WC-MOTD17
Day 17:-
Netherlands vs. Mexico:-
The Mexicans were denied a historic win in the dying minutes of a match played under extreme climate conditions!
Coach Louis van Gaal stuck with the same formation he deployed against Chile in the final group-stage match; fielding a 3-man defensive backline behind 5 midfielders, of which 2 were acting in the DM-pivot, 2 were playing as SMs/WBs and a lone playmaker in Wesley Sneijder.
It is worth mentioning here that Coach Van Gaal was forced to reshuffle his formation a bit in the opening few minutes; as Nigel De Jong had to be substituted following an injury. Martins Indi came on for him and slotted directly in the 3rd CB position previously occupied by Blind, who was moved to his natural DM-role.
Mexico did not make any tactical changes and continued to play with the same formation that has been serving them so well at the WC so far.
The game began with the Mexicans applying proper pressure on the Dutch; opting to shoot from distance every time they found some space in the final third as the Netherlands defended deep.
It took a very long while for Holland to muster a shot on target (and it wasn’t anything special either); as they were allowing Mexico to dominate possession in the hopes that they could catch them on the break.
The Mexicans were coming ever-closer to scoring a goal; threatening the Netherlands mostly from the left side as the newly-drafted Paul Verhaegh was exploited time and again in that area of the field.
However, a bit more accuracy was needed from them as they seemed to waste numerous chances in front of goal, all the while the Netherlands barely offering anything of notice in attack and/or midfield!
The Dutch tried to regain control of the game by retaining possession and pressing Mexico into their own half in the final 10 minutes of the first period; but they were not able to create much from open play as they kept moving the ball laterally from one side to the other amidst some very compact and well-organized Mexican defending.
It was a tactical first half all in all, with Mexico being the better team in attack and also in defense; however, they were missing some much-needed physical presence in their opponent’s final third as well as an increased precision in front of goal.
The Dutch seemed asleep for most of the half; seemingly unable to find spaces while constantly passing the ball from side to side without any real purpose. Their lack of vertical balls and urgency in their build-up play might have hindered their chances in doing more with the possession they had at the very end.
Shortly after the second half started, Mexico got the goal for which they have been waiting for so long now. It all started with a long ball deep from the end of Mexico’s half, which was cleared rather awkwardly by Ron Vlaar, only for Dos Santos to pounce on it and unleash an amazing left-footed shot from distance to take the lead for the Mexicans!
From that point on, the match became a completely different affair; as more spaces started opening-up in both teams’ halves, with the Dutch adding a (previously unseen) crucial element of width to their play.
Mexico were defending deep and waiting to launch quick counter-attacks, while the Dutch seemed more and more frustrated; for they were unable to make the most of the increased possession they had been enjoying at the time.
The Dutch were not urgent enough in their offensive approach, while also lacking clear creativity in midfield and a proper passing rhythm with which they could create chances from open-play.
Mexico were attempting to slow the game’s tempo every time they got the ball, and also took a shot at pressing the Netherlands back for a brief period during the latter stages of the game.
Soon enough, the entire course of the game changed in less than 5 minutes!
It all began with a Dutch corner; Huntelaar heading Robben’s cross into the path of Sneijder, who quickly smashed an unstoppable shot into the bottom left corner of the rather impressive Ochoa for the equalizer!
A few minutes later, Robben was at it again. This time zig-zagging through the left side of Mexico’s defense, only to be lightly fouled by Rafael Márquez inside the box for a very late and dramatic penalty; which Huntelaar coolly converted to win the match for the Netherlands and cause so many Mexicans true WC heartache!
It was a rather insipid display of football from the Dutch for the majority of the game; seemingly out of ideas going forward and in midfield, lacking real width and urgency in their offensive approach and extremely flakey at the back. However, Coach Van Gaal, once again, got his tactical changes somewhat spot-on; as that increased physical presence which Huntelaar provided eventually paid-off (twice)!
Mexico were truly the better side in almost all areas of the pitch and were really unlucky to lose this game. They were undone by the fact that they did not convert any of their counter-attacks when the Dutch were looking for an equalizer; as their lack of an established out-and-out striker in the middle of the Netherlands’ defense cost them deeply in terms of clinical finishing!
Man of the match: Arjen Robben (it would’ve easily gone to Ochoa and/or Herrera had Mexico won!): He huffed and puffed for most of the game; giving it 110% till the very end and showed his class in another impressive (somewhat late) display!
Netherlands vs. Mexico:-
The Mexicans were denied a historic win in the dying minutes of a match played under extreme climate conditions!
Coach Louis van Gaal stuck with the same formation he deployed against Chile in the final group-stage match; fielding a 3-man defensive backline behind 5 midfielders, of which 2 were acting in the DM-pivot, 2 were playing as SMs/WBs and a lone playmaker in Wesley Sneijder.
It is worth mentioning here that Coach Van Gaal was forced to reshuffle his formation a bit in the opening few minutes; as Nigel De Jong had to be substituted following an injury. Martins Indi came on for him and slotted directly in the 3rd CB position previously occupied by Blind, who was moved to his natural DM-role.
Mexico did not make any tactical changes and continued to play with the same formation that has been serving them so well at the WC so far.
The game began with the Mexicans applying proper pressure on the Dutch; opting to shoot from distance every time they found some space in the final third as the Netherlands defended deep.
It took a very long while for Holland to muster a shot on target (and it wasn’t anything special either); as they were allowing Mexico to dominate possession in the hopes that they could catch them on the break.
The Mexicans were coming ever-closer to scoring a goal; threatening the Netherlands mostly from the left side as the newly-drafted Paul Verhaegh was exploited time and again in that area of the field.
However, a bit more accuracy was needed from them as they seemed to waste numerous chances in front of goal, all the while the Netherlands barely offering anything of notice in attack and/or midfield!
The Dutch tried to regain control of the game by retaining possession and pressing Mexico into their own half in the final 10 minutes of the first period; but they were not able to create much from open play as they kept moving the ball laterally from one side to the other amidst some very compact and well-organized Mexican defending.
It was a tactical first half all in all, with Mexico being the better team in attack and also in defense; however, they were missing some much-needed physical presence in their opponent’s final third as well as an increased precision in front of goal.
The Dutch seemed asleep for most of the half; seemingly unable to find spaces while constantly passing the ball from side to side without any real purpose. Their lack of vertical balls and urgency in their build-up play might have hindered their chances in doing more with the possession they had at the very end.
Shortly after the second half started, Mexico got the goal for which they have been waiting for so long now. It all started with a long ball deep from the end of Mexico’s half, which was cleared rather awkwardly by Ron Vlaar, only for Dos Santos to pounce on it and unleash an amazing left-footed shot from distance to take the lead for the Mexicans!
From that point on, the match became a completely different affair; as more spaces started opening-up in both teams’ halves, with the Dutch adding a (previously unseen) crucial element of width to their play.
Mexico were defending deep and waiting to launch quick counter-attacks, while the Dutch seemed more and more frustrated; for they were unable to make the most of the increased possession they had been enjoying at the time.
The Dutch were not urgent enough in their offensive approach, while also lacking clear creativity in midfield and a proper passing rhythm with which they could create chances from open-play.
Mexico were attempting to slow the game’s tempo every time they got the ball, and also took a shot at pressing the Netherlands back for a brief period during the latter stages of the game.
Soon enough, the entire course of the game changed in less than 5 minutes!
It all began with a Dutch corner; Huntelaar heading Robben’s cross into the path of Sneijder, who quickly smashed an unstoppable shot into the bottom left corner of the rather impressive Ochoa for the equalizer!
A few minutes later, Robben was at it again. This time zig-zagging through the left side of Mexico’s defense, only to be lightly fouled by Rafael Márquez inside the box for a very late and dramatic penalty; which Huntelaar coolly converted to win the match for the Netherlands and cause so many Mexicans true WC heartache!
It was a rather insipid display of football from the Dutch for the majority of the game; seemingly out of ideas going forward and in midfield, lacking real width and urgency in their offensive approach and extremely flakey at the back. However, Coach Van Gaal, once again, got his tactical changes somewhat spot-on; as that increased physical presence which Huntelaar provided eventually paid-off (twice)!
Mexico were truly the better side in almost all areas of the pitch and were really unlucky to lose this game. They were undone by the fact that they did not convert any of their counter-attacks when the Dutch were looking for an equalizer; as their lack of an established out-and-out striker in the middle of the Netherlands’ defense cost them deeply in terms of clinical finishing!
Man of the match: Arjen Robben (it would’ve easily gone to Ochoa and/or Herrera had Mexico won!): He huffed and puffed for most of the game; giving it 110% till the very end and showed his class in another impressive (somewhat late) display!
Ahmad Al-Omar - 29. Jun, 23:47
