EURO 2012 Unbiased Match Reports – 9 June 2012 - Group B
Holland 0 Denmark 1
Kharkiv
If you wondered “where the hell is Kharkiv?” when the venues were announced you may like to know Kharkiv is the Ukrainian spelling of Kharkov, one of the major cities of the Soviet Union. Today it is Ukraine’s second city with a population of 1.5 million and home to various industries – including the manufacture of tanks. The legendary T34 was designed here. Kharkov saw a number of major tank battles during WW2 culminating in the T34s running the Wehrmacht out of the city in 1943.
Sat in the north east of the country, Kharkiv has a typical steppe climate – long cold winters and hot, humid summers. It was certainly hot and humid in the Metalist stadium when our Group B protagonists emerged to play their opening fixture.
Teams :
Holland
Stekelenburg, Van Der Wiel, Heitinga, Vlaar, Willems, Van Bommel, De Jong, Sneijder, Robben, Van Persie and Afellay. Subs: Huntelaar (for Afellay – 71), Van der Vaart (for De Jong – 71) and Kuyt (for Van Der Wiel – 84).
Denmark
Andersen, Kjaer, Agger, S Poulsen, Jacobsen, Kvist, Eriksen, Zimling, Krohn-Delhi, Rommedahl and Bendtner. Subs: Schone (for Eriksen – 74) and Mikkelsen (for Rommedahl – 83).
Match Report :
I’ve often wondered why the Dutch, with so many fine forwards, choose to play with two holding midfielders. This match provided a strong clue – their back four aren’t very good. Harry said as much on the BBC before kick-off and he was proved right.
Denmark is a small country and Danes need to work very hard if they are to achieve anything. Their bacon, Tuborg, excellent cop shows and Euro 1992 all prove their capacity for doing so. Against the Dutch they defended brilliantly and when they got the ball they rarely wasted it. Imagine if they had a striker like Lewandowski up front instead of the ponderous Bendtner – they’d be a real threat to anyone in this tournament.
Don’t get me wrong – going forward Holland are a joy to watch. Wesley Sneijder controls the play and Robben, Van Persie and Afellay are full of purposeful running. They constantly stretched the Danes during the opening stages of the match and both Robben and Van Persie might have got them an early lead. Those two then combined to create an opening on the right but Robben’s cross avoided the orange shirts flooding into the box. Schneider too missed his first chance, heading it wide.
During this period of Dutch dominance you began to notice how well the Danes were defending. Centre backs Kjaer and Agger were very cute, closing down, covering runs and blocking shots and both the full backs stuck doggedly to their tasks.
Indeed, a rare foray forward by left back Simon Poulsen led to the game’s only goal. His run was ended as two defenders blocked his progress but the ball spun into the path of Krohn-Dehli on the left hand side of the box. The forward’s good, old fashioned body swerve sent the whole Dutch defence the wrong way providing a sight of Stekelenburg’s goal. He hit a low hard shot under the keeper and it nestled in the far corner. 0-1.
The Danes must have collectively agreed “we can win this” as they immediately went in search of another but Zimling’s ambitious attempt at a volley came to nought.
Andersen in the Danish goal had looked competent during the first half hour but in the closing minutes his awful clearance gave Robben a shooting opportunity. The winger’s effort rebounded harmlessly away from the foot of the far post. Then it was half time.
The Dutch again came out all guns blazing and created a string of chances. Robben drifted infield and curled a shot over the bar and then Van Persie slipped when given a great opportunity to equalise. The best effort was a screamer from Van Bommel which needed saving by Andersen.
The Danes continued to defend valiantly and played their way forward when they could. One such attack saw Stekelenburg diving to save another good strike from Krohn-Dehli. Kjaer and Agger continued to thwart Holland’s forwards but Heitinga might have levelled but headed over.
Huntelaar and Van Der Vaart were added to the armoury and the big #9 was thwarted by brave goalkeeping. Andersen whipped the ball away from Van Persie and was clattered for his insolence.
Denmark rode their luck when Jacobsen appeared to handle the ball but in my view those are the sort of penalties Man Utd get at Old Trafford but others rarely do.
The final whistle saw delighted Danes and grim faced Dutch leave the field. Never does to lose your first game in the “group of death” and Holland now need to get results against both Portugal and Germany if they are to progress.
It would be wrong to suggest that Denmark deserved their victory but football regularly proves that if you work hard at your jobs and get a bit of luck you can get past the most difficult opponents. This was Denmark’s day.
MOM: Dan Agger (Denmark)
Germany 1 Portugal 0
Lviv
Lviv sits close to the Polish border and, like many Eastern European cities has a horrifying history of pogroms, massacres and other ethnic unpleasantness. The city itself is reputedly beautiful and a designated UNESCO site.
Arena Lviv is a new stadium. It is the smallest Euro 2012 venue with a capacity slightly larger than St Marys. In earlier times Lviv was called Lemburg – a German name. On Saturday evening the football ground had a definite German atmosphere with over 20,000 Germans there to watch their team. They belted out their national anthem in a typically rumbustious fashion, intent on making the Portuguese quake. Miroslav Klose’s thigh injury meant he was unable to start so Bayern’s Gomez got to lead Germany’s attack.
Teams :
Germany
Neuer, Boateng, Hummels, Badstuber, Lahm, Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Ozil, Mueller, Podolski and Gomez. Subs: Klose (for Gomez – 80), Croos (for Ozil – 87) and Bender (for Mueller – 90).
Portugal
Rui Patricio, Bruno Alves, Pepe, Coentrao, Joao Pereira, Veloso, Moutinho, Meireles, Nani, Ronaldo and Postiga. Subs: Oliveira (for Postiga – 70) and Varela (for Meireles – 80).
Match Report :
When I was a kid, boxing was pretty good to watch. You had Frazier, Foreman, Our ‘Enery and, of course, Ali. Over the years I’ve lost interest in boxing – mostly because too many fights saw two heavyweights clinging on to each other, rarely landing a blow and generally conning the spectators. This match felt just like that.
Despite the talk of new German stars, what we got was 7 Bayern players so everyone, including Portugal, knew what was coming. We all watched Chelsea frustrate and upset the Germans last month and Portugal set out to do exactly that. They came alarmingly close to succeeding.
Indeed, the Germans only took one decent chance in the first half and that came early on as Gomez forced a fine save from Patricio. Germany huffed and puffed and Ozil and Schweinsteiger kept driving their side forward. Podolski was the main beneficiary of these moves but he never seriously troubled the keeper. His best chance came on the half hour but his horribly hit shot sailed over the bar.
Portugal have great individuals and as time passed the chance that one of these might turn the game must have worried Germany. They were further scared when Pepe latched onto a loose ball and his firm shot rattled off the bar, bounced onto the line and was cleared.
Ronaldo started the second half in determined fashion. Operating on the left he cut in and forced a save from Neuer and moments later fired a dangerous cross into the German box requiring a diving header by Hummels to clear the danger. The second half then settled into a repeat of the first with Ozil and his mates probing but failing to create any serious openings.
Midway through the second half Germany’s fears were realised as Ronaldo ran onto a sweet ball into their box and shaped to shoot. He was denied by a quite fabulous tackle by Boateng – probably the single best bit of football in the match!
Germany continued to press without success and Gomez kept glancing over to where Klose was warming up. Changes were imminent.
Then, all of a sudden, Khedira crossed from the right and the ball spun off a defender into Portugal’s box. The ball looped towards Gomez and the big forward leapt above his markers and planted a firm header beyond the diving keeper. 1-0. The relief was palpable.
With nothing to defend Portugal now chose to attack and showed glimpses of what might have been. Nani hit the post and Varela forced a decent save from Neuer.
Klose did play the last few minutes but barely got a sniff. The clock ticked round and Germany had won. Their travelling fans celebrated.
For us neutrals this was, without doubt, the dullest match so far. Yet at every new tournament we still expect the heavyweights to put on a good show and entertain us. One wonders how the Germans will play against Holland who absolutely must get a result when the sides meet on Wednesday. It may not be pretty – but I wouldn’t want to miss it!
MOM: Ozil (Germany)
EURO 2012 Unbiased Match Reports Wednesday 13th June – Group B
Denmark 2 Portugal 3
Lviv
I want to like Denmark. I really do. I want to go there even though, if it is anything like the Danish TV I watch, I’m very likely to be murdered. I want to like their hard-working football team who are coached by the genial Morten Olsen who looks like one of the good guys in Lord of the Rings.
In the opening game they gained an unlikely win against Holland but in truth this was down to some atrocious finishing by the Dutch who routinely carved their way past the Danish defence. In Lviv on Wednesday they faced a Portuguese side that had lost their opening fixture in the Group of Death and were therefore desperate for a result. Denmark had of course topped their Euro qualifying group forcing Portugal to enter via the playoffs so things looked positive.
What we got was a competitive and entertaining game. It wasn’t a classic by any means as both sides were guilty of misplaced passes and spurned chances and ultimately, it seems, whilst Denmark did well to battle back against their more illustrious opponents, they lack that little bit of extra class that allows sides to win games like this.
Teams :
Denmark
Andersen, Kjaer, Agger, S Poulsen, Jacobsen, Kvist, Eriksen, Zimling, Krohn-Delhi, Rommedahl and Bendtner. Subs: J Poulsen (for Zimling – 17), Mikkelsen (for Rommedahl – 59) and Schone (for Krohn-Dehli – 90).
Portugal
Rui Patricio, Bruno Alves, Pepe, Coentrao, Joao Pereira, Veloso, Moutinho, Meireles, Nani, Ronaldo and Postiga. Subs: Oliveira (for Postiga – 64), Varela (for Meireles – 84) and Rolando (for Nani 89).
Match Report :
Both sides stuck with the teams that started last Saturday yet Portugal looked an altogether different prospect, discarding the timid, defensive approach they’d adopted against Germany. They surged forward from the off and created a number of opportunities for their front-men.
One thing that stayed the same, however, was Ronaldo’s inability to score. The #7 was instrumental in most of Portugal’s best moves and worked tirelessly for the cause - yet in front of goal he looked a shadow of the player who routinely makes scoring look simple back in Spain.
He must have been relieved therefore when his Madrid team mate Pepe trotted forward for a Moutinho corner on 24 minutes and leapt past the statuesque defenders to glance a header past Andersen. 0-1.
Denmark had already lost Niki Zimling who limped from the field after 20 minutes to be replaced by Jakob Poulsen. This did little to change the shape of the game. Jacobsen and Rommedahl worked the right flank with Krone-Delhi often wide left leaving Bendtner ploughing a lone furrow down the centre.
Nani had looked anonymous against Germany but had a much better time against the Danes. His tracking back helped end a number of forays down Denmark’s left flank and going forward his pace and trickery caused them problems. On 36 minutes he was fed the ball on the right edge of the penalty area. His low driven cross was met by Postiga at the near post and the striker blasted his shot into the roof of the net. 0-2.
Portugal looked well in command at this stage and a 3rd goal now might have killed the match. Denmark are nothing if not determined and gradually the men in red battled their way back.
They gained a foothold in the match just before half time when Jacobsen turned the ball inside to Poulsen. The substitute looked up as Portugal flooded out leaving Bendtner offside but, as the big man, waltzed back Poulsen curled his cross beyond the goal to Krone-Delhi. With his route to goal blocked by a defender and the keeper the #9 headed the ball back across the box where Bendtner had the simplest of tasks to nod it home. 1-2.
Early in the second half Ronaldo latched onto a clearance and bore down on the Danish goal. He had time to shoot but the keeper blocked the shot. Not long after Ronaldo and Postiga looked sure to create another chance but a magnificent saving tackle by Agger halted that move.
On 59 minutes Rommedahl pulled up with a probable hamstring injury and was promptly substituted – a sad end to a long and illustrious international career. That seemed to inspire Denmark however and Kvist suddenly hit a screamer just past the post. Bendtner too was seeing more of the ball and showed some neat touches. In the heart of Portugal’s defence Pepe looked calm and assured as others panicked.
Meireles often looks classy for Chelsea but he is another who seems to lose club form when he dons a Portuguese shirt. He got a reasonable shooting opportunity on 75 minutes which was blazed horribly wide. This was overshadowed shortly after when Ronaldo engineered another one on one with Andersen but stuck his shot well wide.
Retribution came quickly. Jacobsen hit a splendid cross from the right wing and this time Bendtner got the jump on Pepe and Rui Patricio could not keep out the firm header at his near post. 2-2.
Portugal responded positively sending on Varela for the misfiring Meireles. Moments later Ronaldo created another chance but both Agger and Jacobsen blocked his way.
Coentrao then surged forward down Portugal’s left and hit a cute cross which Ronaldo could not latch onto. Behind him Varela took a wild swing with his left foot and completely missed – but luck was with Portugal this time. Instead of bouncing away off the substitute’s arse the ball drooped invitingly close to him. Varela turned and hit it with his right boot and it screamed past the distraught keeper. 2-3.
With centre half Rolando on for Nani and Dan Agger now playing striker the final breathless minutes were played in and around Portugal’s box. Agger’s hard work eventually conjured a chance for Denmark’s substitutes Mikkelsen and Schone – the former rolling the ball to the latter but the shot was blazed wide.
And that was that. Portugal had their win despite their star man again misfiring while all Denmark’s battling efforts gained no reward. With a final game against Germany things don’t look great for the Danes. Portugal on the other hand can face Holland with hope – primarily the hope that CR7 remembers his scoring boots on Sunday night!
MOM: Pepe (Portugal)
Holland 1 Germany 2
Kharkiv
There was a time when these footballing nations loathed each other with a passion akin to that displayed by Poland and Russia. Memory fades and these days the Dutch probably recognise elements of their approach to football in the German game. Cruyff revolutionised Spanish football when he introduced Barcelona to the Dutch way and Germany are the latest to benefit from going down that route.
Teams :
Holland
Stekelenburg, Van Der Wiel, Heitinga, Mathijsen, Willems, Van Bommel, De Jong, Sneijder, Robben, Van Persie and Afellay. Subs: Huntelaar (for Afellay – 46), Van der Vaart (for Van Bommel – 46) and Kuyt (for Robben – 83).
Germany
Neuer, Boateng, Hummels, Badstuber, Lahm, Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Ozil, Mueller, Podolski and Gomez. Subs: Klose (for Gomez – 72), Croos (for Ozil – 81) and Bender (for Mueller – 90).
Match Report :
Holland replaced Vlaar with Mathijsen but kept the two defensive midfielders. Germany retained their starting XI from the first game.
Van Persie had the first shot on goal but Neuer eagerly saved. Germany’s opening salvo came from Ozil whose crisp volley came off the post into the midriff off the grateful Stekelenburg.
Holland made use of their wide men with Robben looking the more effective. His right wing cross set up Van Persie but the striker missed the target. In a similar position moments later Van Persie was annoyed to see Afellay’s cross from the other flank sail harmlessly behind him.
Despite having had more chances Holland fell behind midway through the half when Mueller cut in from the right to set up Schweinsteiger. The blond midfielder saw Gomez lurking among the defence and his precision pass allowed the striker to spin beyond them and plant his shot past Stekelenburg. 0-1.
Holland visibly wilted and should have gone further behind when a peach of a free kick from Ozil was met at the back stick by Badstuber. A yard either side and he was sure to score yet the German directed his powerful header straight at the keeper.
Another German goal looked highly likely and it arrived on 38 minutes when another fabulous Schweinsteiger pass set Gomez free on the right and the striker’s sweetly hit cross shot flew just inside the far post. 0-2.
Holland ditched the holding pair at half time with Van der Vaart replacing Van Bommel as captain. The ineffective Afellay was also withdrawn in favour of another striker, Huntelaar. The match may soon have been put beyond them as Hummels was allowed to carry the ball the length of the pitch and have not one but two strikes at goal before Holland put the ball out for a corner.
Holland gradually got hold of the ball and Robben cut inside to fire a shot that needed saving. A similar effort from Sneijder on the other flank bounced out for a corner off Boateng.
Germany were now counter-attacking with Ozil carrying the ball and playing in team mates. A dangerous ball to Mueller saw him upended by a firm tackle from Willems. The youngster had a torrid first half but looked more assured as the game progressed.
On 73 minutes Van Persie was finally rewarded, taking a chance far harder than a number he’d failed with. He drifted in from the left and fired a long rage shot past Neuer’s dive. 1-2.
The Dutch supporters who’d loudly supported their team throughout the second half bellowed for an equaliser and the men in Orange tried to respond. Van Persie was convinced Lahm had fouled him in the box but the referee was not. At the other end De Jong earned his first yellow card of Euro 2012 for battering Klose. Schweinsteiger was then felled by Huntelaar but the referee didn’t see a foul.
When Kuyt replaced Robben, the Bayern man vaulted the adverting hoardings and walked all the way round in front of the Dutch fans in a major sulk. He even ripped off his shirt in disgust but was soundly booed for his petulance.
As the minutes ticked away the Germans began time-wasting. Boateng was yellow carded for it and will miss their next game. Muller and Croos took every opportunity to run the ball into the corners.
With time nearly up Stekelenburg almost gifted Germany a third. Willems played a sensible enough back pass but the keeper let the ball come across his body to clear it with his favoured foot. Klose was on him like a flash and the ball span inches wide of the post.
Holland were unable to mount another attack during injury time so the Germans gained a second win, the Dutch a second defeat. Mathematics dictates that nothing is yet decided in Group B so we must wait for Sunday’s final instalment.
MOM: Schweinsteiger (Germany)
EURO 2012 Unbiased Match Reports Sunday 17th June – Group B
I’m suffering Euro fatigue.
My routine was so simple during the first week of the tournament: watch a game at tea time – eat dinner – watch the evening match – in bed at 10pm to listen to Talk Sport. Then up at 6am – knock off a couple of match reports – email them to the lovely Channers to put on the IBO site. Simples – as the overgrown rat would say.
But then the power-mad fiends at UEFA intervened – all matches would kick off at 7:45 BST. On Saturday I watched one game, recorded the other and watched that immediately afterwards, but I was flagging.
Last night I watched Portugal v Holland but felt my eyelids drooping during the second half. I then started on the Germany v Denmark game, saw Germany score and Denmark equalise, but must have fallen asleep sometime after. I awoke to see a coloured guy in a red shirt and thought it was Gebre Selassie – what was he doing playing against Germany?
To avoid the notifiable condition, Euro Burn Out, I’m changing my regime. For the next two nights I’ll watch one match, go to bed at my usual time and watch the other the next morning. Channers will get the match reports somewhat later but at least they should be reasonably coherent and not the ramblings of a man on the edge.
So, on with Group B. These were the last times the stadia at Kharkiv and Lviv were to be used. Probably a good thing in the case of the latter as the playing surface had not been great. Players lost their footing and tumbled over regularly and such an incident happened at a key moment during this final match.
Denmark 1 Germany 2
Lviv
With 2 wins already Germany just needed a point to ensure they’d still be in the Euros next week. Denmark really needed a win to progress and, should that happen, a Portugal win in Kharkiv could put the Germans out.
Germany frighten me. It is not their rather decent individuals nor their slick pass and move football that worries me. It is their youth. Lukas Podolski was winning his 100th cap at the ripe old age of - er, 27. Most of his team mates are much younger and if they are a good side now, what might they be in Brazil in 2 years’ time or at Euro 2016 when a massive 24 team circus descends on France? Incidentally, why do UEFA think that adding 8 more teams, worse than Ireland, will improve the spectacle? They are completely bonkers!
Teams :
Denmark
Andersen, Kjaer, Agger, S Poulsen, Jacobsen, Kvist, Eriksen, Zimling, J Poulsen, Krohn-Delhi and Bendtner. Subs: C Poulsen (for Zimling – 78) and Mikkelsen (for J Poulsen – 82).
Germany
Neuer, Bender, Hummels, Badstuber, Lahm, Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Ozil, Mueller, Podolski and Gomez. Subs: Schurrle (for Podolski – 64), Klose (for Gomez – 74) and Croos (for Mueller – 84).
Match Report :
With Rommedahl injured the Danes brought in Jakob Poulsen and Germany replaced suspended full-back Boateng with Lars Bender.
Germany soon adopted their usual routine of keeping the ball and Denmark were obliged to run and harry as the ball pinged between the men in white. Khedira and Schweinsteiger controlled the tempo while the movement of Podolski, Ozil and especially Mueller tested the Danes resolve.
Mueller’s overall display was top notch. All that was missing was a goal but when played in twice in the early stages he failed to beat Andersen. On 20 minutes he linked with Ozil on the right and fired in a low cross. It was turned back by Gomez at the near post and old-man Podolski smashed the ball home. 0-1.
Denmark’s best opportunities were always likely to come from set pieces and this was demonstrated 5 minutes later when Bendtner rose to meet a right wing corner. Too far out to trouble Neuer he guided his header back across goal and Krohn-Dehli turned it in. 1-1.
Germany seemed unfazed and carried on calmly working for openings. Gomez (twice) and Khedira might have restored their lead but did not. Denmark defended resolutely but were clearly doing much more running as they rarely had the ball.
Morten Olssen clearly said something inspirational at half time as Denmark almost went ahead after the break. Poulsen (S) worked the ball to Bendtner who turned it back for Poulsen (J) to fire against the base of the post with Neuer left beaten.
Germany seemed content at 1-1 and even began resting their strikers. Schurrle and Klose came on for Podolski and Gomez and Schurrle saw his cross shot turned away by Andersen.
With just 15 minutes left news from Kharkiv told that Portugal were winning. Another Denmark goal could send the Germans home and they had an immediate scare. Badstuber hauled Bendtner to the ground as he burst into the box but neither the referee nor his huge army of assistants seemed to see it.
Within 5 minutes Germany were back in front. Denmark’s need to score tempted them forwards in numbers and when they lost possession Germany broke away.
There was a gaping hole down Denmark’s left flank which Bender sprinted into. As defenders chased back, Khedira carried the ball towards the Danish goal. His pass found Ozil on the left and he immediately struck a low centre towards Klose. But both Klose, and whichever Poulsen was marking him, both slipped on the dodgy surface and the ball carried on its course. It was met by Bender who had stayed ahead of his pursuers and the Leverkusen youngster joyously tucked a shot into the opposite corner. 1-2 and all was right with the Germanic world.
In the closing minutes Dan Agger joined Bendtner up front and Denmark hit long balls towards them. They created one decent chance but Agger headed over. Then time ran out for Denmark.
You’d expect the Germans to plan their campaign well. Having completed their 3 long treks east (to the annoyance of their players and fans alike) they’ll be playing their next game against Greece in Gdansk - where the Mannschaft is based!
MOM: Mueller (Germany)
Portugal 2 Holland 1
Kharkiv
Holland sat bottom of the Group of Death with an ugly looking “nul” points but were not yet out of the tournament. Portugal were better off having beaten the Danes and knew a win would send them through. Any other result and UEFA would be bringing out their abacus to create the final league table.
Teams :
Portugal
Rui Patricio, Bruno Alves, Pepe, Coentrao, Joao Pereira, Veloso, Moutinho, Meireles, Nani, Ronaldo and Postiga. Subs: Oliveira (for Postiga – 64), Custodio (for Meireles – 72) and Rolando (for Nani 87).
Holland
Stekelenburg, Van Der Wiel, Vlaar, Mathijsen, Willems, De Jong, Sneijder, Van der Vaart, Robben, Van Persie and Huntelaar. Subs: Afellay (for Willems – 67).
Match Report :
Portugal kept faith with the team that beat Denmark but Holland’s situation demanded changes. Out went Heitinga, Afellay and Van Bommel, replaced by Vlaar, Huntelaar and Van der Vaart who donned the armband.
Holland wore their sexy black kit and started well enough. Indeed they almost looked a team there for a moment. Robben worked the right flank but his moves inside saw him pass to colleagues rather than end in a trademark shot over the top.
But Portugal looked slick when they had the ball and they earned a number of free kicks as the Dutch used whatever means to stop them. Nani and, ominously, Ronaldo both looked very interested. CR7 blasted one free kick that deflected for a corner but Alves fouled Stekelenburg when the cross came in.
On 11 minutes Robben again turned inside and laid the ball off to Van Der Vaart. The Spurs man looked up, liked what he saw and curled a smashing shot across Rui Patricio’s late dive and saw it nestle in the corner. 0-1.
Holland had one of the two goals required to give them a chance but from that point on Portugal bossed the game. Ronaldo played a disciplined role wide-left but whenever he got beyond Van der Wiel he was running at Vlaar. On 16 minutes he turned the big defender inside out and fired a low shot against the base of the post.
The cameras zoomed in to record him sulking but as he turned he had a huge grin on his face. He knew this was his place; his time to make an impact on Euro 2012.
Ronaldo was by no means the only threat as Portugal’s midfield carved through the Dutch. Holland had clearly intended to play this match in Portugal’s half but that never happened and their offensive-minded players looked ill-equipped to stem the red tide. Postiga and Meireles both wasted chances to equalise before Holland won a rare corner and De Jong headed over.
Then Nani showed beautiful control before delivering a pin point cross for Ronaldo whose header was well saved by the keeper. Wesley Sneijder then got a shooting chance for Holland but missed at the near post.
Portugal are soon back on the attack with Pereira who is having his best game to date. His exquisite ball into the box fell perfectly into Ronaldo’s stride and he gleefully stuck it past Stekelenburg. 1-1.
Portugal were running riot. Nani blasted just wide from distance before Ronaldo hit one from ever further out requiring Stekelenburg to punch it away. His next effort was a diving header, just wide; then Veloso got in on the act hitting a free kick over the top before Ronaldo was again running at goal but missing the mark.
Half time made little difference – except that most activity was now at the other end. Vlaar was again cruelly exposed by Ronaldo’s pace and brought him down. Then Willems was booked for a foul on Moutinho and was walking a tightrope.
The Dutch had the odd attack. On 53 minutes they created a good chance as Sneijder’s splendid corner reached Vlaar - but it span over off his shoulder. Shortly afterwards Sneijder’s free kick picked out de Jong but the effort went wide.
On the hour Ronaldo opened up Holland again. His perfect cross enabled Postiga to score – but the celebrations were ended by the offside flag. Shortly afterwards the veteran striker was withdrawn and Benfica starlet Oliveira entered the fray.
Holland tried to force things but their passing became more erratic and Ronaldo was soon bounding away once more. So often he looks the only player in Portugal’s side but with his team mates all putting in good performances he is far more effective. Instead of shooting Ronaldo picked out Moutinho who drew another fine save from Stekelenburg.
With time running out Holland replaced Willems with Afellay but there looked little sense in adding more attackers when you are doing most of the defending. On 72 minutes another great pass from Ronaldo set up Nani but he somehow hit it right at the goalie.
On 74 minutes the inevitable happened – Portugal got their richly deserved winning goal. Robben dwelt on the ball too long and had it whisked away. The Portuguese sent the ball to Nani whose beautiful pass for the right put Ronaldo in. There was still Van der Wiel to beat but Ronaldo sidestepped the defender and tucked a low shot just inside the post. 2-1.
Portugal continued to press and with, no obvious marker, Nani was seeing loads of the ball. Moutinho and Ronaldo should have converted chances he created and soon news of another German goal in Lviv put Portugal in even better spirits.
Suddenly Holland got forward and Van der Vaart curled in another fine shot, this time with his right foot. This time he saw the ball come back off the post.
With the Dutch visibly wilting, Nani had further chances to kill the game but took none. Speculative efforts from Huntelaar and Van Persie were also missed but as the game moved into injury time, Ronaldo came close to a hat trick. The last significant action of the game saw him hit a sweet drive against the base of the post.
But that was that. Holland’s Euro ambitions flickered and died - their band of highly paid players will now head off on vacation. Portugal had secured second place and will face the hardly insurmountable hurdle of the Czecks in Warsaw on Thursday.
Players like Messi and Ronaldo generate mountains of hype that can get on your nerves. But seeing that level of performance from Portugal’s star man in a major competition is something rather special. Wouldn’t it be splendid if our own allegedly world-class talent, Mr Rooney, were to put on a performance like that?
Tuesday night would be a good time….
MOM: Ronaldo (Portugal) – by a country mile!
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 9 |
| Portugal | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 6 |
| Denmark | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 3 |
| Netherlands | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 0 |
