Dutch favor substance over style

Soccer Betting Lines

07/02/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - This was not a Dutch team that the legendary Johan Cruyff would recognize, but it is a team that has a real chance to advance to the World Cup final for the first time since 1978.

The Dutch have moved into the semifinals, courtesy of their 2-1 victory over Brazil in the quarterfinals on Friday.

It was Cruyff, along with teammates like Johan Neeskens and Johnny Rep, who brought a true sense of grace and style to Dutch football in the 1970s as practitioners of the famed "Total Football."

The concept was introduced by Rinus Michels, who first put it into place with Ajax and later with the Dutch national team.

Total Football is a tactical theory in which any outfield player, besides the goalkeeper, can play the role of any other player on the team.

It essentially produces well-rounded players and a free-flowing style that is easy on the eyes, but it has never produced a World Cup title.

The concept was used by the Dutch team in the 1974 World Cup with great success, and although it coasted to the final with impressive wins over both Argentina and Brazil, it lost to an inferior West German side, 2-1.

The Germans have developed a reputation over the years for being incredibly strong mentally, which has a way of leading them to victory even when they are not the more talented team.

Likewise, the Dutch are always fun to watch, but they have a way of coming up short in the biggest games and appear more interested in entertaining than actually winning.

Euro 2008 was a perfect example as the Oranje easily won their group with crushing wins over Italy, France and Romania, and they were clearly the most impressive team in the tournament.

But as they have so many other times, the Dutch fell flat in their first knockout-round match, losing to Russia in extra time.

However, this World Cup has seen a shift in approach for manager Bert van Marwijk's team.

The Netherlands failed to excite or entertain in each of its first three group matches, while a 2-1 win in the round of 16 against Slovakia also didn't get the pulse racing.

But all four of those games ended in Dutch victories, as did Friday's rally past favored Brazil in the quarterfinals.

The South Americans were playing their European counterparts off the field in the first half, but a few key saves from goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg allowed the Dutch to stay in the match, and they turned the situation around in the second half with the help of an own goal.

After that, the Brazilians came apart and the Dutch found another goal midway through the half to claim the win, thanks in large part to their mental strength.

It is hard to believe that a Dutch team would be capable of winning a match like that, but according to Van Marwijk, a change in approach is necessary in today's game.

"I know the Brazilian team played beautiful football ... so did the Dutch, but there is no more space for 'total' or 'samba' football these days," Van Marwijk said in a news conference prior to the Brazil match.

"The sport has changed and everything goes faster. Players are fitter and teams better organized so you can't display that sort of football any longer at a World Cup."

While the game has changed and teams have been forced to adjust accordingly, it didn't keep Cruyff from taking a jab at the Brazilian side, which has been criticized heavily in its home country for playing with a lack of flair.

"Where has the Brazil team we all know disappeared to in this World Cup?" Cruyff told the Daily Mirror of London. "I look at this team and I remember people like Gerson, Tostao, Falcao, Zico or Socrates. Now I only see Gilberto, Melo, Bastos, Julio Baptista.

"Where is the Brazilian magic? I could understand why Dunga has picked some players, but where is the playmaker or skill in midfield? I don't think any spectator would pay to watch them. I would never pay for a ticket."

It is fair to wonder whether Cruyff would pay to watch his countrymen, not that he has to worry about that, because their style is even less appealing than that of Brazil.

The only thing graceful or elegant in the first half of Friday's win was Dutch winger Arjen Robben artfully flinging himself through the air after an opposing player breathed on him heavily.

In truth, there were too many giveaways in midfield, not enough quality build- ups and way too many theatrics to please fans who are used to seeing the orange-clad Dutch put on a show.

But they are now just two wins away from delivering something that Cruyff and company never did - a World Cup.

If you ask me, that sounds pretty beautiful.

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NCAA Football Betting

Many fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.)

"To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good."

Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins

There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida.

Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins

Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October.

USC Trojans - 10.5 wins

A similarly light schedule awaits the Trojans of Southern California, which is why the oddsmakers' total is one win more and the over is currently commanding -150 odds. Pete Carroll's troops only play three ranked teams in 2008, and all of those games are at home. After what should be an easy trip to Virginia to start things off on Aug. 30, the Trojans get two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Los Angeles. Their two other ranked opponents, No. 21 Oregon and No. 15 Arizona State, visit in consecutive weeks to start the month of October. After that, the competition eases up. Of course, this is the same highly-touted school that lost to Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2006. And don't discount the fact that USC plays its biggest rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, back-to-back to close out the regular season. On paper, the Trojans are far superior, but motivation will be high for the Irish and Bruins, especially if their historic foes are in national-title contention.

Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy

Tim Tebow, Florida - 7/2
He won it last year, so it's no surprise he's the favorite to do it again, making him just the second player to go back-to-back. Ohio State's Archie Griffin turned the trick in 1974 and 1975, and Tebow's coach, Urban Meyer, is pretty sure his star quarterback can match the Buckeyes legend.

"There has never been anyone quite like him," Meyer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I am very lucky to be his coach."

Chris Wells, Ohio State - 5/1

The man they call "Beanie" was a star recruit out of high school, so it's not like nobody knew who the star tailback was before he rushed for 576 yards as a freshman in 2006 and 1,609 as a sophomore. But perhaps his finest moment came last year versus Michigan when he rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 14-3 victory over the hated Wolverines.

Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - 8/1

If the Bulldogs are to live up to expectations, they'll need a huge effort from their sophomore running back. This might be the last year of college ball for Moreno, who rushed for 1,334 yards and for 14 touchdowns as a freshman, while adding 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions, so expect big things for the man from Belford, N.J.

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Huskers' Lucky hospitalized for undisclosed reason

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska running back Marlon Lucky was hospitalized Monday for undisclosed reasons after Lincoln police responded to a call at his residence.

The Nebraska athletic department said in a release Monday that Lucky was admitted Sunday night.

MySportsbook.com has the Cornhuskers listed at +2500 to win the BCS National Championship odds.

A nursing supervisor at the hospital said all questions about Lucky were being referred to the athletic department. The athletic department said there would be no further comment from the department or Lucky's family.

A Lincoln Police spokesman said officers responded to a call at Lucky's residence 11:30 p.m. Sunday. The spokesman said he didn't know Lucky's condition at the time he was taken to the hospital.

Lucky, from North Hollywood, Calif., started six games last season as a sophomore and was the team's second-leading rusher, with 728 yards and six touchdowns. He also caught 32 passes for 383 yards. He averaged 19.1 yards on eight kickoff returns.

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