SB Nation World Cup World Cup 2010 -- Round of 16
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It may not have been convincing, but it was controlled, as the Dutch used an Arjen Robben goal to take an early lead they'd never relinquish, putting Slovakia out at the Round of 16.
Robert Vittek scored his fourth goal of the World Cup as the last action of the match, bringing Slovakia to within 2-1 from the spot as the referee blew fulltime.
Moments earlier, Maarten Stekelenburg brought down the Slovakian attacker in the six yard box as a deflected pass led to a Vittek opportunity behind the Dutch line. Stekelenberg came out to play the ball and ended-up taking down Vittek as the defender moved the ball to his left.
Vittek went left with his shot as Stekelenburg went right, making it 2-1, Netherlands.
Wesley Sneijder has reaped the benefits of Dirk Kuyt's work, scoring his second goal of the tournament into a `keeper-less net to give the Dutch a 2-0 lead.
Kuyt took advantage of Slovakian goalkeeper Jan Mucha coming-off his line to get a bouncing ball, with the Dutch attacker beating the goalie to the ball, heading it into space, and eventually rolling a ball across goal for the oncoming Sneijeder. The attacking midfielder hit a shot into the next before Mucha could return, giving Holland a 2-0 lead.
Eljero Elia has been brought on by Bert van Marwijk for Arjen Robben, ended Robben's first start of the tournament after 70 minutes.
Robben is responsible for the match's only goal, an 18th minute score from 22-yards out.
The substitution comes at a time when the Dutch have been played even by the Slovaks, with Maartin Stekelenburg recently tested by Juraj Kucka and Robert Vittek.
The NEtherlands remain ahead 1-0 in the 75th minute.
Arjen Robben's 18th minute goals has given the Netherlands a 1-0 lead at halftime over Slovakia, the first Round of 16 match-up of the day at the 2010 World Cup.
Robben's goal came after the right winger ran onto a long ball and cut toward the middle of the field, onto his left foot, before letting go of a 2-yard shot that beat Jan Mucha to his near post.
It is Robben's first start of the tournament, still recovering from a left hamstring injury incurred in the Dutch's final freindly prior to the tournament.
Aside from the goal, the first half has been played surprisingly even, with the Dutch holding advantages in possession and shots on goal but unable to exhibit the fluid movement that Dutch soccer fans have become accustomed to seeing.
Netherlands right wing Arjen Robben was a surprise inclusion in Bert van Marwijk's starting XI, still thought to be recovering from a hamstring injury that kept him from starting the Dutch's group matches. But against Slovakia, Robben has vindicated van Marwijk's decision early, scoring in the 18th minute to put the Netherlands ahead 1-0.
Robben took the ball on the right of attack and cut in to get the ball on his left foot. With Rabaslav Zabavnik and Jan Durica unable to close him out, Robben go a shot off from 22 yards out to beat Jan Mucha near post.
The Netherlands remains ahead 1-0 in the 23rd minute.
Examining the tactics and the match-ups, this could be the most lopsided pairing we see in the knockout round. Everything the Dutch do well seems to attack areas where the Slovaks are lacking, and playing two good holding midfielders capable of canceling-out Slovakia's best player, the Dutch give the Slovaks have a diminished chance to response. Whereas the Netherlands have yet to show the dynamism most expect from the Oranje, Monday could be see a break-out preference from one of the soccer world's favorite teams.
Netherlands, Going Forward: The Dutch are starting to realize the importance of Arjen Robben, with the team having scored only four goals in three matches. The Danes contributed a fifth, own goal, and while five goals in three matches is nothing to worry about, the Dutch attack is still failing to live up to expectations.
Today, that likely changes. Slovakia allowed five goals in three matches against a Group F with a series of unimpressive attacks. Perhaps as important, the Slovak back line is failing the eye test, with Jan Durica having a particularly poor tournament. Against Paraguay, the defenders had trouble dealing with high pressure, and against Italy, the Slovaks almost collapsed against an Italian team that offered little ingenuity in attack.
Wesley Sneijder's passing will open up the spaces in defense not already being created by Robin van Persie's movement. Dirk Kuyt will be able to use the space, and Rafeal van der Vaart's tendency to come too far inside from the left wing could prove helpful, allowing Sniejder to become more dangerous as a goal scorer.
Slovakia, Going Forward: Robert Vittek's opportunism has accounted for three of Slovakia's four goals, but midfielder Marek Hamsik's improved play against Italy, there is reason to believe the Slovaks may have another route. Vittek and (if he plays) Stanislav Sestak should be able to get chances against the Dutch back line, but in order for Hamsik to utilize the attackers, he and coach Vladimir Weiss will have to find a way of dealing with Nigel de Jong and Mark van Bommell.
The Netherlands' two defensive midfielders (and the simultaneous use of them) are the reason why many hope this Dutch team can be different than its predecessors, and in order to get around them, Weiss may have to use Hamsik wide. This could increase the captain's defensive responsibilities (dealing with fullbacks Gregory van der Weil or Giovanni van Bronckhorst), but it will also give Weiss a consistent avenue into attack.
If Hamsik can be deployed wide right (which is less likely than left), he can help pin-back van Bronckhorst, take advantage of the converted midfielder's defense, and (if he eventually draws one of the defensive midfielders wide) create space for Sestak and Vittek.
How The Match Turns: If the Slovak defense does not improve on their group stage form, the best Slovakia can hope for is a shootout, and this is not a shootout team. However, if the Slovaks can play well at the back, the Dutch will have to deal with Hamsik else expose themselves to an upset.
World Cup 2010: Netherlands Downs Slovakia With Goals From Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder
Arjen Robben made his return to the Dutch lineup with an 18th minute goal, with Wesley Sneijder's late tally leading to a 2-1 victory Monday over Slovakia, putting the Netherlands into the quarterfinals of the 2010 World Cup.
It was a controlled if unspectacular performance by the Dutch, who looked the better side but gave the Slovaks multiple second half opportunities to equalize. Robert Vittek, who would convert a penalty kick in second half stoppage time, missed an opportunity for 12 yards half-way through the period, with a Juraj Kucka shot from distance testing Maarten Stekelenburg moments before.
At that time, the Dutch were resting on Robben's goal, a left-footed shot from 22-yards that beat Jan Mucha to his near post. Robben had run onto a long ball and was on a break against two Slovak defenders when he cut-in from the right and hit his shot.
That was the only scoring until the 84th minute, when Dirk Kuyt beat Mucha to a ball at the right edge of the penalty area. With the `keeper out, Kuyt rolled a ball across to box for Sneijder, whose easy finish gave him his second goal of the tournament.
Ten minutes later, deep into second half stoppage time, Vittek was brought down in the box by Stekelenburg, with the Slovakian attacker converting a penalty kick for his fourth goal of the tournament.
With the 2-1 win, the Netherlands moves on to the quarterfinals, where they will face the winner of today's Brazil-Chile match.
Slovakia is eliminated, having made it to the Round of 16 in their first major tournament as an independent nations.
Jun 28 12:14p by Richard Farley - 3 comments