Still stinging from their shocking
loss to begin the European Championships, the Netherlands face a
daunting challenge to regroup Wednesday night when they play Germany in a
Group B match at Kharkiv, Ukraine.
The Dutch were tipped to make a deep
run in Poland and the Ukraine, but now they face the very real threat of
failing to survive the "Group of Death" following a 1-0 upset defeat to
Denmark on Saturday. While the Oranje controlled possession for much of
the game and created quality scoring chances - most notably Arjen
Robben hitting the woodwork - the goal came on the lone counterattack by
the Danes, and the Dutch showed a surprising lack of urgency in the
second half trying to find the equaliser.
"It was the only dangerous action of
Denmark," Netherlands captain Mark van Bommel said. "I'm speechless,
because these three points are very important."
The sluggish play by the Dutch was
stunning given their staggering amount of offensive talent. However,
Robin van Persie never found that sublime first touch he displayed with
Arsenal throughout the match, fellow striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar had his
only quality chance smothered after entering as a substitute, and
Robben and Wesley Sneijder failed to create a flowing offence for the
2010 World Cup runners-up.
"There were maybe four, five, six
players who had chances," Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk said,
refusing to place the blame squarely on van Persie.
"I refuse to throw in the towel," he added. "We must beat Germany. We have done that before."
While the debate will again swirl
around van Marwijk to choose between van Persie and Huntelaar as his
starting striker, the Dutch backline may receive some fortification as
defender Joris Mathijsen appears fully healthy after missing Saturday's
match due to a hamstring injury. Van Marwijk said Mathijsen likely will
replace Ron Vlaar if he is able to play.
As the Dutch realize anything but
three points may scuttle their chances to reach the round of eight,
Germany have an inside position to one of those quarterfinal berths
following their 1-0 win over Portugal on Saturday. Mario Gomez's header
on a deflected cross from Sami Khedira in the 72nd minute provided the
match's lone goal after Germany survived a first-half blast off the
underside of the crossbar by Portgual's Pepe.
The three-time European champions
played a pragmatic and strong match with plenty of possession
offensively, and relied on the dynamic backline duo of Jerome Boateng
and Mats Hummels to neutralize Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo in
their final third. The duo will again have to marshal Die Mannschaft's
defence versus a Dutch squad shut out for the second straight match in a
major tournament following its 1-0 extra time loss to reigning Euro
champions Spain in the World Cup final.
"I played against Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
this season and did well, but not so well against Robin van Persie, who
scored three goals in two matches against us," Hummels told UEFA's
official website. "The Dutch will have to attack more than the
Portuguese did.
"We will have to try to be in command while at the same time keeping a balance in defence."
Gomez, who scored 12 goals in helping
Bayern Munich reach the Champions League final, may have held off
Miroslav Klose to make a second straight start after netting his 23rd
goal in 53 international appearances.
The Dutch beat West Germany in the
semifinals of the 1988 tournament en route to their only Euro title, and
the squads played to a 1-1 draw in the most recent Euro meeting in
group play in 2004.
The teams complete group play next
Sunday when the Dutch play Portugal at Kharkiv while Germany plays
Denmark simultaneously at Lviv.
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