Fifa World Cup South Africa 2010
Netherlands vs Denmark 
NetherlandsWith the famous 'totaalvoetbal', the Netherlands impressed the world in the seventies during two World Cups. The 1974 side was probably the strongest team ever not to win the World Cup together with Hungary in 1954. No single side managed to fulfil the eternal Dutch dream of becoming World Champions, although the 1998 squad came close with a place in the semi-final.
Was it a bumpy road to South Africa? On the contrary. Bert van Marwijk's team probably had the easiest qualifying session of every country, with the exception of hosts South Africa. The Dutch team comfortably won Group 9 in the European zone beating Norway, Scotland, Macedonia and Iceland. With a World Cup ticket in the bag after the sixth matchday, the Netherlands managed to beat Norway and Scotland and made their campaign perfect, winning all of their eight matches.
MATCH DETAILS
Date :14-06-2010
Play Time:
11:30 until 13:30 GMT
Netherlands vs Denmark
Fifa World Cup South Africa 2010
Denmark
They didn’t shock the world, but the manner in which Denmark made the World Cup turned a few heads, beating Portugal in Portugal, Sweden twice and pretty much controlling their own destiny throughout. A second spot may have been likely, but to win the group in suchemphatic fashion wasn’t expected. Of course qualifying is only a small fraction of the battle and it’ll mean nothing if they don’t at least match the output in South Africa.
Their group isn’t an entirely difficult one – it certainly hasn’t the depth of Group D, for example – but it’s a tricky one, as there isn’t a great deal separating the Danish from Cameroon and Japan. There is, however, a great deal separating the Netherlands from everyone else – which might just make you think an upset could be in order.
Perhaps no team at the World Cup is as tied to its coach as Denmark – they are, after all, the Olsen Gang – and does h ever deserve it: coached 104 games, played 102. The only man in football history in the international 100-100 club – and a club of one is mighty exclusive.
Of course that’s the past. The present is that Denmark put on a show in qualifying, winning their group rather easily, only losing the final and meaningless game, while winning their two most difficult: in Lisbon, in Sweden. The players are due much of the credit, but they are his gang.
