Day 2 Thoughts

The Great Danes

It wasn't supposed to start this way for my predicted Euro 2012 champions (you were supposed to make me look smart!).  The Dutch struggled mightily against Denmark, a team many claimed to be the weakest in the group (albeit with a #9 world ranking).  The Netherlands saw great periods of possession during the match, as any Dutch side should, but the finishing was horrifying.  Robin Van Persie was never able to get comfortable in the game, and his complete whiff of the ball later in the match really summed up the day for the Oranje.  Arjen Robben had another frustrating outing as well.  The Bayern Munich star was always one to watch with the ball, however, aside from one strike off the far post, he never was able to threaten Stephan Andersen's goal.  Wesley Sneijder was the only Dutch player that really looked up to it today.  His cutting Zidane-esque pass in the 74th minute to an in-stride Klaas-Jan Huntelaar was the pass of the tournament thus far.  However, the Danish keeper and defense stepped up yet again to deny the Dutch their equalizer.

For how let down the Netherlands attackers must feel, the defenders should feel twice as bad.  Denmark was only able to gain great possession for brief periods of the game, but when they did the Danes always looked like scoring.  The Dutch back four gave the opposition far too much space, and the Danish capitalized in the 24th minute.  Simon Poulsen made a surging run down the left flank and hit a deflected cross that fell to Michael Krohn-Dehli at the corner of the 18 yard box.  Krohn-Dehli then made a fool of both Mark van Bommel and John Heitinga before driving the ball between Maarten Stekelenburg's legs, giving the Danes the eventual match winner.

Krohn-Dehli was the man of the match for me in this one.  It was not only because of his goal either.  He popped up everywhere and was the heartbeat of the Danish attack for the entire game.  He deserved the winner the way he made a suspect Dutch back four look poor over the full 90 minutes.

Germany 1-0- Portugal

The second game had more of a nervy feel to it, as two of Europe's juggernauts took the field.  Although the Germans were the more threatening side in the game,  it was a much more back-and-forth, cagey affair.   

The Germans were frustrated for most of the game, unable to breakdown a determined Portuguese back four.  However, Germany finally broke through in the 72nd minute when Mario Gomez headed home a deflected Sami Khedira cross.  

Portugal had a few great chances late in the game, but they came closest when Pepe struck a shot off the crossbar late in the first half.  The ball bounced straight down, and somehow did not manage to cross the goal line.  I was impressed with Portugal, despite the loss.  They defended well as a team, and were able to play to the level of the Germans for the entire game.  This one could have very easily finished as a draw,  but the Germans found a way to get the job done, like they so often do.