Posts Tagged ‘Nigel De Jong’

Manchester United edged closed to another English Premier League title after beating Manchester City 2-0. First-half goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez took them four points from the league title. The soccer game between the two teams was far entertaining.Once again, Ronaldo produced another superb free-kick to put United in front. The distance of around 30 yards was small by the world player of the year’s recent standards. He duly strode up with confidence and fired into the corner, Given wrong-footed by the merest flick off Nigel de Jong.

Manchester City had plenty of possession, but did very little to threaten the home goal. First, it was Wayne Bridge who curled over a shot from the left flank but Nemanja Vidic headed clear, then Robinho fired wide after shrugging Rafael Da Silva off the ball.

Play quickly switched to the other end where a piece of impudence from Patrice Evra offered Tevez the chance to run into space and curl a shot towards the City goal which came crashing back off the angle of post and crossbar. Just before the break, Fletcher’s long ball was controlled by Berbatov. He square the ball to Tevez, whose precision shot bounced in off the post.

Manchester City needed a break and it should have arrived when Elano picked out Robinho with a deft right-wing cross. But Robinho blast his shot wide after he managed to control the ball. The striker again got ahead of Rafael and seemed destined to test Edwin van der Sar, only to inexplicably fire well wide.

On the hour mark, Ji-Sung Park and Ronaldo were substituted with Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney respectively. Ronaldo look unhappy and not impressed at the decision and was still shaking his head after he had taken his place in the dug-out. Sir Alex Ferguson might have the Champions League Final on his mind and do not want to his squad to be over strech.

Manchester United almost struck their 3rd-goal if not for Richard Dunne, who had made a last-ditch tackle to deny Scholes. Darren Fletcher rose to meet the corner, only for Tevez to strike the post with his header as he dived in and made contact less than half a yard out.

Outright Odds: 12/1
Group C Winners: 13/8

New coach Marco van Basten has proven to be a revelation off the pitch as much as he was on it since taking over the Dutch national team. Plucked from an obscure youth coaching role at Ajax where he kept his head down and had low responsibilities when Dick Advocaat quit after Euro 2004, van Basten has made this new-look Dutch team his own.

Out with the old and in with the new seems to be van Basten’s philosophy so while former well known favourites such as Clarence Seedorf and Patrick Kluivert have been given the chop, some of the best players the Dutch Eredivisie has to offer have come in to replace them.

Players such as AZ Alkmaar’s Denny Landzaat, Feyenoord’s Dirk Kuyt and Ajax’s Ryan Babel may not be household names yet but have all won the backing of the manager. Ajax have a strong representation in the squad, with John Heitinga, Nigel de Jong, Hedwiges Maduro and Wesley Sneijder, all under the age of 23, vying for a place in the starting line-up.

The faith shown in locally-based players along with more recognisable faces such as evergreen trio Edwin van der Sar, Edgar Davids and Philip Cocu and the likes of Arjen Robben and Ruud van Nistelrooy has paid off.

The team are showing true team spirit and togetherness, unlike the inconsistent squads of the past and in qualifying notched up 32 points, the highest of any European side. Holland finished five points clear at the top of their group that also included bogey side Czech Republic and Romania, both of whom they beat twice. Surprisingly, the only country they didn’t beat was Macedonia who they drew with twice.

Ruud van Nistelrooy was in scintillating form during qualifying with seven goals in 10 matches and now back in favour at Manchester United, could be a good investment for the top goalscorer market.

The Dutch are always one of the favourites for the tournament but never quite manage it. They have reached the final twice, the semi finals and quarter final stages but never have enough to win it outright.

The team entering this year have little World Cup experience and it would be a big ask of this team to go all the way in Germany.

BetBonus.co.uk Recommendation:
Holland offer better value to win Group C than Argentina but a lack of experience throughout the squad means they cannot be backed to win the tournament outright. Ruud van Nistelrooy could be a good each-way investment for the top goal scorer berth on his debut at the finals.

Holland to win Group C @ 13/8
E/W Ruud van Nistelrooy as top goalscorer @ 16/1