The Netherlands versus Denmark

            There was an almost unanimous opinion in the sporting media in the day or so running up to this Group B opener that it was going to be practically a walkover for the Dutch and although they held the majority of the possession for most parts of the game, they lost it. Their opponents, Denmark, throughout the game, worked hard to prevent Holland from scoring and in the process by way of their counter-attacking play, they produced a goal themselves.

Although on paper, looking at what the two teams have achieved over the past ten years, one would have been inclined to have said that Bert Van Marwijk’s team would have beaten the Danes by a score of at least two nil. But this was to be no David versus Goliath contest and the supposed lesser team, at least according to FIFA’s rankings rose to the challenge set before them, which was to keep their opposites at bay.

The fixture produced a more entertaining game than what had been seen the day before with the proceedings of Group A and with less goals to boot and that is not to presume that aggression and temper ruled the ninety minutes at the Metalist Stadium. No. The match was good because as it carried on, the potential for an upset only increased and both teams started to take risks in order to equalize or finish the game.

For the duration of the game, all that happened was that the Netherlands attacked and Denmark defended and thinking back over the game, it was a miracle for the team in white not to have conceded but their defense held excellently. The Defense would usually then pass it out to midfield in order to threaten the Dutch box for a minute or two and then the cycle would repeat when the Orange team recovered the ball.

The Holland team, which contained big names such as Van Persie, Robben and Sneijder tried their best to beat the Danish Dynamite but on viewing the game it was clear to see that players such as the aforementioned Robben as well as De Jong, lacked not the ability but the confidence to successfully outmuscle an opposing defender and score. The fact of the matter was that the Oranje who happened to have entered the box relied heavily on aerial passes to Van Persie from the wide areas.

It was around the twenty fourth minute that a forward and out of position Simon Poulsen made a cross from wide after dealing with Van der Wiel, which found Michael Krohn Dehli who promptly scored a goal for Denmark, which stunned many. The Dutch continued to attack as they had been, without urgency as well as with some missed chances in front of goal, for which they had paid the price.

Krohn Dehli about to celebrate his goal.

However, the tempo increased after the break and the attacks from Holland were noticeably more resolute and precise but bad luck would thwart them for this half too as Denmark became more determined to hold on to their one nil lead. From the seventy first minute onward, the Dutch began taking off midfield for attacking players with Rafeal Van der Vaart and Klaas jan Huntlaar replacing the defender at fault for the goal de Jong as well as Afellay.

Even when the other faulty defender Van der Wiel was taken off for Dirk Kuyt, a forward, the Danish had made their own substitutions and were taking play more into midfield and by the time the final whistle had blown the Dutch looked polar opposites to the counterparts in white, frustrated and tired.

The Danes, overjoyed from their victory should find encouragement from this giant slaying, which it will no doubt be termed, while the Dutch should look to their second half attacking play and admit that they just got it wrong on the day. Congratulations Denmark!