Dutch make no apology for rough tactics
Reuters - Sunday 11 July 2010, 23:44
JOHANNESBURG - Dutch coach Bert van
Marwijk made no apologies after his team used rough-arm tactics
in an attempt to knock Spain out of their stride in a scrappy,
niggly World Cup final on Sunday.
The Dutch will have to shoulder the blame after one of the
roughest World Cup finals on record, won 1-0 by Spain, produced
47 fouls, 13 yellow cards and one red on Sunday.
Led by their bruising midfield enforcer Mark van Bommel, the
Dutch used physical intimidation to try and knock the Spanish
off their elegant passing game.
Van Bommel, who committed five of the Dutch's 28 fouls, was
lucky not to get a first half red card for slicing through
Andres Iniesta's left leg.
Nigel de Jong could also have followed with a chest-high
tackle on Xabi Alonso in a Dutch display which at times bordered
on brutal.
It worked up to a point as the Spanish were knocked out of
their stride for the first hour.
However, Spain coach Vicente del Bosque, while refusing to
directly criticise the Dutch tactics, said the effort required
might have taken its toll on his team's opponents.
"I congratulate our opponents who gave us a very hard time
and never let us get comfortable," said Del Bosque.
"It's very difficult to play for 90 minutes at the rhythm
they imposed, they had a great physical effort and we dominated
extra time."
Van Marwijk said: "It's still our intention to play
beautiful football but we were facing very good opponents," he
said.
"We committed fouls but so did both teams and that may be
regrettable for a final. It's not our style but then again you
play a match to win because it's a final, there's a lot of
emotion, you saw that at the end of the match.
"I would love to have won the match even with not so
beautiful football."
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