Holland v Denmark FIFA 2010 Preview
The perennial chokers of world football, Holland begin their world cup campaign in group E tonight with a game against the European minnows over Denmark at the Soccer City in Johannesburg.
The game on paper is a mismatch of highest order as the Dutch are one of the hot favourites for the tournament and Denmark still have to prove themselves at the highest level but on all three previous occasion that the Danes have qualified for the finals, they have progressed past the first round and this fact is what makes the Dutch stand up and take note of their opponents tonight.
Both teams have had contrasting qualifying campaigns behind them, as despite finishing above Portugal in their group; Denmark’s performances have left a lot to be desired while the Dutch have bulldozed every team that stood in their path to the finals. Only Spain with 656 passes have played more passes that the tulips which is a glaring testament to their midfield mastery which boasts the likes of Robben, Sneijder, Van der Vaart, Van Bommel, and Nigel De Jong.
Holland have been runners up on two previous occasion in 1974 and 1978 but have failed to make a mark on this competition ever since but Martin van Marwijk’s side are unbeaten in the last 19 competitive games that they have played and the run stretches back to September 2008.
The Danes however lost both their warm up games to South Africa and Australia before the start of the tournament but with the presence of international superstars like Jon Dahl Thomasson, Dennis Romedahl, Jesper Gronjkear, Cristian Poulsen and Danniel Agger they can be a bigger threat than they come off as.
Five of the previous six meetings between the two teams have ended in a draw and Denmark have never failed to score in a world cup match apart from one (A run of 13 games) while Holland have only lost once in their last 12 group games at the world cup finals.
The Dutch national side boasts an embarrassment of riches in every department but will probably have to do without their twinkle-toed Winger Arjen Robben, who is out nursing an injured ankle and is not likely to feature until their third group game.
The immensely skilled winger, who plays for FC Hollywood aka Bayern Munich, suffered the injury during a practice session when he attempted an audacious back heel pass.
His place in the side tonight will be taken up by Real Madrid’s gifted midfielder Rafael Van Der Vaart, who will be forming one-third of a three man attack alongside Arsenal’s Robin van Persie and Liverpool’s Dirk Kuyt on the other side.
While the midfield tonight are expected to be comprising of Wesley Sneijder in the middle, despite his well documented differences with Robin Van Persie, with Nigel de Jong and Van Bommel accompanying him on the wings.
The back four in front of Stekelenburg will be Mathijsen and Heitenga in the middle and Van Bronckhorst and Van der Wiel on the wings.
The Danes on the other hand have injury worries of their own ahead of the clash with Van Persie’s club mate Nicolas Bendtner, who will not be risked for the match despite being declared fit by the medical team.
Bendtner’s fellow forward Jon Dahl Thomasson and Daniel Jensen are also doubts for the game and may not be featuring tonight despite taking part in the training session leading to the game.
Martin Olsson, the Danish coach also has a crucial decision to make on whom to partner Daniel Agger with at the heart of his defense with Palermo’s teen sensation and Manchester united transfer target Simon Kjear carrying a knee knack.
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