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Van Gaal reveals Netherlands players refused to take penalties

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Netherlands head coach Louis van Gaal. zimbio.com.

SAO PAULO (SportingAlert) — Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal has revealed that two players refused to take the opening penalty kicks in their World Cup semi-final penalty shoot-out defeat to Argentina on Wednesday.

With captain Robin van Persie, who normally takes the opening spot-kick not on the field after being substituted, the slot opened up for others to step up, but Vn Gaal said two individuals refused, as Argentina went on to win the shootout 4-2.

After a very good game in opening minutes, Aston Villa defender Ron Vlaar walked up to kick the opening penalty, but saw his effort well saved by Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero.

Holland defeated Costa Rica on penalties in their quarter-finals.

“It should give you confidence. We took those penalties in an incredible way against Costa Rica,” Van Gaal said.

“But the issue is you score the first one and I asked two players to take the first ball before ending up with Vlaar.

“I thought he was the best player on the pitch so should have a lot of confidence.

“It just goes to show it’s not easy scoring in a penalty shoot-out.

“It’s the most terrible scenario, to lose on penalties: at the very least we were equal with them, if not the better team.

“It’s a big disappointment,” admitted van Gaal, who knows all about goalkeeper Romero.

Argentina now face Germany in Sunday’s World Cup final, while the Netherlands will take on Brazil in the third place game on Saturday.

Watch Australia v Holland Live on ESPN3/ESPN

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (SportingAlert.com) — Following their convincing 5-1 thrashing of Spain in the opening game, Group B favourites Netherlands will face Australia in the second game of the group stages here at Estadio Beira-Rio.

Watch Australia v Holland Live on ESPN3.com/ESPN/WatchESPN | Click Here For Live World Cup TV Channels

Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben, who both scored twice in the victory over the defending champions, lead that attack again for Holland, as they seek to book an early second round place.

The versatile Daley Blind, who has been linked with several clubs for their left-back position, moves up to play in midfield today, while Jonathan de Guzman, Nigel de Jong and Wesley Sneijder also start this contest.

Veteran Dirk Kuyt, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Georginio Wijnaldum and Jeremain Lens are amongst the substitutes today for the Dutch team.

For Australia, they will be hoping to rebound from the opening group fixture defeat to Chile and give themselves a chance of making the knock-off round.

Tim Cahill, who scored in the 3-1 defeat in the opener, Tommy Oar, Mathew Leckie and Jason Davidson are amongst the starters today.

Australia v Holland

Holland: Cillessen, Martins Indi, Vlaar, De Vrij, Janmaat, De Jong, Blind, de Guzman, Sneijder, van Persie, Robben. Subs: Vorm, Verhaegh, Veltman, Kongolo, Kuyt, Clasie, Lens, Fer, Huntelaar, Wijnaldum, Depay, Krul.

Australia: Ryan, McGowan, Wilkinson, Spiranovic, Davidson, Leckie, Jedinak, McKay, Oar, Bresciano, Cahill. Subs: Langerak, Wright, Taggart, Halloran, Bozanic, Troisi, Holland, Vidosic, Luongo, Galekovic.

Referee: Djamel Haimoudi (Algeria)

Louis van Gaal appointed Manchester United manager; Giggs named assistant

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Louis van Gaal is new Manchester United manager. PHOTO Zimbio.com

MANCHESTER (Sporting Alert) — Manchester United have finally confirmed that Louis van Gaal will take over as manager of the club, while Ryan Giggs will will be the assistant manager, the club confirmed on Monday.

“It was always a wish for me to work in the Premier League,” the new manager, who has had success with the likes of Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, said. “To work as a manager for Manchester United, the biggest club in the world, makes me very proud.

“I have managed in games at Old Trafford before and know what an incredible arena Old Trafford is and how passionate and knowledgeable the fans are.

“This club has big ambitions; I too have big ambitions. Together I’m sure we will make history.”

Van Gaal, who was constantly linked with the club since the start of the month, replaces David Moyes, who was sacked with four day games left in the season.

Manchester United confirmed that the current Dutch national team head boss signed a three-year contract and will take up his post after the Fifa World Cup in Brazil this summer.

“Louis van Gaal will take over as manager of Manchester United from the 2014/15 season. He has signed a three-year contract,” the club said in a statement on www.manutd.com.

“Louis, 62, has managed at the top level of European football for over 20 years and in that time has won domestic titles and domestic cups in three countries, as well as the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Cup, an Intercontinental Cup, two UEFA Super Cups and domestic Super Cups in Holland and Germany.

“He will take up his post after the FIFA World Cup, where he will manage the Dutch national team.”

The statement added: “Ryan Giggs, English football’s most decorated footballer and the United player with most appearances in the club’s history, has been appointed as assistant manager. Ryan took charge of the first team for the last four matches of the 2013/14 season.”

Manchester United said Frans Hoek and Marcel Bout will join Van Gaal as assistant coaches.

Hoek is the current Netherlands’ goalkeeping coach and has worked with the like of former Man United keeper Edwin van der Sar and out going Barcelona skipper Victor Valdes. His appointment as new coach means that Chris Wood, who came in with David Moyes will now leave the club.

Bout joins as assistant coach, and has previously worked for Bayern Munich, Telstar, AZ, FC Volendam and Feyenoord.

Career at a glance

Played With: Royal Antwerp, Telstar, Sparta Rotterdam, AZ Alkmaar

Manager For: 1991-97 Ajax; 1997-2000 Barcelona; 2000-02 Netherlands; 2002-03 Barcelona; 2005-09 AZ Alkmaar; 2009-10 Bayern Munich; 2012–14 Netherlands

Honours: Ajax: UEFA Cup 1991/92, KNVB Cup 1992/93, Eredivisie 1993/94, 1994/95, 1995/96, UEFA Champions League 1994/95, UEFA Super Cup 1995, Intercontinental Cup 1995

Honours: Barcelona: La Liga 1997/98, 1998/99, Copa del Rey 1997/98, UEFA Super Cup 1997

Honours: AZ: Eredivisie 2008/09; Bayern Munich: Bundesliga 2009/10, DFB-Pokal 2009/10

ESPN3/WatchESPN/MUTV: Netherlands v Ecuador Live Friendly Stream

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AMSTERDAM (Sporting Alert) — Manchester United forward Robin van Persie starts for the Netherlands in today’s World Cup 2014 warmup game against Ecuador at Amsterdam ArenA in Holland.

Netherlands v Ecuador Live Friendly Stream on ESPN3/WatchESPN

Van Persie, who declared himself fully fit, following a knee injury that sidelined him during the middle part of the season, will come against his fellow Man United club-mate Antonio Valencia, who starts for Ecuador.

Manchester United, on the club’s official station, MUTV, will broadcast the game live for fans to follow online on their computers, phones or tablets. Live streaming in the United States will be on ESPN3.com, as well as WatchESPN App

Both teams are using the game as part of their preparation for next month’s World Cup 2014 in Brazil and live streaming will be on MUTV for those in the UK and Ireland.

It is also believed that United are streaming the game to soon to be named manager Louis van Gaal.

The Orange have been drawn in World Cup Group B alongside defending champions Spain, Chile and Australia, while Ecuador will play in Group E with Switzerland, Honduras and France.

Netherlands: Cillessen, Veltman, Martins Indi, Kongolo, De Vrij, Janmaat, Blind, Clasie, Wijnaldum, Depay, Van Persie.
Subs: Zoet, Vlaar, Van Aanholt, De Guzman, Verhaegh, Fer, Huntelaar, Kuyt

Ecuador: Banguera, Guagua, Erazo, Carlos Parades, Bagui, Valencia, Noboa, Montero, Castillo, Rojas, Caicedo.
Subs: Cevallos, Ibarra, Martinez, Wila, Ramirez, Quinonez, Ayovi, Saritama, Achilier, Gruezo, Bone, Dominguez

Japan 2, Netherlands 2 – Video of Keisuke Honda team goal

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(Sporting Alert) — Japan game from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in Saturday’s friendly football international game at Cristal Arena in Genk, Belgium.

Watch Japan’s Keisuke Honda Goal Against Netherlands

Star forwards Rafael van der Vaart and Arjen Robben gave the Netherlands a 2-0 lead after 38 minutes in the first half, but goals from Yuya Osako and Keisuke Honda secured the friend tie for the two FIFA World Cup bound sides.

Van der Vaart took advantage of some sloppy defending from Japan to give Holland the lead in the 12th minute, before Bayern Munich attacker Robben scored a wonder strike in the 38th.

Osako pulled a goal back for Japan shortly before the half-time break with a clever strike, before Honda finished off a wonderful session of passes to score his side’s second and make it 2-2.

With the draw, Holland, playing without leading scorer Robin van Persie, who withdrew from the team with groin and foot problems, increased their unbeaten run to 16 games.

Netherlands will next face Columbia, while Japan will stick around to take on Belgium.

Andorra v Holland Live Stream on ESPN3 and Team News

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(Sporting Alert) — A confident Netherlands side start tonight’s World Cup qualifier against Andorra ready to return to winning ways, following a disappointing draw in their last outing.

Follow Live Score Updates | Live Audio Commentary Streams | Watch Live on ESPN3.com

Manchester United forward Robin van Persie leads the attack for Holland with Jeremain Lens, while Kevin Strootman, Wesley Sneijder and Ruben Schaken also starting as well.

Michel Vorm starts in goal again with Jeffrey Bruma, Jonathan de Guzman and Ricky van Wolfswinkel on the bench for the game at Estadi Comunal de Aixovall.

Andorra v Holland

Andorra team: Pol, San Nicolas, Lima, Garcia Miramontes, Martinez Alejo, Vales, Pujol Pons, Vieira de Vasconcelos, Riera, Lorenzo Roncero, Garcia Renom
Subs: Josep Anton Gomez, Sonejee, Maneiro Ton, Moreira, Ayala Diaz, Sebastian Gomez, Moreno

Holland team: Vorm, Janmaat, De Vrij, Vlaar, Willems, Schaars, Strootman, Sneijder, Schaken, van Persie, Lens
Subs: Vermeer, Verhaegh, Bruma, de Guzman, van Wolfswinkel, Maher, Kuyt, Zoet

Referee: Ante Vucemilovic (Croatia)

Van Persie starts: Holland v Estonia Team News, Live Stream, Score Updates

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AMSTERDAM (Sporting Alert) — Manchester United forward Robin van Persie, despite his long scoring drought recently, starts for Holland in their World Cup 2014 encounter with Estonia at Amsterdam Arena.

Watch Live on: ESPN3.com | Live Scores Online On Our Football Page

Van Persie has gone some seven games without scoring the Barclays Premier League leaders, but has gotten the nod to start at center-forward with Jeremain Lens and Arjen Robben playing on either side of him.

There are also starts for Jonathan de Guzman, Kevin Strootman and the dangerous Wesley Sneijder, with Kenneth Vermeer getting the start in goal ahead of Maarten Stekelenburg and Michel Vorm, who are both on the bench.

Former Tottenham attacking midfielder Rafael van der Vaart is also on the bench, along with former Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt.

Holland v Estonia

Holland: Vermeer, Janmaat, De Vrij, Martins Indi, Blind, de Guzman, Strootman, Sneijder, van Persie, Lens, Robben
Subs: Stekelenburg, Van Rhijn, Vlaar, Mathijsen, Kuyt, Clasie, Schaken, Vilhena, De Jong, Van der Vaart, John, Vorm

Estonia: Pareiko, Kruglov, Jaager, Morozov, Klavan, Teniste, Puri, Vassiljev, Vunk, Ojamaa, Oper
Subs: Londak, Sisov, Piiroja, Kink, Zenjov, Mosnikov, Purje, Lindpere, Ahjupera

Referee: Vitaliy Meshkov (Russia)

ESPN3: Holland v Italy Starting Teams and Live

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(Sporting Alert) — Manchester United forward Robin van Persie starts tonight for the Netherlands against Italy in a football international friendly.

Watch ESPN3: Holland v Italy Live

Van Persie has been in great form for the Premier League leaders since his move from Arsenal in the summer and will want to add to his tally on international duties with Holland.

Dirk Kuyt and Arjen Robben both start on the bench, with Jeremain Lens and Ola John playing alongside van Persie in the attack.

Meanwhile, AC Milan new signing Mario Balotelli plays with fellow club-mate Stephan El Shaarawy in the attack for Italy with Juventus experienced playmaker Andrea Pirlo also starting.

Antonio Candreva gets the nod to play with Balotelli and El Shaarawy, while Daniele De Rossi and Riccardo Montolivo are in midfield.

Holland v Italy Starting Teams

Holland: Krul, Janmaat, De Vrij, Martins Indi, Blind, Clasie, Strootman, Maher, Lens, van Persie, John
Subs: Vermeer, Van Rhijn, Vlaar, Mathijsen, Kuyt, de Guzman, van Ginkel , Robben

Italy: Buffon, Abate, Astori, Barzagli, Santon, De Rossi, Pirlo, Montolivo, Candreva, Balotelli, El Shaarawy
Subs: De Sanctis, Verratti, Peluso, Florenzi, Gastaldello, Ranocchia, Gilardino, Osvaldo, Diamanti, Nocerino, Giaccherini, Sirigu, Marchetti

Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey)

Van Persie Starts: Romania v Holland Teams

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(Sporting Alert) — Manchester United forward Robin van Persie is back in the starting line-up for Holland for tonight’s World Cup 2014 qualifier at Romania.

Van Persie replaces striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who is on the bench, despite scoring in the last World Cup qualifying game last week.

Nigel de Jong, Kevin Strootman, Rafael van der Vaart, Luciano Narsingh and Jeremain Lens all start the game as well.

Joining Huntelaar on the substitutes bench are Ibrahim Afellay and Dirk Kuyt, two players capable of changing the direction of any game.

10. Adrian Mutu is amongst the substitutes

Romania v Holland

Romania: Tatarusanu, Rat, Goian, Chiriches, Tamas, Bourceanu, Torje, Pintilii, Marica, Grozav, Stancu.
Subs: Pantilimon, Luchin, Chipciu, Lazar, Mutu, Latovlevici, Cocis, Gaman, Maxim, Popa, Gardos, Grigore.

Holland: Stekelenburg, Van Rhijn, Heitinga, Vlaar, Martins Indi, De Jong, Strootman, Van der Vaart, van Persie, Narsingh, Lens.
Subs: Vorm, Janmaat, Douglas, Viergever, Clasie, Elia, Emanuelson, Huntelaar, Afellay, Kuyt, Vermeer.

Referee: Craig Thomson (Scotland)

Van Persie starts on the bench: Holland v Andorra

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(Sporting Alert) — Manchester United forward Robin van Persie starts on the bench tonight for the Netherlands against Andorra in the 2014 World Cup qualifier at De Kuip Stadion.

Watch Live Streaming Coverage on ESPN3.com

Van Persie has been a regular starter for Holland in major games, but with him on the bench tonight, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Jeremain Lens get the chance to get the early goals for the home side.

Former Tottenham attacking midfielder Rafael van der Vaart is also in the starting XI, along with Nigel de Jong and Kevin Strootman.

Maarten Stekelenburg starts in goal, while Ibrahim Afellay and Dirk Kuyt are both amongst the players on the substitutes bench.

Holland v Andorra

Holland: Stekelenburg, Janmaat, Heitinga, Vlaar, Martins Indi, De Jong, Strootman, Van der Vaart, Schaken, Huntelaar, Lens

Subs: Vorm, Van Rhijn, Viergever, Emanuelson, Narsingh, van Persie, Afellay, Kuyt, Vermeer

Andorra: Josep Anton Gomez, Rodrigues, Lima, Vieira, Pujol, Moreira, Ayala, Vales, Sebastian Gomez, Lorenzo, Marc Garcia

Subs: Pol, Bernaus, Emili Garcia, Silva, San Nicolas, Pousa, Moreno

Referee: Aliaksei Kulbakou (Bulgaria)

Robin van Persie could reconsidering his decision with Arsenal

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LONDON (Sporting Alert) — Robin van Persie could very well commit his future with Arsenal, following reports that the Dutch forward might be reconsidering his decision to leave the Barclays Premier League club.

Van Persie has been the center of attention since he announced that he would not extend his current contract past this season, leaving several gunners fans disappointed by his decision.

However, SkySports News sources are claiming that the Premier League’s leading scorer from last season could very well be having a change of heart and could sign the new contract that is being offered to him by manager Arsene Wenger.

It is also believed that there are no official bids coming for Van Persie, despite him being linked with several moves since the summer transfer window began.

Arsenal are set to leave for their preseason tour this weekend, but hasn’t made an announcement over whether Van Persie will travel or not.

Reports circulating heavily in the media are suggesting that Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is very keen on bringing the Holland scoring machine to the camp of the Premier League holders, while Barcelona and Real Madrid are also believed to be showing interest in the player.

Germany, Portugal advanced from “Group of Death”

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WARSAW (Sporting Alert) — Germany and Portugal have qualified for the quarter-finals of the Euro 2012 following wins in the last round of matches in the “group of death.”

Cristiano Ronaldo, who hit the post twice on the night, scored both goals for Portugal in their 2-1 win over the Netherlands, who were dumped from the tournament without a point.

Rafael van der Vaart has given the Netherlands the early lead in the 11th minute, but it was all Ronaldo and Portugal from there on.

The Portuguese will now move on to face the Czech Republic, while Germany, who defeated Denmark 2-1 in the other match will face Greece.

Lukas Podolski and Lars Bender scored for Germany, while Michael Krohn-Dehli netted for the Danes.

Denmark vs Germany

Denmark: Andersen, Jacobsen, Kjaer, Agger, Simon Poulsen, Kvist Jorgensen, Eriksen, Jakob Poulsen, Zimling, Krohn-Delhi, Bendtner

Subs: Lindegaard, Christian Poulsen, Rommedahl, Bjelland, Okore, Schone, Silberbauer, Pedersen, Wass, Kahlenberg, Mikkelsen, Schmeichel

Germany: Neuer, Bender, Hummels, Badstuber, Lahm, Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Muller, Ozil, Podolski, Gomez

Subs: Wiese, Gundogan, Schmelzer, Howedes, Schurrle, Klose, Mertesacker, Kroos, Gotze, Reus, Zieler

Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (Spain)

Portugal vs Holland

Portugal: Rui Patricio, Joao Pereira, Bruno Alves, Pepe, Fabio Coentrao, Meireles, Veloso, Joao Moutinho, Nani, Postiga, Ronaldo

Subs: Eduardo, Custodio, Almeida, Quaresma, Nelson Oliveira, Ricardo Costa, Rolando, Ruben Micael, Varela, Miguel Lopes, Hugo Viana, Beto

Holland: Stekelenburg, Willems, Mathijsen, Vlaar, Van Der Wiel, Van der Vaart, Nigel De Jong, Sneijder, van Persie, Robben, Huntelaar

Subs: Vorm, Heitinga, Bouma, Van Bommel, Kuyt, Schaars, Strootman, Luuk De Jong, Narsingh, Afellay, Boulahrouz, Krul

Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Italy)