2010 World Cup last 16 preview: Netherlands v Slovakia
After this year’s 2010 World Cup finals have come to an end, giant-killers Slovakia will be remembered for dumping world champions Italy out of the prestigious tournament in the most spectacular fashion.
Last week’s stunning 3-2 victory in the most remarkable match of this summer’s finals will take some beating.
However, it could well be topped on Monday. The talented Netherlands are in Durban waiting to take on Vladimir Weiss’ side, and will be desperate to avoid a similar fate as the Azzurri.
Head coach Bert van Marwijk knows that his side possess enough quality to win this match and book their place in the quarter-finals. The Oranje’s missing piece in the jigsaw, Arjen Robben, is also back in action; and showed no ill-effects in the team’s final group match against Cameroon.
His return could prove pivotal to the Netherland’s chances of lifting their first World Cup. After a tremendous season with Bayern Munich, where he showcased his mesmeric array of talents on a weekly basis following his move from Real Madrid, Robben can provide that cutting edge which was missing from the side’s first two group matches.
Van Marwijk may be tempted to preserve for the world-class winger for the last eight; therefore Robben may only start on the bench. But the Netherlands coach can’t underestimate the threat of the Slovakians, and in Robben they have a player who can unlock the tightest defences.
The Dutch may have picked up the maximum nine points from their three matches; but a 2-0 win against Denmark and a 1-0 win over Japan were comfortable rather than emphatic.
Still, their group stage campaign was much more convincing that Slovakia’s. Barring the upset of the tournament in the final match against the Italians, the Repre could only draw with rank outsiders New Zealand – although so did the other two sides in the group – and suffered a 2-0 defeat against Paraguay.
Of course, though, what matters most is that they reached the last 16 of the tournament.
Star player Marek Hamsik finally showed why he’s held in such high regard in Europe with two assists against Italy. Before this he’d failed to shine. He must step up to the plate in Durban if Slovakia are to have any chance of edging their way past the Netherlands.
It’s been Robert Vittek who’s been the star of the show for the Slovakians so far. A memorable brace against Italy put his tally to three for the World Cup finals – putting him alongside Gonzalo Higuain in the race for the Golden Boot.
As for the Netherlands, the likes of Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart have all shown glimpses of what they’re capable of in South Africa. It does seem as if they’re saving their best for the latter stages, though, and all three of them still have a man-of-the-match performance in them before the tournament is out.
Unfortunately for Slovakia, they could well find themselves on the receiving end of a masterclass from one or two of the Netherland’s hugely-talented players.
There’s good reason why the Dutch are considered potential winners of this year’s World Cup; and if they play to their full potential, then this last 16 fixture should be a foregone conclusion.
Prediction: Netherlands 2-0 Slovakia
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