Well, without having seen the game I can simply repeat what I said earlier: I don't like friendlies ( sing on the tune of the Boomtown Rats' "I don't like Mondays")

It's a waste of time. For me, that is. Not for Bert van Marwijk. But I can't get excited for [read more]

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie confirmed he is fully recovered from injury by scoring twice for his National side against Mexico in a friendly match, in Germany. Bert van Marwijk's side made a bright start seeing ...

Nigel de Jong was already in Amsterdam this morning to meet up with his Oranje buddies when team manager Bert van Marwijk informed him that he wasn't needed and could take the first plane back to Manchester.

The Man City midfielder took the blow hard, in particular the fact that the [read more]

Dirk Kuyt pointed the finger of blame for Holland's World Cup final defeat by Spain at English referee Howard Webb.
Webb brandished 14 yellow cards and one red - a record for a final - in a fiery encounter which saw Andres Iniesta's extra-time goal secure a 1-0 win for Spain.
The South Yorkshire official was booed by Dutch fans at the final whistle and Liverpool forward Kuyt said: "We are angry that we lost because we came so close.

I was bemused when I read the news that Robin van Persie has been called up to the Dutch national squad. I'm not even sure he is in full training yet and can't see the reason for this inclusion.

It seems Holland manager Bert van Marwijk has done a Jekyll and Hyde act here. I really liked the fact that De Jong has not been called up, in some ways it's an extension of the ban voluntarily imposed on him by his national manager.

Rejuvenated Dutchman ready to take Inter Milan form to South Africa.

Find, Compare and Buy 2010 World Cup Tickets at

Win the Club Shirt Of Your Choice Simply by Speaking Your Mind!

Wesley Sneijder was in danger of wasting away on the Bernabeu bench when he completed a rushed move to the San Siro, its a move that he must be extremely pleased he made.

Below you'll find a complete list of the 32 coaches at World Cup 2010. You'll also find their nationality, and their age going into the tournament. Beneath that you'll find some amateur hour number crunching I did with pen, paper and the calculator on my cell phone to work out a few statistics.

Before you look at the list of coaches and the numbers, do yourself a favour and have a guess at how those numbers pan out.

Below you'll find a complete list of the 32 coaches at World Cup 2010. You'll also find their nationality, and their age going into the tournament. Beneath that you'll find some amateur hour number crunching I did with pen, paper and the calculator on my cell phone to work out a few statistics.

Before you look at the list of coaches and the numbers, do yourself a favour and have a guess at how those numbers pan out.

It's been noted by many people that only seven countries have ever won the World Cup in its 80-year history. Those same people have also suggested the time is now right for a new name to be added to the roll of honour, and most of those have put forward Spain as the country most likely to become the eighth.

Holland vs. Slovakia
The second of three all-European second round matches pits Group E winners Holland against Group F runners-up Slovakia. Holland were one of only two 3-0 teams in the group stages, besting Denmark, Japan and Cameroon. The Slovaks had only one point after two matches following a draw with New Zealand and a loss to Paraguay.

After 31 days (give or take a few unbearable fallow periods) of solid football, the 'greatest sporting tournament in the world' is primed for one final flourish.

Bert Van Marwijk's often utilitarian (but, nevertheless, unbeaten) Netherlands side will take on Vicente Del Bosque's dominant (though repeatedly over-indulgent) Spanish outfit in Sunday's showpiece finale, with both countries bidding to be crowned champions of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Holland's Bert van Marwijk has launched a stinging attack on the referee following his side's 1-0 loss to Spain in Sunday's World Cup Final.

And the Dutch coach couldn't be more on the mark.

Holland's Bert van Marwijk has launched a stinging attack on the referee following his side's 1-0 loss to Spain in Sunday's World Cup Final.

And the Dutch coach couldn't be more on the mark.

Amid much of the wailing about the negativity of the Dutch performance at this year's World Cup final, some people have stuck their heads above the parapets and argued that there is a place in the game for what some might call "spoiling" football. William Abbs is one of them.

Not since the Netherlands played Argentina in 1978 had the World Cup final featured two nations that had both never won the tournament before.

Nigel De...Wrong. Do Players Need More Protection? is a post from: Just Football

Hatem Ben Arfa has become the latest in what is becoming a long line of players to sustain a broken leg in football from a dangerous tackle. The fact that the referee didn't even award a free kick has however made this incident different from the others.

Manchester City manager, Roberto Mancini has come out to say that he is "very disappointed" with critics of Manchester City hatchet man, Nigel de Jong, after he broke the leg of Newcastle winger, Hatem Ben Arfa's leg in two places in a vicious challenge on the 3rd October. De Jong, who was dropped from the [.

He won't win. Whatever, though.

A cooler award anyway.

Yes, Didier Drogba has been nominated for the most prestigious award in football. This season, for the first time, the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year honors have been merged into some super hybrid double platinum award now known as the FIFA Balloon d'Or I know, clever.

As the 2010 calendar year comes to a close, ballots are being sent out to award the World Player of the Year and World Coach of the Year by FIFA.
The following 10 coaches are in contention for the new FIFA Coach of the Year award for men's soccer:
FIFA World Coach of the Year-Men's Soccer 2010:
Carlo Ancelotti (Italy/ Chelsea)
Vicente del Bosque (Spain/Spain national team)
Alex Ferguson (Scotland/Manchester United)
Pep Guardiola (Spain/Barcelona)
Joachim Loew (Germany/Germany national team)
Jose Mourinho (Portugal/Inter Milan and Real Madrid)
Oscar Tabarez (Uruguay/Uruguay national team)
Louis Van Gaal (Netherlands, Bayern Munich)
Bert Van Marwijk (Netherlands/Netherlands national team)
Arsene Wenger (France/Arsenal)

The Netherlands
Road to South Africa
They may have enjoyed a relatively easy draw, but the Netherlands could hardly have been more convincing as they swept all before them on the way to winning eight qualifying games in a row.
In a group that contained one less opponent than the rest of the European groups, the Netherlands started their campaign with a win away in Macedonia and simply never let up.

Chris and myself have been trying our best to profile each of the 32 teams that will compete at World Cup 2010, but our knowledge about each team is miniscule (or at least mine is anyway) when compared to that of our team bloggers.

If you're unfamiliar with World Cup Blog, then allow me to explain: The blog you're reading now is the front page, but the core of WCB is the multitude of team specific blogs, including one for each of the World Cup 2010 teams.

Bert van Marwijk has invited Otman Bakkal (PSV), Wout Brama (Twente), Jeremain Lens (AZ) and Vurnon Anita (Ajax) for two training practices mid May in Hoenderloo. Ruud van Nistelrooy did not receive a call up and his chances to go to the World Cup get smaller.

Ruud von Tor has been [read more]

Bert van Marwijk will present his preliminary squad of 30 players. I've made a list of 32 names, based on their status in Oranje, their past selections and/or their invite for the current training practice. The only exception to the rule is one Ruud van Nistelrooy. He's never been invited [read more]

Ruud van Nistelrooy's international career appears to be over after the veteran striker missed out on Bert van Marwijk's 30-man preliminary World Cup squad.
Squad:
Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Sander Boschker (FC Twente), Michel Vorm (FC Utrecht);
Vurnon Anita (Ajax), Khalid Boulahrouz (VfB Stuttgart), Edson Braafheid (Celtic), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), John Heitinga (Everton), Joris Mathijsen (HSV), Ron Vlaar (Feyenoord), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax) en Andre Ooijer (PSV);
Otman Bakkal (PSV), Mark van Bommel (Bayern Munchen), Wout Brama (FC Twente), Orlando Engelaar (PSV), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), David Mendes da Silva (AZ), Stijn Schaars (AZ), Wesley Sneijder (Inter), Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid), Demy de Zeeuw (Ajax) en Ibrahim Afellay (PSV);
Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Jeremain Lens (AZ), Eljero Elia (HSV), Ryan Babel (Liverpool), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (AC Milan), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munchen).

Emirates striker back from long term injury ready to take on the world.

Find, Compare and Buy 2010 World Cup Tickets at

Win the Club Shirt Of Your Choice Simply by Speaking Your Mind!

On his day Robin Van Persie is one of the most effective forwards in Europe but in many ways his continual injury problems have held back the 26 year old who always tends to be out for a significant portion of the domestic season.

Fans may have to keep the noise down, Torres on road to recovery, Bert van Marwijk finalises his Holland squad.

Operation Clockwork Oranje

The General:

Holland can't complain too much about the recent campaign of Bert van Marwijk as manager of the Flying Dutchman. Not only did the coach have the pressure of taking over the reins following a troubling Euro 2008 tournament, but the coach didn't drop a single point in their 2010 WCQ winning eight out of eight matches.

>> Click Here To Watch NetherlandsVs Hungary Live Now <<

Netherlands Vs Hungary Live Streaming & Match Preview
International Friendly – Netherlands Vs Hungary Live Online Click Here
Saturday, June 5th 2010
Kick Off : 13:00 BST
Venue : Amsterdam Arena, Netherlands

The international friendly between the Netherlands and Hungary will be played at the Amstersdam Arena on Saturday 5th June 2010; kick-off set for 1:00 PM.

ROBBEN DOUBTFUL FOR WORLD CUPHolland coach Bert van Marwijk admits he is very concerned about the hamstring injury picked up by Arjen Robben in today's World Cup warm-up victory over Hungary.Robben came on as a half-time substitute in the 6-1 rout at the Amsterdam ArenA and scored two goals before being forced off with the injury five minutes from time.

Video ansehen

Der 6:1-Sieg der Niederlande gegen Ungarn war überzeugend, aber die Verletzung des Doppeltorschützen Arjen Robben dürfte mehr als ein Wermutstropfen sein. Kurz vor Spielende ist der Star vom FC Bayern im Rasen hängengeblieben und musste sichtlich geknickt ausgewechselt werden.Niederlande gewinnt gegen Ungarn und verliert Robben

Today's Soccerlens World Cup column is brought to you by the number '4′ and by the word 'curse'.

There's an awful lot, and I mean an awful lot of injury news doing the rounds this weekend.

Holland are the latest side to suffer the wrath of the dreaded curse, after Arjen Robben (see below) hobbled out of their tune-up match against Hungary yesterday although an injury to the former Chelsea man shouldn't really come as too much of a surprise, given that his skeleton seems to be made of warm chocolate.

Netherlands' Arjen Robben, one of the premier wingers in the world, limped off the pitch with a left hamstring injury during their match on Saturday in preparation of World Cup 2010.

Robben came in as a second-half substitute and found the back of the net twice before making his exit in the 85th minute.

When every World Cup comes around, everyone places an outside bet on Holland. Based on their qualifying campaign, it seems a very safe bet. Their football is certainly entertaining and at times, dazzling for the spectator. But when it comes to tournaments, the Dutch will often begin with performances full of flair and vigour, but then collapse in the late stages.

It's official! Without winning the cup, Bert van Marwijk is the Best Team Manager ever for Holland. He scored on average 2.35 points per game. He leaves Marco van Basten, Merkel and Happel behind him.

Van Marwijk lost only one international game in a series of 23 games ( the 2-1 [read more]

Emirates boss keen on unwanted Eastlands duo.

Think Argentina will lift the World Cup? Bet with Betfair and get £25 free!

Quality CaughtOffside World Cup T-Shirts Available

Arsene Wenger is reportedly ready to make a move for unwanted Manchester City pair Nigel de Jong and Shaun Wright Phillips this summer.

As the Round of 16 continued this morning, we saw one encounter in which pragmatism won out over exuberance, and an earlier one in which pragmatism won out over less effective pragmatism.
Holland v. Slovakia
For the first hour this match was unremittingly tedious; even Arjen Robben's highly characteristic goal had an air of inevitability about it.

The Holland and Arsenal striker Robin Van Persie lost his cool when the Dutch coach Bert Van Marwijk substituted him 10 minutes from the end of yesterdays match against Slovakia. Holland were 2-1 when Van Persie was taken off, and the youngster immediately strode up to the manager and publicly remonstrated with him, but he admitted [.

Robin Van Persie showed his disgust at been substituted against Slovakia in their 2-1 win over Slovakia in the last-16 of the 2010 World Cup. TV stations showed Van Persie remonstrating with Dutch coach Bert Van Marwijk at been substituted before the petulant Arsenal striker went to the bench.

Netherlands vs Brazil
Quarter-finals, 2010 FIFA World Cup
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Friday, 2nd July 2010
15:00 (BST) / 16:00 (Local Time)

After respectively seeing off the threats of Slovakia and Chile in the second round, it will be Bert Van Marwijk's Netherlands and Dunga's Brazil that will contest the first of the World Cup quarter-final ties and what a tie it promises to be.

When I think of a peaceful country like Holland I think of happy things like: those little colorful wooden shoes called clogs, windmills, flowery pastures, bicycles with ringing bells, women in those traditional dresses with the silly white hat, delicous beers, thousands of different types of cheeses, and of course for some folks the decriminalization of ganja and prostitutes.

Out of the chaos of the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup has come some degree of consensus. If today's newspapers have one theme running through them, that theme is that Germany are currently the best football team in the world and that, to a point, it would be a travesty if they didn't win the competition.