Makelele, Thuram & Gatusso have passed their "international" worth. Everybody is pointing to WC 06 where both teams stuttered, but eventually met in the final. How about WC 02? Even if they qualify & meet the Dutch in the semis, it would be advantage Dutch, IMO.

May the best judgement call win, guys!

[Paul Ross]

Tough match to call this.

On one hand the Dutch are clearly superior, but surely won't put out their best 11 players for this match. However the 11 players they do put out will still have a fair amount of quality you can be sure of that.

You then also have the option to take out France & Italy, the world cup finalists of 2 years ago, by taking it easy on Romania.

If I was Van Basten, I would want Italy and France out of the competition so they don't come back to haunt them in the knockout stages.

Sure, they hammered both sides in the group, but we all know that won't happen so easily again and that both France and Italy can't keep displaying the poor play they have done so far.

The value bet is lay Romania @ 2.42, but dare you do it, knowing Holland would love Romania to qualify?

No bet for me, I'll be cheering on Romania though.

[UXMAL187]

[quote=winningman;1115032]Doubt this crop of ageing French & Italian players are capable of "growing" into this tournament. They have struggled to mix new blood with old and the likes of Henry, Materazzi, Zambrotta, Anelka, Gallas, Makelele, Thuram & Gatusso have passed their "international" worth. Everybody is pointing to WC 06 where both teams stuttered, but eventually met in the final. How about WC 02? Even if they qualify & meet the Dutch in the semis, it would be advantage Dutch, IMO.

May the best judgement call win, guys! [/quote]

I can't possibly agree with you here. As we all know Romania have an older squad than the French and Italian, so your argument is for nothing.

[SloppyJ]

The dutch proved they're much more creative going forward. Their second squad is arguably better than their 1st.

Goian is injured for the Romanians, and I cant see the Dutch not getting a goal. If they do then the Romanians will need to attack leading me onto the over 2.5 @ odds of 2.24. The over 3.5 goals at 3.95 is also tempting and is what I'll be taking.

Couple more ideas;

Romania first card at 1.71 ; Romania will be more more aggressive and generally get more cards than the Dutch.

Netherlands first corner at 2.04 ; Netherlands will be strong on the wings and are likely to get quite a few crosses in and quite a few long shots that could lead to a corner, Romania are much more defensive and will be looking for a cheap goal.

[DJ]

I backed Mutu to score first, game to finish 2-2 as a scorecast @ 66/1 with Ladbrokes. I was in town so thought I would have a go. I think the game will be open and attacking as Romania can't afford to just sit back. I think Mutu is Romania's main source of goals and most likely to score for them. I feel that Holland has what it takes to score goals, especially if Van Persie and Huntelaar are to be the strike partnership.