Wednesday 13 June 2012

Group B - Holland 1-2 Germany

Pre-match Prediction : Yet another massive clash in Group B between two old rivals. The earlier result means neither team can go out or go through tonight but the result will go a long way to deciding who does go through.

Holland started off with a bad result and a bad display. They looked like a team who had never met each other, yet just 2 years ago they were in the World Cup Final. Robben & Van Persie surely won't be as bad again. Sneijder looked good & his passing was as good as ever. If he can get some help from the front 3 then they can get back to the team they were.

Germany got a good win against Portugal in the opening game without ever really looking at their best. They created a few chances but in truth they were a bit lucky to hang on in the end. Germany have a long way to go based on their first performance but it's usually the way the Germans go about it and I don't think anyone would be surprised to see them in the Final.

I find this one hard to predict & it genuinely could go either way so in that scenario, plump for the draw.


Holland 1-1 Germany



Post-match Verdict : The Germans scored a crucial voctory here to put their big rivals on the brink of elimination and themselves on the brink of the Quarter-Finals.

Germany once again were the same clinical, efficient side we have come accustomed to watching. After a sluggish start it only took one chance for Gomez and it was 1-0 Germany. Not long after Badstuber had wasted a great chance the ball fell to Gomez in the box again and it was 2-0.

Gomez wouldn't be the sort of striker who is particularly involved in a game but once he gets a chance in the box it's more likely than not that it will end up in the net.

Germany are looking very strong at the moment. They have a lot of creativity in midfield with Ozil and Schweinsteiger looking superb so far and with Gomez's finishing as clinical as it has been they will be a hard side to beat.

My only criticism of them would be Boateng has struggled a bit at right-back. Naturally he is left sided but can play in the middle too, so far both opponents have targeted him and any successes they have had have come against him with van Persie turning him for the Dutch goal last night.

Holland have been such a disappintment in this tournament. They came in regarded as one of the favourites but their performances to date have been more like a team who should have struggled in Qualification which the Dutch did not do.

They look like a side who are not together as a team and perhaps rumours of discontent in their team are true. Huntelaar seems unhappy at not starting and from what I can see it appears there are other players unhappy at that too. Their coach appears to have lost the confidence of the players and I'd be surprised to see him back again after this tournament.

I won't even go into my thoughts on Arjen Robben other than to say I feel he is letting his country down. His spoilt child attitude is a stain on football.

Next up for the Germans is neighbours, Denmark. Germany need a point to win the group and based on performances so far I fancy them to get at least that.

For the Dutch it's a clash with Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal. A win by a few goals for Holland and a German win in the other game could yet send the Dutch through to the Quarter-Finals. It is highly possible it could happen but it would need to be a very different Dutch team with a very different attittude to the one we have saw in their first two games.

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