Holland 2-1 Slovakia World Cup 2010 Last 16

A look at the firepower that Holland are blessed with, it was a shoe-in on paper that they would destroy the minnows Slovakia in which prior to the World Cup especially, an average fan would struggle to cite any member of their squad besides Marek Hamsik. On the other hand, a look at the front-line of Holland would make anybody shiver. Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben. These three, especially the last two, would bring fans to their club exploits last season in which both of them featured in the final of the Champions League after having such blistering runs in the competition as a whole. But, we have to remember that club form cannot be used as a yardstick, just like how many people mistakenly written off Argentina, as well as continuing to lament the exclusion of J. Zanetti and Cambiasso from Maradona's 23-man squad. Last night proved this as the whole witnessed a toothless Holland side taking on a determined Slovakian side.

To be frank, both goals from Holland were not scored with the exquisite passing and attacking movements just like what Germany were doing against England the day before in which I compared their movements just like the wicked maneuvers of UFOs in the sky. It is ironic to see that both rivals have swapped playing style with one another after all those days in history in which one has been criticizing the other for their respective playing style. Total Football vs Berlin Wall, that had been the case. Now, it's the other way round.

The first goal was scored only owing to Arjen Robben's flash of individual brilliance when an English style punt from a Dutch defender from the back was chased with his trademark lightning speed from the right flank, he then cut into the center of the pitch and launched a nice left footed strike from outside of the penalty area to give the Dutch the lead. Surely, together with the fact that they won all three of their group games, it further masked the fact that the Dutch attack has been toothless throughout the World Cup . As has been the case in this World Cup when one team takes the lead, they start to get bogged down right after the first goal has been scored. Perhaps it was the Dutch trying to “play safe” and just defend to the death, or perhaps it was Slovakia exhibiting some sort of sense of urgency, but nonetheless, the Dutch started to get pinned back and the Dutch were not able to string together nice passes, let alne emulating the German “UFO maneuvers”.

The second half was even worse with Slovakia continued to dominate the Dutch, with only Maarten Stekelenburg and a few last ditch tackles preventing the Slovaks, mainly through Robert Vittek from scoring an equalizer. However, the Dutch finally found the second goal, but again it was not through a masterful attacking move but it was due to an event bordering on the ridiculous. At around the 83rd minute, all Slovak defenders left their posts to surround the referee to protest a certain decision prior to that and while the Slovak were left without their defenders who were busy arguing, the play went on and the Dutch again sent a long ball from the back towards Dirk Kuyt who collected the ball, beat the onrushing and desperate goalkeeper, and sent a low cross towards the center for Wesley Sneijder to make it 2-0. Again the Dutch got lucky with their “kick and rush” style and again masked their inept attack. However, many people especially the Holland fans would argue that the introduction of the livewire Eljero Elia was the catalyst of the second goal, but still he replaced Robben not a defensive player and thus it could not be considered as a positive substitution.

The Slovaks were not interested to surrender meekly as they piled on strikers onto the pitch for te last few minutes of the game to at least get a consolation goal and perhaps to steal 2 goals to drag the match to extra time. However, they only managed to get one consolatory goal through Robert Vittek's penalty kick at the very last touch of the game. While it is true that the Dutch has progressed and no matter how the Dutch fans want to say that “winning is everything”, I am worrying over their prospects against Dunga's Brazilian anti-Samba Boys. They certainly are much stronger and much more efficient due to Dunga's aforementioned style, and they will certainly punish the Dutch's inept attack as well as a shaky defense. The Brazilians will certainly not leave it so late like the Slovaks to score a goal or two or even three.

New Zealand 1-1 Slovakia World Cup 2010 Group F

This was the match between the two underdogs in Group F, and it ended all square 1-1. It seems to be a boring scoreline as what we are already or at least are getting used to in this World Cup, but this 1-1 is arguably the first ever amazing result in this World Cup finals. The first half of this match was as usual a very drab affair with both teams being cautious and cagey against each other. The only notable moments in this half are Marek Hamsik and Vladimir Weiss (pron: Vice), two of Slovakia's star players as well as the moments in which Mark Paston, New Zealand's heroic goalkeeper who almost gifted Slovakia a goal by miscuing his long kick from his penalty area. This time, it wasn't Jabulani's fault thankfully and thus won't be added into the growing list of criticisms against the poor ball and also the moment in which Marek Hamsik reminds everyone how good he is when he became the next player who is able to control Jabulani properly when he arrived late just outside of the penalty box from a corner to get a long range shot which was saved. The first half, predictably ended 0-0. Another point to note is Simon Elliott, New Zealand's number 7 who is the pseudo-manager in this team (refer to my article about Ballack's absence for more information).

As usual in this World Cup, a goal would be scored at the start of the second half and this match was no exception. Slovakia managed to score through a headed goal by Robert Vittek although it was a controversial one as two Slovakia players were in an offside position for that goal. Right after this goal all the way to the 90th minute, it was a drab affair with both teams, especially Slovakia trying to score the second goal which would condemn New Zealand not only to defeat but to a knocking out from the competition altogether. It seemed set that Slovakia was to gather all three points. When Vladimir Weiss, the standout performer in the game and the son of their manager also named Vladimir Weiss was taken off at the last minute to earn his standing ovation and also to run down the clock, we could see how he trudged off slowly, taking his time, and every player and staff of Slovakia thinking the game was already wrapped by then. How they were wrong, as long as the final whistle has yet to be blown, it's not over. In the 92nd minute, only a few seconds left to the end, New Zealand's star man Shane Smeltz managed to get a good cross into the Slovakian penalty box and defender W. Reid (who earlier in the match managed to do a great tackle preventing Slovakia from scoring) happened to be there and he heroically headed the ball into the Slovakian net for the equalizer. It was such an electric moment as even I was stunned. When the ball entered, I thought it was going to be chalked off but it didn't. It was a legitimate goal and I was a New Zealander for those few seconds. It was such a heart-stopping World Cup moment. He then celebrated wildly by taking his shirts off and was yellow carded, but he and all New Zealanders couldn't care less about that. New Zealand have made history! Best ever result in the World Cup Finals. This shows that New Zealand can kick soccer balls as well as they can kick rugby balls! Congratulations New Zealand!