Friendlys are ruining the worldcup

JOHON8 · 06-05-10, 12:44 PM

Bad news for Holland making it past Brazil when they make the quarters.

Dirty Sanchez · 06-05-10, 12:47 PM

Friendly's are glorified training sessions, and I blame the Netherlands for pushing an injury prone Robben into playing anyway. The bottomline is this close to the world cup you run him out there in the final 20 minutes to loosen up or you don't play him at all....especially in a 6-1 match!

JOHON8 · 06-05-10, 12:51 PM

Originally posted by Dirty Sanchez

Friendly's are glorified training sessions, and I blame the Netherlands for pushing an injury prone Robben into playing anyway. The bottomline is this close to the world cup you run him out there in the final 20 minutes to loosen up or you don't play him at all....especially in a 6-1 match!

you're right, if anything they should've fielded bench players to warm them up after the 1st half.

Dark Horse · 06-05-10, 01:15 PM

It was a freak injury. Nobody even touched him. Just as much chance of this happening in a training session. Sh*t happens.

Dirty Sanchez · 06-05-10, 01:21 PM

You're probably right...but Robben gets injured in his sleep...so they should of been more cautious with him

Sanka · 06-05-10, 01:44 PM

Biggest problem for the Netherlands won't be Robben's absence, but the lack of a decent defense.

Not saying he won't be missed though, even at 80 or 90% fitness he can give us just that small edge you might need in big matches, but I think Afellay will be a more than adequate replacement for Robben. He's going to surprise a lot of people this WC.

radishman · 06-05-10, 01:51 PM

and the next one:
John Obi Mikel is ruled out, another Chelsea player

lukahh · 06-05-10, 02:01 PM

probably better to happen now than on cup's 1st game.

brighter side: we will see other stars develop. still remember marco van basten for holland? he was a reserve, who was never meant for play.

Gandev · 06-05-10, 02:09 PM

It's not pleasent, but the injuries are part of the game.

pavyracer · 06-05-10, 02:25 PM

Better now than on first WC game when rosters can't be changed.

Sanka · 06-05-10, 02:46 PM

Originally posted by lukahh

probably better to happen now than on cup's 1st game.

brighter side: we will see other stars develop. still remember marco van basten for holland? he was a reserve, who was never meant for play.

van Basten already was a star player before the EC of 1988, he had won the golden boot in 1986 and was named European player of the year earlier that year.

True, he was the 3rd choice striker initially, behind Bosman and Kieft, but that was only because he had been sidelined for most of the season because of his ankle injury. I'm sure that any other player (except maybe Gullit) wouldn't have even been selected for that tournament after an injury like that.

Dark Horse · 06-05-10, 06:43 PM

I'm guessing the priestess with the pins and the voodoo dolls is from Brazil.

JOHON8 · 06-05-10, 06:57 PM

Originally posted by Dark Horse

I'm guessing the priestess with the pins and the voodoo dolls is from Brazil.

lol that's true... Drogba, Robben, Ferdinand...

Ivory Coast in Brazil's group. If Netherlands and Brazil both win their groups and get through round of 16, they meet in the quarter finals. If England and Brazil both win groups and get to semi finals, they meet each other.

Dirty Sanchez · 06-05-10, 07:07 PM

Yeah..no kidding...I think Brazil and Argentina if they play up to their potential should be pretty tough to beat. When Brazil leaves guys like Pato at home you know their loaded.

Phillth · 06-05-10, 11:13 PM

dont you worry. the world cup will still be awesome. i guarantee it.

umdterps · 06-05-10, 11:26 PM

This is why placing futures bets can be risky... I did not expect this many star players to go down.