Euro 2012
2012-06-09 - Holland vs Denmark
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: Euro 2012 Group B
Saturday 9 June 2012 - Kick Off 5pm
This game is live on TV
Preview
Holland have to show the rest of Europe that their performance in the World Cup Final was an exception and they have not forgotten their roots of playing 'total football'. This will be seen as a big opportunity for them to open their Euro 2012 campaign in the correct manner, but they cannot under-estimate a Denmark team that is looking to repeat their success from Euro 1992 when they won the title.
The Dutch team has plenty of attacking talent in their line up, although there are some questions about their defence. They qualified for this tournament having lost just one of ten qualifying games and they had won the other nine games.
Holland will look to their big players like Wesley Sneijder, Robin Van Persie and Arjen Robben to really fuel their chances of making it through to the nesxt stage and all are expected to start.
They haven't had the best time when it comes to friendly matches, but they will be hoping they can score enough goals to see them through to the next stage.
Denmark come into the tournament believing they can cause a shock in the event, although they couldn't have asked for a worse set of games. They actually qualified for the event ahead of Poryugal and will feel they can do enough to get through to the next stage.
While the Danes have made it clear that they don't want to be just a part of this event, they have had some bad friendly results that has seen them lost to Brazil, Russia and Scotland. They will also want to shove the taunts of their critics down their own throats after hearing reports that they could be the whipping boys of this section and that the teams that progress through to the Quarter Finals will be the ones that have recorded the biggest victories against them.
There are some issues in the goalkeeping department for Denmark coming into the game and they do look a little weak in the defensive areas as a whole and that could be a problem for them.
Head to Head
These two teams last met in the World Cup of 2010 in South Africa in a game that Holland won 2-0.
They also met in the Euro 2000 event when Holland won 3-0.
Prediction
The first games in the group stage of these events are usually tight affairs, but I think the Dutch recognise that they cannot afford to really draw this game if they are to qualify from the section and I think they will want to get on the front foot early as possible.
Holland have been tough against Denmark, particularly when it comes to competititve games between the two nations and I think they will be able to show enough to win the game.
There might not be a lot between the teams, but I do think Holland have a little more talent and that is likely to be the difference between them. Therefore, I will take Holland to win this game.
The Pick :
Holland 2-0 Denmark
