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This Netherlands team doesn't seem to respond well to being classed as a favourite. So part of it was that psychological trait, I feel.

Another is that there are shots, and shots. The official count is high, but the nature of their system at the moment is that quite a few of those shots were not that dangerous...

This is my theory on the 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-2-1 systems - they are good for winning the league where you can afford some draws, but in cup competitions they are reliant on luck and/or a single ruthless striker hitting top form because they often don't create a lot of good chances. The shot count can be high, but those shots are often from midfielders quite far from goal.

by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Sat Jun 9th, 2012 at 06:30:27 PM EST
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I'm not a great expert on formations, but IMHO on attack, a 4-2-3-1 can turn into a 2-4-1-3 (see France 2000, 2006), and a 4-3-2-1 can turn into 2-5-3 (see France 1998).

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.
by DoDo on Sun Jun 10th, 2012 at 08:54:39 AM EST
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Looks like the Dutch "thug" midfield of van Bommel and de Jong lacks creativity indeed.
by das monde on Sun Jun 10th, 2012 at 07:09:11 PM EST
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