Match Review & Highlights: Netherlands 2-0 Denmark

June 14th, 2010 | by: Daryl | View Comments

It wasn’t quite Germany 4-0 Australia, and it wasn’t the fluid Oranje football we were all hoping to enjoy, but the Netherlands made a decent start to World Cup 2010 by comfortably beating Denmark 2-0.

There were chances for both teams early on, with Netherlands Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart all looking keen if not lethal, and Dennis Rommedahl (still only 31, I feel like he’s been around forever) looking dangerous for Denmark down the right. Goalless at halftime, but then disaster struck for Denmark right at the start of the second half. It struck Daniel Agger right in the back.

Robin van Persie beat Thomas Sorenson in a foot race to a wide ball (which was never really a contest) and crossed, Simon Poulsen tried to head away, but his clearance bounced off fellow defender Daniel Agger and over the line. You can’t legislate for that kind of thing, and Poulsen at least saw the funny side.

Denmark never really looked likely to equalize. Theoretical goal threat Nicklas Bendtner started the game despite a reported groin injury, but came out after 60 minutes. My theory is that injured players should never start in big games like World Cup openers, and Bert van Marwijk seems to agree. Neither Arjen Robben nor the pacy winger’s troubled hamstring played any part in this game. But he didn’t need to, because van Marwijk also had Eljero Elia on the bench. As Chris said earlier today: “He’s like Robben. But less hurt.” Over-rating him maybe? But in the 85th minute Elia’s pace zoomed onto a smart Wesley Sneijder pass, allowing Elia to slip the ball past Thomas Sorensen.

It looked for all the world like it was rolling in, only to bounce off the post and into the path of Dirk Kuyt, who knew exactly what to do. 1. Score, and 2. Smile.

No shame in Denmark’s performance. They were a little unadventurous maybe, and didn’t look like getting any more adventurous even when going a goal down. But they created chances early on and can take some confidence from hanging with the Netherlands and being able to consider themselves victims of fate for the first goal. So this defeat doesn’t finish them by any means. For the Netherlands it’s a good solid start, with the promise of more to come.

Man of the Match: Not surprisingly, most of Netherlands attack came through Sneijder, and his pass to Elia for the second goal was arguably the highlight of the game. Perfection.