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| February 18th 2005 |
Madrid, Estadio Santiago Bernabeu
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| NETHERLANDS - URUGUAY |
1-1 (0-1)
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GOALS 14' 0-1 Enzo Luis Francescoli (penalty)
49' 1-1 Ruud Gullit
REFEREE George Reader (England)
ATTENDANCE 90,000
YELLOW CARDS Neeskens, Rijkaard, Cruijff (NED)
Santamaria, Nasazzi (URU)
NETHERLANDS (Coach: Rinus Michels, system 4-3-3)
1 Jan van Beveren
2 Wim Suurbier
3 Frank Rijkaard
6 Rinus Israël
5 Ruud Krol
7 Johan Neeskens
11 Willy van der Kuylen (-72)
10 Wim van Hanegem (-83)
8 Ruud Gullit
9 Marco van Basten (-64)
14 Johan Cruijff (captain)
Substitutes:
13 Beb Bakhuys (+64)
21 Jan Wouters (+72)
15 Abe Lenstra (+83)
URUGUAY (Coach: Juan Lopez, system 4-4-2)
1 Ladislao Mazurkiewicz
4 José Nasazzi (captain)
2 Roberto Matosas
5 José Emilio Santamaria
3 Juan Martin Mujica
8 José Leandro Andrade
6 Obdulio Jacinto Varela
10 Enzo Luis Francescoli
7 Juan Alberto Schiaffino (-66)
17 Hector Pedro Scarone (-74)
9 Pedro Petrone (-59)
Substitutes:
13 José Piendibene (+59)
11 Pedro José Cea (+66)
16 Alcides Edgardo Ghiggia (+74)
MATCHREPORT
Uruguay and Holland only met once in their World Cup history, an unforgotten
match in Hannover, Germany in 1974 when Holland demolished Uruguay but kept
the score decent. The game today however was a totally different story. The
top match in group C was one between two very well-equipped teams, both
equally strong in defence and attack. There was little between the two and
it provided a match that was vastly entertaining during the first 50
minutes. Holland had to chase after an early Uruguay lead, but once they had
evened the score, both teams seemed to be rather happy with a draw and the
game faded away.
Uruguay coach Lopez didn't change his line-up from the first game. His team
hadn't performed great against Poland but still had won and the coach
thought that this team was simply the best he could field. On the other end,
Rinus Michels decided that Faas Wilkes and Beb Bakhuys could use some rest.
In their place he fielded Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten, hoping that this
pair could perform like they did during Euro 1988. Van Basten had come off
the bench there too, and scored three against England in his first match to
end up as topscorer of the tournament. Michels expected something like that
from Van Basten this time.
Before the match there was a lot of speculation about how it would be. Most
pundits thought it would become a quiet match, neither of the teams needed
to take a lot of risks having won the first match and a draw, maybe even a
0-0, looked to be the most logical outcome. But to surprise of many it was
Uruguay who started the game best with a few fine attacks on Van Beveren's
goal. Van Beveren, who had been left workless in the match against Korea,
now had to come to action. Within the first 10 minutes he had to make fine
saves on shots from Andrade and Scarone. The flexible goalie with the
magnificent reflexes turned away both efforts. Holland seemed overwhelmed,
looked bewildered; in midfield Andrade and Varela dominated and Rijkaard and
Krol had difficulties keeping Petrone and Scarone at bay.
It paid off already after 14 minutes when Scarone took off for a dribble and
outplayed Krol. The leftback tackled from behind, seemed to play the ball
but also floored Scarone. Penalty, George Reader decided. Francescoli, who
took it instead of Scarone, sent Van Beveren the wrong way: 0-1. A huge
setback for Holland, behind for the first time in this All Time World Cup.
They had to look forward more than ever. Cruijff dropped to midfield to
strengthen the line and to keep away from strong Nasazzi, but the Uruguayan
gave the Dutch captain little space to play. Still the Orange maestro
succeeded in setting a teammate free a few times. Neeskens came through but
stranded on Mazurkiewicz and the goalkeeper had his answer ready when Van
der Kuylen released a thunderous shot. A bycicle kick from Van Basten went
wide. Mazurkiewicz had it covered.
It was the only time Van Basten was left unmarked by Roberto Matosas, his
shadow. Everytime Holland tried to reach Van Basten, the stopper had a foot
in the way. Or against Van Basten's leg, when needed. Reader didn't take any
action against Matosas. But he cautioned Nasazzi for tackling Cruijff and
Santamaria for kicking the ball in the stands after the referee's whistle.
In the Dutch team Israël and Neeskens were the best and they caused the most
danger for Uruguay. Neeskens headed Gullit's cross just wide and sweeper
Israël was involved in dangerous situations twice. First he sent a header in
Mazurkiewicz' safe hands, then his shot was blocked by Santamaria. This was
what was expected: Holland attacking and Uruguay packed together in defence
and waiting quietly for a quick counterattack. Rijkaard had to pull
Scarone's shirt when the magician threatened to break through. It was
Holland's second yellow card. Neeskens had received the first, Cruijff in
the second half got one for protesting after Reader had denied Holland what
seemed to be a penalty kick, too. Santamaria had blocked Van Hanegem's cross
with his arm.
The second half started with the same 22 actors. And after 4 minutes, it was
all even. Cruijff for once left Nasazzi behind and sent a low cross into the
box. Mujica misskicked it, Gullit found the net: 1-1. The equalizer took
away the attractiveness of the game. Holland still wanted to win, a second
nature, but much more careful than before. Uruguay, with the game against
South Korea in hand, surely were satisfied with a draw. Coach Lopez
substituted Petrone, who had started strongly but in the end had to
acknowledge Rijkaard's superiority, with Piendibene and disappointing
Schiaffino with Cea. Rinus Michels brought more defensive power with Jan
Wouters instead of Van der Kuylen. Bakhuys had come in before in place of
unlucky Van Basten who still had to prove himself in a World Cup.
Both teams went close to winning it during the last minutes. Bakhuys was
released by Gullit but found Mazurkiewicz, the best man on the pitch, on his
way. However, the best chance was for Ghiggia, the replacement for Scarone.
Suddenly all alone for Van Beveren, he couldn´t round the keeper who blocked
it. The rebound was kicked from the line by Israël. Thus the match got the
result both teams wanted: 1-1, a draw. Holland had proved what they were
capable of from time to time, but should be able to perform well for longer
than 30 minutes. Uruguay had been a sound opponent, difficult to move out of
position, technically fine and allowing little opportunities. But both goals
from Uruguay had come from penalty kicks so far, and that told a lot. But
any which way, after this match both teams were still well on their way to
the second round.
Who's next? United States against the Soviet Union play their second match
Tuesday in Stockholm under guidance of referee Sandor Puhl. The United
States must win, but are not expected to do so. They had no chance against
Spain and are considered to be just cannonfodder. Coach Arena may change his
line-up but has no worldbeaters with him. The Soviet Union started well, as
far as the result is concerned. Mexico were beaten 2-0, though Lobanovski's
men didn't play at their best. Can Eduard Strelzov repeat his 2-goal trick?
Will it be a one way game or can the mentally still strong Americans upset
their counterparts from the past?
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