Belanda Ancaman Serius Brazil

Foto : www.uefa.com

Robin van Persie dan Arjen Robben adalah dua pemain yang menginspirasi Belanda untuk mengalahkan Spanyol dengan skor 5-1. Hasil ini merupakan catatan sejarah tersendiri dalam Piala Dunia FIFA, Spanyol kebobolan lebih dari empat kali untuk pertama kalinya sejak 1963.

Praktis setelah sebuah penalti Xabi Alonso yang membuat juara bertahan unggul, Spanyol selalu gagal untuk menambah keunggulan termasuk saat David Silva membuang peluang untuk menggandakan keunggulan. Titik balik bagi Belanda adalah setelah Van Persie dan Robben masing-masing mencetak dua gol. Van Persie dengan sundulan cantiknya dan Robben melalui serangan balik setelah mengecoh Sergio Ramos dan Pique, tendangan keras kaki kirinya merobek jarring Casillas.

Tiki Taka ala Spanyol sudah mulai mudah ditundukkan dengan pola serangan balik ala Belanda tanpa harus memarkir bus. Pemain Belanda hanya melakukan pressing ketat kepada semua pemain Spanyol yang memegang bola. Cara ini pula yang membuat Casilass melakukan blunder fatal ketika bola backpass tidak bisa dikuasainya dan dengan mudah RPV membobol gawang Spanyol yang telah kosong.

Kunci kemenangan Belanda adalah ketika Xavi dan Iniesta benar-benar tidak berkutik sehingga bola dari mereka tidak bisa mengalir menjadi umpan-umpan yang nisa memanjakan para pemain depan Spanyol. Belanda telah memberikan contoh bagaimana cara bermain sepakbola efektif tanpa harus mencederai permainan sepakbola itu sendiri. Apakah pola permainan Belanda ini akan menjadi inspirasi Tim lain untuk menundukkan Tim yang memiliki pola menyerang seperti Brazil, Argentina?. Kita lihat nanti pada episode pertandingan Piala Dunia 2014 berikutnya.

Oleh : Hendro Santoso/Hensa

Bandung 14 Juni 2014

http://olahraga.kompasiana.com/bola/2014/06/14/belanda-ancaman-serius-brazil-666263.html

Wayne Rooney and Glen Johnson must be dropped for England's crucial World Cup clash with Uruguay

Foto : Reuters

Roy Hodgson has three main concerns as he prepares to face Uruguay, the biggest being the Manchester United striker’s loss of form.

How Gerrard recovers from Manaus
Over the next couple of days, as the sports science team assess the physical state of the players, Roy Hodgson will be having a quiet word with his captain, just to make sure he can go again on Thursday.

Steven Gerrard could hardly break into a jog in the final moments of Saturday night, the 34-year-old’s legs having given everything. That depth of exhaustion obviously takes its toll on someone of this age so the manager will naturally be anxious to gauge Gerrard’s speed of recovery.

England clearly don’t want to lose the midfielder for this one, a game they could now really do with winning. His experience and advice in the middle of the park becomes ever more valuable in a team bristling with youthful enterprise but not with so much know-how when the pressure cranks up.

We saw that in Manaus towards the end when England’s attempts to equalise lacked measured composure. If Gerrard did need a breather with the Costa Rica game in mind, England could always turn to Frank Lampard for that linchpin role. But with all due respect to the squad’s other senior statesman, that isn’t quite the same as having your main leader in a situation verging on the critical.

Worrying form of Johnson
Of all England’s performers against Italy, you have to say that Glen Johnson suffered more than most. For whatever reason, the full-back just doesn’t look right at the moment, his form having also been poor in the lead-up.

Confidence looks low in someone who, at the best of times, could never be described as a doughty defender. His talents have always leant towards the attacking side. That said, Johnson is normally better than this. It must make Hodgson think about the alternatives.

By Alan Smith, in Brazil

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/10901661/Wayne-Rooney-and-Glen-Johnson-must-be-dropped-for-Englands-crucial-World-Cup-clash-with-Uruguay.html