Netherlands v Denmark, 09 June 2012

Score1-0 to Denmark
RefereeDamir Skomina
CompetitionUEFA European Championship Finals Group B
VenueMetalist Stadium, Kharkiv
Attendance35,923
Kick-off: 7.00pm local Assistant referees: Primoz Arhar (Slovenia) Matej Žunič (Slovenia) Fourth official: Pavel Královec (Czech Republic) Additional assistant referees: Matej Jug (Slovenia) Slavko Vinčić (Slovenia) Man of the Match: Michael Krohn-Dehli (Denmark) Through a combination of sheer defiance and one clinical finish, Denmark defeated the Netherlands for the first time in nine attempts, and 45 years, to throw UEFA EURO 2012 Group B wide open. To term this a tale of frustration for Bert van Marwijk's side would be an understatement. Boasting eight of the team that started the FIFA World Cup final two years ago – a tournament they began with a 2-0 win against Denmark – the Oranje were at times every bit as stylish as their eventual conquerors in South Africa, Spain. Chance after chance came and went but that final flourish, that most important of touches, eluded them. Denmark, by contrast, had one clear opening and one fine goal. Michael Krohn-Dehli provided the finish on 24 minutes and, though their backs remained against the wall thereafter, it was enough for Morten Olsen's men to go top of a daunting section also including Portugal and Germany. The Dutch had outscored Denmark by 22 goals in qualifying and came charging out of the blocks with all the incision and fluidity that got them here. There was, though, one thing missing. Jetro Willems, at 18 years and 71 days the youngest player ever to grace a UEFA European Championship, let fly early on but it was Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben who led the assault. However, the Arsenal FC man showed none of the devastating finishing that earned him 30 Premier League goals this season. Glorious opportunities either end of the first half went begging for Van Persie, who let one slip by after an uncharacteristically poor first touch with just Stephan Andersen to beat. Robben was equally culpable when he too could see the whites of the Denmark No1's eyes yet, bizarrely, opted to pass. The FC Bayern München forward endured disappointment of a different kind on 36 minutes when he seized on goalkeeper Andersen's slipshod pass but struck a post. Robben, Van Persie and Ibrahim Afellay all had further chances but, nestled among this Dutch bombardment, was a moment of Danish delight. Simon Poulsen's deflected cross landed at the feet of Krohn-Dehli, who shrugged off three Dutch defenders with an exquisite dummy before scurrying through and firing between Maarten Stekelenberg's legs. The Danes had not so much ridden the storm, but somehow emerged on the other side with a suntan. Half-time failed to dampen the Dutch verve and soon enough Van Persie was again in behind, yet this time he could only kick the ground. Mark van Bommel, tired of the scenic route taken by his more refined colleagues, went direct only to see his rasping shot turned behind. If that was Plan B, Plan C looked to be to go aerial. John Heitinga nodded over from a corner before Robben completed a hat-trick of spurned gilt-edged openings when he headed Sneijder's raking cross wide from eight metres. Cue the cavalry – Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Rafael van der Vaart – but still it went on. This time it was the outlandish through ball from Sneijder, the impeccable first touch from Huntelaar and the failure to finish. It was a familiar story.

0  Netherlands

Manager: Bert van Marwijk

1  Denmark

Manager: Morten Olsen

Goals:

Goals:

Michael Krohn-Dehli 24 G

Starting lineup:

Defender Johnny Heitinga
Defender Ron Vlaar
Defender Jetro Willems
Midfielder Ibrahim Afellay
Midfielder Nigel de Jong
Midfielder Arjen Robben
Midfielder Wesley Sneijder
Midfielder Mark van Bommel (captain)

Starting lineup:

Stephan Andersen Goalkeeper
Daniel Agger Defender (captain)
Lars Jacobsen Defender
Simon Kjaer Defender
Christian Eriksen Midfielder
Michael Krohn-Dehli Midfielder
William Kvist Midfielder
Niki Zimling Midfielder

Substitutions:

Klaas Jan Huntelaar for Ibrahim Afellay 71
Rafael van der Vaart for Nigel de Jong 71
Dirk Kuyt for Gregory van der Wiel 85

Substitutions:

Lasse Schöne for Christian Eriksen 74
Tobias Mikkelsen for Dennis Rommedahl 84

Cards:

Mark van Bommel 66 Y

Cards:

Simon Busk Poulsen 78 Y
William Kvist 81 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Tim Krul
Goalkeeper Michel Vorm
Defender Wilfred Bouma
Defender Joris Mathijsen
Midfielder Stijn Schaars
Midfielder Kevin Strootman
Midfielder/Forward Luciano Narsingh
Forward Luuk de Jong
Forward Dirk Kuyt

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard
Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel
Defender Andreas Bjelland
Defender Jores Okore
Defender Jakob Poulsen
Defender/Midfielder Daniel Wass
Midfielder Thomas Kahlenberg
Midfielder Tobias Mikkelsen
Midfielder Christian Poulsen
Midfielder Lasse Schöne
Midfielder Michael Silberbauer

0  Netherlands

Manager: Bert van Marwijk

Goals:

Starting lineup:

Defender Johnny Heitinga
Defender Ron Vlaar
Defender Jetro Willems
Midfielder Ibrahim Afellay
Midfielder Nigel de Jong
Midfielder Arjen Robben
Midfielder Wesley Sneijder
Midfielder Mark van Bommel (captain)

Substitutions:

Klaas Jan Huntelaar for Ibrahim Afellay 71
Rafael van der Vaart for Nigel de Jong 71
Dirk Kuyt for Gregory van der Wiel 85

Cards:

Mark van Bommel 66 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Tim Krul
Goalkeeper Michel Vorm
Defender Wilfred Bouma
Defender Joris Mathijsen
Midfielder Stijn Schaars
Midfielder Kevin Strootman
Midfielder/Forward Luciano Narsingh
Forward Luuk de Jong
Forward Dirk Kuyt

1  Denmark

Manager: Morten Olsen

Goals:

Michael Krohn-Dehli 24 G

Starting lineup:

Stephan Andersen Goalkeeper
Daniel Agger Defender (captain)
Lars Jacobsen Defender
Simon Kjaer Defender
Christian Eriksen Midfielder
Michael Krohn-Dehli Midfielder
William Kvist Midfielder
Niki Zimling Midfielder

Substitutions:

Lasse Schöne for Christian Eriksen 74
Tobias Mikkelsen for Dennis Rommedahl 84

Cards:

Simon Busk Poulsen 78 Y
William Kvist 81 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard
Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel
Defender Andreas Bjelland
Defender Jores Okore
Defender Jakob Poulsen
Defender/Midfielder Daniel Wass
Midfielder Thomas Kahlenberg
Midfielder Tobias Mikkelsen
Midfielder Christian Poulsen
Midfielder Lasse Schöne
Midfielder Michael Silberbauer