Netherlands, ranked fourth in the world by FIFA, should not have had any trouble defeating 36th-ranked Denmark, but for most of the game, it was hard to tell which was the better team. Except for an unlucky own-goal, Denmark matched Netherlands through most of the game.
Netherlands had the clear edge in possession in the first half, but couldn’t put together any serious attacks. Denmark showed more explosiveness, but through the first 45 minutes, both teams seemed to have the intensity turned down halfway.
The first half was fairly dull. Both sides got a few chances, but neither team could capitalize.
Halfway through the first period, Denmark’s Nicklas Bendtner took a pass from Dennis Rommedahl six yard out, and though in the midst of three defenders, struck a solid header just wide. He had Thomas Enevoldsen wide open near the post but never saw him.
In the final minute of the first half, Netherlands missed a great chance when Robin Van Persie struck a right-footed shot wide right from five yards out. This match featured two of Arsenal’s top strikers in Van Persie and Bendtner.
Half a minute into the second period, Van Persie collected a long feed deep in the left-hand corner and sent a beautiful ball across the net. Denmark’s Simon Paulsen leapt up to head it clear, but the ball bounced off the back of teammate Daniel Agger and into the Denmark net.
Netherlands had a great chance when Denmark’s Simon Kjær gave up the ball right in front of his net. Dutch forward Dirk Kuyt picked it up and fed Van Persie charging towards the left post, but Danish goaltender Thomas Sørensen came out to deny him.
Halfway through the second half, Eljero Elia came in to replace Rafael Van der Vaart for the Netherlands. Ten minutes later Ibrahim Afellay came in for Robin Van Persie, and the pair gave Netherlands some offensive punch.
This paid off in the 85th minute when Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder knocked a ball ahead to Elia, who slipped his defender and hit a strong shot from 10 yards out. Sørenson got a hand on it but the powerful shot didn’t waver—it slammed solidly into the far post.
As Elia fired, Kuyt burst past Danish defender Simon Kjær, and was all alone when the rebound came right to him to tip into the empty net.
Up two goals, Netherlands finally started playing with courage, which earned them one more good chance in the 88th minute. Affelay beat Sørenson to a loose ball and tipped it past him, only to have Simon Paulsen make a ballet-like leap to kick the ball over the net, saving a third goal.
Netherlands gets its three points, but for a team as highly rated as the Dutch squad, more could reasonably have been expected.
Netherlands had the clear edge in possession in the first half, but couldn’t put together any serious attacks. Denmark showed more explosiveness, but through the first 45 minutes, both teams seemed to have the intensity turned down halfway.
The first half was fairly dull. Both sides got a few chances, but neither team could capitalize.
Halfway through the first period, Denmark’s Nicklas Bendtner took a pass from Dennis Rommedahl six yard out, and though in the midst of three defenders, struck a solid header just wide. He had Thomas Enevoldsen wide open near the post but never saw him.
In the final minute of the first half, Netherlands missed a great chance when Robin Van Persie struck a right-footed shot wide right from five yards out. This match featured two of Arsenal’s top strikers in Van Persie and Bendtner.
Half a minute into the second period, Van Persie collected a long feed deep in the left-hand corner and sent a beautiful ball across the net. Denmark’s Simon Paulsen leapt up to head it clear, but the ball bounced off the back of teammate Daniel Agger and into the Denmark net.
Netherlands had a great chance when Denmark’s Simon Kjær gave up the ball right in front of his net. Dutch forward Dirk Kuyt picked it up and fed Van Persie charging towards the left post, but Danish goaltender Thomas Sørensen came out to deny him.
Halfway through the second half, Eljero Elia came in to replace Rafael Van der Vaart for the Netherlands. Ten minutes later Ibrahim Afellay came in for Robin Van Persie, and the pair gave Netherlands some offensive punch.
This paid off in the 85th minute when Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder knocked a ball ahead to Elia, who slipped his defender and hit a strong shot from 10 yards out. Sørenson got a hand on it but the powerful shot didn’t waver—it slammed solidly into the far post.
As Elia fired, Kuyt burst past Danish defender Simon Kjær, and was all alone when the rebound came right to him to tip into the empty net.
Up two goals, Netherlands finally started playing with courage, which earned them one more good chance in the 88th minute. Affelay beat Sørenson to a loose ball and tipped it past him, only to have Simon Paulsen make a ballet-like leap to kick the ball over the net, saving a third goal.
Netherlands gets its three points, but for a team as highly rated as the Dutch squad, more could reasonably have been expected.
