RIP

[Davydoff]

Een vriend (tevens Liverpool-supporter en Dirk Kuijt fan) stuurde mij een goede analyse;

Pundits and columnists have taken the view that after Spain looked so good in the first ten minutes of the game that the dutch changed their game plan to be more physical as it was the only option to combat the superior Spanish team …but that it was a pretty cynical tactic (they were saying things like ‘The Spanish win was a victory for football’) – bear in mind most people in the UK were fans of the Dutch before the final, so everyone’s relief at Spain winning is purely down to the way the Dutch played (and reacted after the Spain goal).

On the whole personally I think Spain deserved the win, Xavi and Iniesta are unbelievably good (Iniesta in my view has been best player at the finals). Ultimately more of the Spanish players performed at their best on the night, for you guys only Robben really shone, and he missed a couple of chances that could have changed the match. I was disappointed Dirk didn’t play better, but the Spanish are so quick to close people down and Dirk’s first touch just isn’t good enough. Van Persie really needed to wake up and get into the game, Sneider didn’t get any time on the ball and the physicality of the Dutch wasn’t enough to counter the Spaniards technical skill. That said, Spain are a bit annoying to watch and I hate their players attitudes to getting the opposition carded.

It seemed to me like your players had a look at the Spanish and decided they couldn’t compete at football, so they just kicked them. Pretty much like most football in the UK