By Mike Collett BASEL, June 18 (Reuters) - The strategy behind the Dutch team’s spectacular form at Euro 2008 was hatched in a meeting between coach Marco van Basten and several senior players. Adopting a highly effective and organised 4-2-3-1 system, Van Basten’s side swept through the group stages in stunning fashion with a 3-0 win over world champions Italy, a 4-1 romp over World Cup runners-up France and a 2-0 victory over Romania. The new strategy evolved at a meeting last year when Van Basten, goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, striker Ruud van Nistelrooy and others agreed to abandon the 4-3-3 and 4-4-2 tactics that had been tried before. ...
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By Mike Collett BASEL, June 18 (Reuters) - The strategy behind the Dutch team’s spectacular form at Euro 2008 was hatched in a meeting between coach Marco van Basten and several senior players. Adopting a highly effective and organised 4-2-3-1 system, Van Basten’s side swept through the group stages in stunning fashion with a 3-0 win over world champions Italy, a 4-1 romp over World Cup runners-up France and a 2-0 victory over Romania. The new strategy evolved at a meeting last year when Van Basten, goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, striker Ruud van Nistelrooy and others agreed to abandon the 4-3-3 and 4-4-2 tactics that had been tried before. ...