Dutch fly on wings

Today saw the best reasons for the World Cup and the best examples of football as it should be played.

Today saw the best reasons for the World Cup and the best examples of football as it should be played. First, Argentina demolished hapless Serbia and Montenegro 6-0, their incisions so deep that it was a bit more than S&M could handle.

Perhaps the tournament’s best match so far, as a contest, followed. Holland and Ivory Coast put on a display of fast, attacking football that would do justice to Gottlieb Daimler, after whom this stadium is named and whose Mercedes Benz is based in Stuttgart.

The match was played at full pelt from the kick-off, Holland dominating with their dazzling wing play; the two princes, Robben and van Persie, were at daggers drawn a few days ago but today turned their quicksilver skills to a common cause. Ivory Coast turned on their short-passing skills, the trio of Drogba and the two Kones, Bakary and Arouna, linking up with almost Argentinian slickness.

Holland scored first, the goal coming after a typically mazy van Persie run that seemed to be going nowhere but the Arsenal player knew exactly where he was when brought down: just outside the box. His free-kick was exquisitely struck but perhaps Tizie in the goal could have got to it.

One goal up, Holland acted like they were following Argentina’s lead in setting a tennis score. The next goal came in five minutes, van Nistelrooy’s speed beating the offside trap and the disaffected Man United striker netting his first World Cup goal.

One thought at this point that Ivory Coast would collapse but they just kept playing their normal game. Drogba, leading from the front, tried an audacious overhead flick in the box, despite the close attentions of two Dutch defenders. Didier Zokora, minutes later, hit the bar with the keeper beaten from 40 yards out.

When the goal came it was worth the wait. Bakary Kone, who surely must be on the wishlist of many top clubs now, ended a blistering run from midfield with a shot from 30 yards out that gave van der Sar no chance.

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The Africans didn’t rest on that; moments later it was Drogba again, leaving the Dutch defence leaden-footed and only his final delivery wide of the mark.

The second half produced no goals but plenty of drama, at the same frantic pace. Drogba opened proceedings with an overhead pass to Arouna Kone, who was offside. On the hour, a four-man, multi-pass move saw the same Kone miss a clear chance.

The underdogs stepped up the pressure but Holland were up to it. If the contest down on the park was gripping, the one in stands was mismatched; the Dutch fans outnumbered their rivals by 5 to 1 and if there was no history of rivalry between these two teams before, there probably is one now.

TOP SCORERS
2 Goals
Carlos Tenorio (Ecuador)
Tim Cahill (Australia)
David Villa (Spain)
Tomas Rosicky (Czech Republic)
Omar Bravo(Mexico)
Paulo Wanchope (Costa Rica)
Miroslav Klose (Germany)
Maxi Rodriguez (Argentina)
Agustin Delgado (Ecuador)
Hernan Crespo (Argentina)
(Updated till the Arg-SCG tie)