Group B: Portugal vs Netherlands discussion

Manchester United first team coach Rene Meulensteen has been discussing Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Dutch coach worked with Portugal’s skipper in their days together at Old Trafford.

He told the Sunday Mirror: “I’m often asked whether Cristiano can still ­improve as a player.

“My answer is that he can, if he keeps developing as a ­person off the pitch.

“Cristiano is an exceptional player. But most times it is the ‘me-me-me show’.

“He is always looking for ­satisfaction in ­individual ­moments. He wants the team to shine on him. But it should be the other way. He should be ­shining on the team.

“In 2008 Cristiano had a ­period that he was only busy to please himself.

“In the weeks leading up to the Champions League final against ­Chelsea in ­Moscow I ­decided to go and confront him and work on him.

“I told him that he could make the ­difference in the final for United if he was prepared to make himself less important than the team.

“And he did!

“Cristiano is an intelligent boy who can ­accept criticism. But that selfish part of his character is difficult to cut out."

Epic match will be epic!

Hup Holland hup! :X

i can already see Ronaldo choking from here, there will be no happy ending for him.

Hunterlaar starts.

VDV in for Van Bommel too

NETHERLANDS: Stekelenburg, Van der Wiel, Mathijsen, Vlaar, Willems, De Jong, Sneijder, Robben, Van der Vaart, Huntelaar, Van Persie... Subs: Vorm, Krul, Heitinga, Bouma, Boulahrouz, Van Bommel, Schaars, Strootman, Kuyt, L de Jong, Narsingh, Afellay.

PORTUGAL: Rui Patrício, Alves, Pepe, Coentrão, Pereira, Veloso, Moutinho, Meireles, Nani, Ronaldo, Postiga... Subs: Eduardo, Beto, Costa, Rolando, Lopes, Custódio, Quaresma, Micael, Viana, Almeida, Oliveira, Varela.

No van Bommel

Depending on the lineup it might work out well enough though, I think Holland can win this thing. Though to be fair, Portugal has probably been the strongest team bar Germany in the group so far, so it will be tough.

Portugal have no no9 and no no10, Holland have no defenders. Interesting matchup.

Today is Ronaldo Jnr, second birthday , hope his dad scores a goal or three and dedicate it to him.

Netherlands lineup

This is going to be a great game.

Thank You Viva. Please beat Denmark. I am not at all optimistic about a 2 Goal Win as I Portugal will probably score 1 goal atleast which will mean goals which would 3 goals are needed. That would be hard,they will park the bus,bitch,play act,create fouls.

But most of all Bert has lost the respect of the team.

VDV has no business playing. I hope he is subbed off soon. I would choose Strootman over him anyday.

Portugal to go really defensive and play for the draw hoping hoping Denmark lose.

They should go for it. Nani will rip Willems a new one. Ronaldo needs to test VDW.

I don't know where Van der Vaart is going to play, he performs poorly in every position except as a second striker or an attacking midfielder, but the team
has Van Persie and Sneijder for those roles.

I can see the Netherlands losing the midfield battle, unless they plan playing a 4-4-2 with Robben and VDV on the wings, De Jong and Sneijder in the middle of the 4.

Willems impressed me TBH.

So if Holland and Germany wins their games they both go through?

wiliems has been terrible defensively imo

Netherlands need a goal difference of 2 or more

Credit BBC:

Germany - will qualify with a win or a draw. They will also go through with a 3-2 defeat, or a higher-scoring one-goal loss. They're out if Portugal beat the Netherlands, but through if the Portuguese do not claim three points.

Denmark - a win sees them qualify. A draw will only be enough if Netherlands beat Portugal. Lose, and they're out.

Netherlands - only a win will do, and even that might not be enough. They have to win by more than one goal and hope Germany beat Denmark.

Portugal (ie. the complicated one) - a win secures qualification unless Denmark beat Germany 3-2, or by a higher-scoring one-goal margin. They'll go through with a draw if Denmark do not beat Germany. A one-goal defeat would still see them through if Germany beat Denmark, but if it is by any more they are out.

ESPN adopting a Game of Thrones ish way of beginning their pre-game show

BRING IT ON, SNEIJDER IS READY~!!!!

Douchebags whistling the Portugese anthem

van der vaart

what a finish.....outside of the box

dutch's defense looks too shaky :I