Jozy Altidore of AZ Alkmaar (Google Creative Commons)
The storyline going into the final of the Dutch Cup on Thursday in Rotterdam mirrors the one going into Saturday's FA Cup Final.
PSV Eindhoven are sitting pretty in second place in the Eredivisie table and all they have to do to confirm their spot in Europe next season is win the cup on Thursday or earn a point in their final league match on Sunday.
PSV EINDHOVEN FANS GIVEN CHANCE TO BORROW DICK ADVOCAAT, HIS PLAYERS, CARS, KIT, VIP SUITES, STADIUM AND EVEN THE UEFA CUP PSV players advertise they are For Hire to kick off Freo loan league this Saturday www.gekvanpsv.nl
Calling all football fans have you ever wanted to borrow PSV Eindhovens Philips Stadium, manager Dick Advocaat, captain Mark van Bommel, Jetro Willems socks , Phoxy the mascot, masseur, team bus or the UEFA Cup?
Champions League: The most successful countries and cities - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
This year's Champions League will obviously go to Germany and it will be the seventh time a German club will be crowned the champions of Europe. Which makes one wonder, how many Champions League trophies have gone to the other top European football nations.
Portugal and Holland have both got new away kits, both are supremely smart...
According to the Nike blurb, Portugal's svelte black strip is apparently inspired by the volcanic basalt rock that is used extensively in constructionthroughoutthe country while Holland's immaculate white, red and blue kit is inspired by Dutch football's "relationship with geometry and space.
The Antigua & Barbuda - USA World Cup Qualifier is on beIN Sport at 10pm. Also in CONCACAF, beIN has Guatemala - Jamaica at 7pm. Guyana - Mexico is on Telemundo at 8pm. beIN Sport en Espanol has Panama - Honduras at 10pm. UEFA World Cup Qualifying on ESPN2: Russia - Portugal at 11am. ESPN Deportes has Belarus - Spain at 2pm, Armenia - Italy at 4pm, and Holland - Andorra at 6pm.
The Rise of Vitesse Arnhem: FC Hollywood upon Rhine
By Gary Armstrong
100 years ago, Vitesse Arnhem lost a playoff final against Sparta Rotterdam and as such finished runners up in the race for the 1912/13 Netherlands Football League Championship.
Taking in the Ajax experience in Amsterdam with The Eurofan
It's the home of bicycles,nightlife, Van Gogh and Ajax Amsterdam, of course. Since the launch of Copa90 last summer, one of their most entertaining shows follows the adventures ofThe Eurofan. It's a show presented by Tom Deacon, who's also a comedian and DJ for Radio 1, where he's sent to different football cities each Champions League week to become a fan of the home team.
It's strange, in a sort of good way, how a song can remind you of someone, their image instantly etched into your mind."The Saints Are Coming" (Green Day/U2 version), is one example, the goal music atDe Grolsch Veste – home of FC Twente – now forever associated with Luuk de Jong, largely responsible for many of its airing last season, now plying his trade in Germany he's hoping for a similar amount of encore performances.
There was one minute left in extra time and Ronald Koeman started to prepare for the inevitable. He found what he was looking for, a notepad and pen, after collecting his thoughts he jotted down numbers one through five. Next to number one ‘Lex' was written, followed by a space, then letters I and M, before he could finish the surname, a loud roar erupted, looking up, Koeman saw Lex Immers – the very person that was going to take the penalty – wheel away in celebration, Feyenoord left it very late.
Robin van Persie wants to end his career at Old Trafford - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Manchester United camp will be more than pleased to see their star striker Robin van Persie returning back to form after netting three goals in two back to back matches for his Netherlands.
But, none would give more pleasure than hearing the news from the player himself about his future and commitment to the club.
Daryl Janmaat of Feyenoord Rotterdam (Photo via Getty Images)
Arsenal once again will be looking to make new additions over the summer with their defensive issues this season being a key area of concern for manager Arsene Wenger.
The January addition of Nacho Monreal was a great piece of business but with veteran right back Bacary Sagna believed to be a potential summer exit there are new faces rumored to be headed to the Emirates Stadium.
Robin van Persie attributes United's success to first team coach - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Robin van Persie has scored 18 goals in the 22 Premier League games he has played. With that, Manchester United have moved nine points clear of any title challengers. Manchester City and Chelsea linger behind with 53 and 46 points respectively.
Robin van Persie: The difference between EPL's first and second - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Robin van Persie's switch from Arsenal to Manchester United in the summer raised some eyebrows, aggravated the Gunners' faithful and adding another string to Sir Alex Ferguson's attacking bow.
Everton close to signing FC Twente midfielder - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Everton have agreed a deal to sign FC Twente midfielder Leroy Fer in the next 48 hours, for a fee thought to be in the region of £8.5 millions.
Everton to spend £8.5 million on Leroy Fer
The 23-year-old will travel to Meyseyside to undergo a medical and discuss personal terms with his transfer is expected to be completed before the transfer window closes on Thursday.
Graziano Pellè: Ladykiller, Goal Assassin is a post from: Just Football
The men in Heerenveen cheered, the women wept. The cause of this was standing on the pitch, hands to his face. When Feyenoord come to town to face local pride SC Heerenveen, Graziano Pellè won't be on the pitch.
Oranje Wednesdays The Eredivisie Title Race Heats Up.... is a post from: Just Football
De Kuip, one of football's great cathedrals, has seen its fare share of dramas over the years. The events of a few weeks ago when PSV Eindhoven visited was another.
Dick Advocaat said of playing at the ground that it "turns you into a footballer.
The future of Holland? Van Gaal looks to Van Persie and the kids is a post from: Just Football
From the starting line-up of Holland's opening match of last year's European Championships versus Denmark, only one man started in the friendly versus Italy last Wednesday. Robin Van Persie.
Of course, it was a friendly, but it might be a sign of things to come.
Ajax turn to their Danish prodigies to make a difference is a post from: Just Football
When it comes to Danish talent, all eyes have been on Ajax playmaker Christian Eriksen the last few years. But in the season's second half ouverture against Feyenoord, Viktor Fischer popped up and stole the show.
The 10 Series 10 Exciting Young Players to watch in the Eredivisie in 2013 is a post from: Just Football
10 of the most exciting young football players to watch in the Eredivisie in 2013, rising stars breaking through in Holland. Part of The 10 Series brought to you by Just-Football.
Steve has work to do at Twente is a post from: Just Football
Following on from Joey Barton putting a new emphasis on the words of Englishmen abroad (and how those words are spoken), and looking only too happy to do so, the original man of accents himself is one unhappy fellow. Steve McClaren, whose claims to fame have differed over the years from world class coach to promising manager, awful national coach and now simply ‘Schteve', isn't enjoying himself in the Netherlands as he used to.
Good Player Guide #22 Dušan Tadic is a post from: Just Football
Dušan Tadic (FC Twente / Serbia)
After a few Europa League matches against opponents of a relative low stature, FC Twente's summer signing Dušan Tadic made his league debut for his new team against former club FC Groningen.
Oranje Wednesdays: The extraordinary swagger of Wilfried Bony is a post from: Just Football
'Phenomenal' was all a breathless Fred Rutten could say. A word so rarely uttered in the Eredivisie it took many by surprise. Phenomenal you say? In truth no other superlative could do justice to the display of incredible forward play he had the pleasure of witnessing from one of European footballs most in form strikers.
New Feyenoord Home Kit 2012-13 is a post from: Just Football
They have long played second fiddle on the pitch to arch rivals Ajax, however, times may be changing with both teams neck and neck on equal points in 5th and 6th in the Eredivisie table. One thing is for sure, in today's hard fought 2-2 draw in de Klassieker at De Kuyp, Rotterdam is thatnew Feyenoord kit for the 2012-13 season was a lot slicker than the new Ajax away kit.
Oranje Wednesdays: Ajax struggling ahead of de Klassieker against old enemy Feyenoord is a post from: Just Football
October 24th is just another normal day in Rotterdam, but for some locals a poignant anniversary, one that will not be celebrated. It was on this day two years ago Feyenoord suffered their heaviest league defeat, a 10-0 mauling at the hands of PSV, in Eindhoven.
New Ajax Away Kit 2012-13 is a post from: Just Football
The new Ajax away kit for the 2012-13 season could either be considered as bold and courageous or quite simply an eyesore. Ajax will play their away games this season in a combination of dark and light blue fused with a fluorescent lime green.
New Ajax Home Kit 2012-13 is a post from: Just Football
As part of Just Football's Oranje Wednesdays feature, going forward we will take a look at the fashion of Dutch teams on the same day. We are first going to look at the nation's most successful club, a club steeped in history and tradition, it is the one and only Ajaxand theirnew home kit for the 2012-13 season.
Oranje Wednesdays: Thriller in Arnhem, AZ lose their cool is a post from: Just Football
The inhabitants of Arnhem and Enschede have witnessed some memorable moments already this season. It was the same again in their recent eagerly anticipated home games separated by nineteen hours. On this occasion it wasn't a tale of two cities, but of two penalty areas; one incident leading to a missed opportunity, the other bedlam.
Oranje Wednesdays: Stanley Menzo The first 'modern keeper' is a post from: Just Football
Oranje Wednesdays is a new regular Dutch football feature on Just Football. Today we take a trip down memory lane to look at Stanley Menzo, the first modern keeper:
It was fitting that Athens was the backdrop of Ajax ending their fourteen year wait for European silverware – the Greek capital a stone's throw away from Salamis Island where their namesake ruled as King – when they won the Cup Winners' Cup in 1987.
Netherlands 2013 away kit unveiled - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
The Netherlands 2013 away kit was unveiled at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam by national team players Kevin Strootman (PSV Eindhoven), Ricardo van Rhijn (Ajax) and Adam Maher (AZ).
The shirt takes the three colours of the Dutch national flag with white shorts and white socks.
Real Madrid midfielder Kaká has been recalled to Brazil's national team for the friendlies against Iraq in Malmo, Sweden on 11th October and Japan in Breslávia, Poland five days later. Kaká has not appeared in a Brazil shirt since June 2010 when the seleção went out to Holland in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in South Africa.
Louis van Gaal, manager of Holland, has sung the praises of Robin van Persie, claiming that our striker has benefited from moving to Manchester United.
"Robin van Persie is getting better and better – it's incredible," said Van Gaal. "He is a super professional player who really knows what he wants from his career and how he will achieve it.
If the reports about Arsenal and the acquistion of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar from Schalke for only around £4 million when the transfer window opens in January are true, it will be the bargain of the season, comparable to Swansea getting Michu in the summer for around £2 million. The Spaniard was not that well known outside of Spain, but Huntelaar is an experienced international with 59 caps to his name, so it would be even more remarkable.
Arsene Wenger may have changed his mind about trying to sign Ajax keeper Kenneth Vermeer for Arsenal after seeing the 26-year old ship four goals at home to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions league. Vermeer should have done much better with at least two of the goals, and his display could cost the Dutch champions as they now have no chance of qualifying for the next stages and are in danger of losing the Europa league place to Manchester City.
In den Niederlanden ist ein Linienrichter bei einem Amateurspiel zu Tode geprügelt worden. Auf der ganzen Welt wurde dieses Verbrechen verurteilt. So etwas darf nicht passieren, nicht auf dem Platz und nicht neben dem Platz! Fussball ist Fussball und kein Mordwerkzeug! Auch der DFB hat in einem offenen Brief auf Respekt, Liebe zum Fussball und [.
Warum kommst du nicht aus dem Schrank? Von den Medien und von vielen "Experten" wurde das in letzter Zeit oft gefragt und von dem Interview eines Fussballers, den es eigentlich gar nicht geben dürfte, getopt. In Holland stellt man sich die gleiche Frage und dort ist man an die Sache noch einmal ganz anders herangegangen.
There's a bit of a stir over in the Romanian tabloid circles this morning after it was reported that members of the Romanian squadfrolickedwith members of the Dutch squad at a fancy club in Bucharest a few hours after the national team had been panned 4-1 by Holland.
Holland despatched of minnows Adorra 3-0 without even having to use their top talisman Robin Van Persie who sat out the game on the bench as Van Der Vaart, Huntelaar and Schaken grabbed the goals.
Members of football clubs in Almere held a banner as they attend a silent march to commemorate the passing of volunteer linesman Richard Nieuwenhuizen over the weekend. His sons and friends, in particular, held up a banner with a message to him reading : "time will heal wounds, but we will never forget.
Having called time on his football career at about this time yesterday, former Hull, Wigan, Ipswich and MK Dons midfielder Jimmy Bullard has since come out of retirement to take on a player/coach role with Holland.
Alas, it's not quite the sky-scraping news it might be, as this is Holland FC we're talking about a tiny non-league club who currently play in the Essex and Kent Border League, and Bullard has only signed on as a favour to a mate with Holland club chairman, Mark Sorrell, telling the Daily Mirror:
"Jimmy is a family friend and has agreed to help us out.
