So, yet again Netherlands lost it near to the cup. This time it was Semi-final.. It wasn't the most magnificent team.. Infact, it was a pale shadow of 2010 team which convincingly beat Brazil , Uruguay and many others before losing to Spain.. Yes Robben is a diver.. Yes RVP was largely absent minded.. But there is something special about the Dutch team that makes me sit glued to the TV every time they take the field.. And they have rarely disappointed me after I started following them from 1994 WC.
Maybe, its the ability put up a strong fight, maybe its pace of their players starting from Overmars to Robben.. Maybe the forwards like BergKamp to RVP, or maybe it is the rock solid defensive players like Jap Stam to the unlucky Ron Vlaar.. Or maybe it is the ability to lineup young talents one after other from Ajax & Feynoord football schools... Or may be, even the legacy of Cruyff , Van Basten & Gullit..
Yet again, they will be a good force at Euro '16 at France or WC' 18 @ Russia.. There won't be much more of Robben / RVP.. There will be the new lineup of prodigies like Clasie & Strootman ..
To me, the special factor about this Dutch team was their coach Louis Van Gal with his spot - on substitutions.. Have to say that Manchester United is in safe hands :) ..And as he does, I don't really care about who wins in the third place play-off.. But will watch it !
