Euro 2012: Holland 1-2 Germany - Mario Gomez Shines As Dutch Flop

The game kicked off with a wall of noise echoing around the Metalist Stadium, as it seemed the fans of each of these historically rich nations were having a competition of their own. The first chance of the game came in the sixth minute, when a delightfully floated ball was played over the German defence into the path of that man Robin Van Persie, but, in what seems to be becoming a trend at Euro 2012, he put it straight in to the keepers arms. The Germans had their first chance a couple of minutes later when a headed clearance fell kindly to Ozil who struck it on the volley, clipping the post before landing nicely in to the goalkeepers hands. Holland were moving the ball better and keeping possession when they had it, unlike the Germans who barely strung two passes together in the first ten minutes. The nervousness of the opening game seemed to have been shaken off and Holland were looking dangerous every time they came forward, with Sneijder pulling all the strings through the middle. A lovely through ball from Robben carved open the German defence in the 18th minute, but Afellay couldn€™t pick out Van Persie in the middle. Holland wee posing the greater threat when in attacking positions and were getting the ball from back to front much quicker, meaning the German defence didn€™t have time to settle or get in position. 24 minutes in and Germany finally had a flowing passing move, and oh how it paid off. Schweinsteiger found space in the centre of the pitch and knocked a wonderfully weighted pass in between the Dutch full back and centre back, which Mario Gomez, beating the offside trap, latched on to and placed past the Dutch keeper Stekelenburg. Two goals in two games for the striker who, according to the German press, shouldn€™t be in the first team. 1-0 Germany. The next real chance of the game came when Germany won a free kick in the 36th minute near the corner flag. The ball was whipped in and a free header at the back post was smartly saved by the Dutch keeper. The tide of the game was shifting in Germany€™s favour and around a minute later Germany had another. It was Schweinsteiger again who slipped through a lovely pass which found Gomez in the box. From a tight angle he ferociously cracked the ball into the top corner. 2-o Germany. The last kick of the game was a Schweinsteiger free kick that deflected up in the air and needed a smart save from Stekelenburg. The half time whistle blew and there was a noticeable look of shellshock on the Dutch faces, sort of like they had just walked in on their partners sleeping with Ruud Gullit. The second half began with a statement of intent from the Dutch, bringing on Huntelaar and Van der Vaart in place of the skipper Van Bommel and winger Afellay. Two strikers on the pitch showed that they were going to give this second half their all, and possibly play with a €˜give it our all€™ style, which would make this game a great spectacle for the neutral. The first real chance of the second half came in the 51st minute when Germanys centre back Hummels meandered forward as the Dutch midfield parted like the Red Sea, allowing the lanky defender an effort on goal which the goalkeeper parried away, only for the rebound to fall to the same man who poked the ball towards goal under pressure, forcing a good second save from Stekelenburg. The pace of the two teams was all too evident, with Germany showing more desire to create even though they were two goals to the good. The Dutch did create a good opportunity in the 56th minute; Robben strode down the left and cut the ball back to the edge of the box where Van Persie was waiting to strike the ball low and firm first time, forcing goalkeeper Neuer to make a clever save low to his right, something to finally get excited about for the Dutch fans. The Germans were dictating play without much of a fight back from the opposition. A long range effort from Sneijder which whizzed by the post was as good of a chance Holland had created in the game. 70 minutes in and Arjen Robben finally came to life, skipping past two German defenders and in to the box, before playing the ball across the box to the on rushing Sneijder, whos placed shot was blocked by the torso of Boateng. Finally something to shout about for the Dutch in the 73rd minute, Van Persie picked the ball up just outside the German box, turned smartly and ran directly towards goal, before unleashing an unstoppable right footed drive in to Neuer€™s bottom corner, the Van Persie we all know and love had finally arrived at the tournament, and more importantly, game on! Germany 2-1 Holland. The last few minutes saw Stekelenburg almost make the clanger of the tournament when he let a back pass run across his body while Klose was closing him down, which almost resulted in the ball being fumbled in to the back of the net, but the Dutch keeper was saved his blushes. The final whistle was greeted by a roar from the German support, leaving them needing a point to qualify, while Holland need a miracle!