The Netherlands drew Switzerland 0-0 at home Friday evening, in a tough 0-0 draw that was very reminiscent of the Swiss' performance against Spain in the first round of last summer's World Cup. Despite a generally strong attack, the Dutch found it nearly impossible to break down a very organized Swiss defense.
Netherlands Vs. Switzerland, 2011 International Friendly: Swiss Hold Dutch To Physical 0-0 Draw
Holland dominated most facets of the match, employing almost every attacking method in the book as they tried to drum up scoring opportunities--but to no avail. The Swiss defense held true for the most part, and the Dutch failed to capitalize on the few opportunities they found. Wesley Sneijder had a couple of long-range attempts blocked in the first half, while Robin van Persie challenged the Swiss back line a few times as well throughout the match; but really, the story of this match was Switzerland's defense.
Holland is a fantastic attacking side, featuring some of the best players in the world; just like Spain, they function well in possession and on the counter-attack, a nightmarish proposition for even the best defenses. But today, Switzerland held firm, blocking attack after attack, and even breaking on the Dutch with that over-the-top style that characterizes defensive sides.
From a Dutch perspective, this match means nothing: they didn’t seem to try their hardest to win, and their hearts didn’t appear to be in the game; from a Swiss perspective, this draw could speak volumes to their team’s chances in the 2012 Eurocup--if they can defend like this, they should feel confident playing against any side in the world.
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