mesmerised...

The Euro 2008 is now into its third quarter finals and so far, the matches played have been entertaining. One of the many teams that has made an impression one me is the Dutch team. They were in Group C in the early rounds where they played against Romania and the two 2006 World Cup finalist, France and Italy – aptly called 'The Group of Death”. Now, who would think that that the Dutch would come out tops from that group? And their performances were outstanding and had left me mesmerised.

Their manager is one of my favourite players, Marco Van Basten and he has done a good job so far – tactics, team work, which speaks for itself with the results. They beat Italy 3-0 and thrashed France 4-1. I missed the match they played against Italy but the one against France was truly astonishing. Even the commentator has nothing but praises for the Dutch team during that match. He described how the Dutch were playing as a team and that they were playing football from a different planet, let alone a different level. At the end of the match, he said that the Dutch has put a sword through two previous World Cup winners. I have to agree with him. All the four goals were spectacular – two from counter attacks, scored by Robin Van Persie and Arjen Robben. The last one was from long range by Wesley Schneider, where he had the ball with his back against the goal post, turned his body and kicked the ball from outside the penalty box straight into the left corner of the goal post, beyond the reach of the French goalkeeper, Gregory Coupet.

I must say, not only is the Dutch team talented but they are quite the looker as well. That is the bonus about enjoying football as a woman. Not only you love the game, enjoying the good looking footballers and their well-defined bodies. Ooo la la la. When Arjen Robben was about to come on as a substitute during that match against the French, all I noticed was his nice chest and his ribbed abs through the tight t-shirt he was wearing. That motivated me to work on my abs as well. Not that I want to have ribbed abs like him but you know, you see a picture of health, you want to work just as hard as well.

Tonight, the Dutch will meet the Russians in the third quarter final of the tournament. The Russians are led by a Dutchman, Guss Hidink. The Russians have been entertaining too – that match against the Swedes was thrilling with loads of goal-mouth action. However, I am rooting for a Dutch win i.e. with Marco Van Basten. He won the European Championship back in 1988, where he scored the winning goal – I remember that one.... a goal from a very tight angle. And he deserves to win one as a manager as well. So, come on you Dutch!!! Go out there and beat the Russians! Go Holland!!! We have to see you in the Final!