The Netherlands (Euro 2008)

Good lord have the Oranje been impressive so far in the Euro.  After demolishing Italy 3-0 in their first match, they did the same to France today 4-1.  Before the tournament, it could have easily been argued that France and Italy had the two strongest defenses in the entire tournament (they combined to concede all of 5 goals in 14 matches in the last World Cup) and the Dutch score 7 freaking goals against them?  Incroyable.  

My favorite thing about the Dutch, other than 6 out of 7 of their goals thus far coming from open play and the majority of them following beautiful passing sequences (see Sneijder with goal #2 vs. Italy) is that they never stop attacking.  It's actually a bit insane but today with a 1-0 lead over France at halftime, the Dutch coach/legend, Marco van Basten, subs out a defensive midfielder and puts in Arjen Robben, an attacking force who can't play a lick of defense.  And since that wasn't enough, 10 minutes into the 2nd half, he takes out Dirk Kuyt who is decent enough going forward but also solid defensively on the wing, and puts in another out and out attacker in Arsenal man Robin van Persie (who is a brilliant player but I honestly can't remember him ever making a tackle).  I don't think I'm going out on a limb by saying that every other team in the tournament would be making defensive substitutions and trying to hold on to a 1-0 win that would insure advancement to the quarterfinals.  But the Dutch put in a couple of freaking forwards and invite the French to attack them ... and it worked.  Van Basten said that he needed players who could stretch the field since the French had gained control of the match towards the end of the 1st half, and his 2 subs combined on the Dutch's 2nd goal (Robben to van Persie with a little help from a ridiculous touch from van Nistelrooy) before Robben put the game away with the 3rd goal.  Marco van Basten, you sir are a genius.

Anyways, I was rooting for France today and will be pulling hard for them to beat Italy and qualify for the quarters but Holland have easily been the most impressive and entertaining team of the tournament thus far (though Spain might have something to say about this with their 2nd game coming tomorrow).  A potential semifinal against the Spanish (or a rematch against France or Italy) is mouth-watering and really any Holland game is must-see at this point (that is unless it is being played at the same time as a do or die rematch of the last World Cup final between two teams who legitimately hate each other ... see Tuesday June 16th around 2:30 in the afternoon, thank god I don't have a job).