Happy Father’s Day, Canada!
No doubt we have caused you a dilemma today, but we’re glad to see that you have your priorities in order: 1) Reading Euro 2012 liveblogs 2) Spending a bit of quality time with your father on his big day.
Now, now, don’t feel guilty about watching soccer over hanging out with your old man. Father’s Day happens every year whereas this tournament only takes place once every four years. Trust us, Dad would understand your choice.
This is probably NOT how your father reacted when he heard you were reading this liveblog over spending the day with him. Though, we could be wrong…
Pre-match banter
We have a mouth-watering match in prospect today as Portugal takes on the under-preforming Netherlands/ Dutch/ Holland.
In order to escape from the ‘Group of Meh,’ Holland must edge Portugal by two goals and hope that Germany defeats Denmark.
Sorry, one second, my father is trying to call me. Let me just auto-hang up and turn my phone to mute.
Ah. There we go. Much better.
Moving on, some pundits in the media have suggested that the Germans may very well ease up on Danes as to ensure Holland’s early exit. Pragmatic, yes. Sporting, absolutely not.
In fact, Bayern Munich midfielder and Holland international, Arjen Robben, sharing this very concern, has called on his Munich team-mates to give it their all:
“For sure, there’s still a chance. We need to think that if Germany fulfil their sporting duty, it is still in our own hands if we beat Portugal by two goals.”
Portugal player to watch: Ronaldo (pictured below, obviously)
It almost goes without saying: If Portugal is to advance in Euro 2012 to the knock-out stages, Ronaldo has to get his game into gear. Granted, Portugal is no Real Madrid. At Real, Ronaldo has five or six other major superstars to play along with.
It would seem as though the expectations of his country being placed squarely on his shoulders is creating a psychological problem for the former Manchester United star. Goal scoring chances that Ronaldo has botched while wearing his national jersey would have almost certainly found the net had he been wearing the Madrid kit.
Netherlands player to watch: Arjen Robben (Pictured below)
Arjen Robben has had a pretty rough few months.
However, when in form, he has the ability to completely control the game. Expect Robben to do everything in his capabilities to pull Holland out from the jaws of defeat and into the next round.
Odds: Portugal (2.80), the draw (3.50) and Netherlands to win (2.50).
Here is how the two teams will line up this afternoon:
Portugal (4-3-3)
Rui Patricio; Joao Pereira, Bruno Alves, Pepe, Fabio Coentrao; Miguel Veloso, Joao Moutinho, Raul Meireles; Nani, Helder Postiga, Cristiano Ronaldo (capt)
Netherlands (4-2-3-1)
Maarten Stekelenburg; Gregory van der Wiel, Ron Vlaar, Joris Mathijsen, Jetro Willems; Nigel de Jong, Rafael van der Vaart (capt); Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, Robin van Persie; Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (ITA)
Predictions:
Holland 3 Ronaldo & Co. 1
What’s that you say? We have a special treat for our reading audience today…
Indeed we do! Paul Metcalfe (pictured below), avid Dutch supporter and senior editor of Canada’s Pre-eminent News Source, The Smew, is live in-studio to help provide extra analysis.
Question: How has Holland played thus far in the tournament?
Paul Metcalfe: (no response)
Good stuff Paul, good stuff.
KICK OFF
1 min: And we’re off.
3 min It would appear as though Sneijder has started in a position on the left. So far, it’s proved effective as Holland has had the lions share of possession. The Dutch win a throw-in.
7 min Ronaldo takes a free kick from some distance. The effort, overly ambitious from the on-start, gets deflected and sails over the net.
11 min GOAL! Portugal 0-1 Holland (Van der Vaart): What a screamer from Rafael van der Vaart! A curling shot finds the back of the net. One goal down, one goal to go for the Dutch. Paul Metcalfe goes wild!
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15 min Ronaldo cuts in and takes a shot that hits the side of the post. This was his best chance to score thus far in the tournament and he has blown it, yet again.
17 min A unreal pass from Gregory van der Wiel releases Helder Postiga in behind the Holland defence.Postiga, however, proceeds to make a dogs dinner out of his pseudo-breakaway. Corner kick to come.
19 min Dare I say, this is the best start to any of the matches so far. What do you think, Paul Metcalfe?
Paul Metcalfe: Yes.
MEANWHILE 21 min 1-0 to Germany in Lviv.
22 min Ronaldo absolutely hammers a header at Maarten Stekelenburg. It’s a decent save. Ronaldo hasn’t score yet in the competition, however, he has got awfully close this afternoon.
25 min Denmark have equalised against Germany. As a HUGE Holland supporter, what do you think about this revelation, Paul Metcalfe?
28 min GOAL! Portugal 1 Holland 1 (Ronaldo) Finally! Ronaldo equalizes with a nice finish off the heels of some pretty poor defending from the Dutch. I wonder what Messi is thinking about right now?
#Euro2012 - Cristiano is the FIRST portuguese player ever to score at 5 different World Cup-Euro editions (2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012)
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Mister Chip (Alexis) (@2010MisterChip) June 17, 201230 min According to The Guardian:
33 min Ronaldo steps over the ball a seemingly endless amount of times before hammering a shot. The ball hits off a defender. A corner to come. I must say, it looks as though Ronaldo is starting to enjoy himself in this tournament.
Cristiano is trending worldwide. The beast is definitely back! #Euro2012
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SB (@Realmadridplace) June 17, 201237 min Nani gets tackled by VDV who clearly has demonstrated that he isn’t a defender. Free kick to come. Portugal are starting to dominate this match.
Question: Paul Metcalfe, how is Holland playing at the moment?
Response (pictured below):
42 min Nani sends in a brillant cross to Ronaldo who just misses with a header. When was the last time RVP touched the ball? Send your responses to @theonald on Twitter for a chance to win a shout out on this liveblog (which is literally read by tens of Canadians!).
Both these #Euro2012 games feel like there will be more goals. Each time someone scores the picture for the quarter final changes.
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Robby Ray (@Robby_Ray) June 17, 2012HALF TIME
Portugal 1 Holland 1
If Denmark win this 2-1 and Portugal beat Holland 2-1, the Germans will be going home. Wow. Can't see it though can you?
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Luke Edwards (@LukeEdwardsTele) June 17, 2012Should the momentum carry over from the first half, it’s hard to think that Portugal won’t net another goal or two. Yet, Holland need to score twice if they are to advance. The second-half is right around the bend.
46 min The soccer is happening again! Something tells me that we’ll have a cracking second half.
47 min I just received an email asking me what I’m eating during this match. Sadly, Oreos. Very un-thematic of me, I know, I know.
50 min Joao Moutinho gets tackled by Willems who picks up his second yellow card. I’m sure the tackle didn’t tickle, but my word, Moutinho is carrying on as if he got shot in the pants.
53 min Holland to take yet another corner. Sneijder plays a short one-two with Arjen Robben and Vlaar has a free header! The attack peters out.
Typical, it's NED Vs GER, and the BBC are talking about England!
#Euro202
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C'est La Vie (@Faiz_Khan4) June 13, 2012
60 min Goal! Ooops. Waived off Postiga scores from a Ronaldo cross, however, he appears to be offside. False alarm, folks. False alarm.
64 min Posttiga is coming off for Portugal.
68 min Last kick at the can for Holland: Afellay on for Willems. Striker for a defender. The score remains 1-1. Certainty not the result Holland wants at the end of the match.
73 GOAL RONALDO - Dutch hearts are broken by Portugal’s prodigal son, Ronaldo. A perfectly weighted pass leaves number 7 wide open to completely undress the keeper.
Cristiano Ronaldo cut from 33/1 to 4/1 to be #Euro2012 top scorer after bagging his second against the Dutch: bit.ly/LZ7Kfu
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Sky Bet (@SkyBet) June 17, 2012How do you feel about this goal, avid Holland fan, Paul Metcalfe?
Response (pictured below)
77 min Good night, Holland. Unless the Dutch can score three goals in the next ten minutes, they’ll be headed home early. If I weren’t contractually obligated to finish this liveblog, I’d probably be taking a snooze right about now.
GOAL for Germany. Lars Bender gives Germany the lead once again in the 80th minute #EURO2012
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FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) June 17, 201283 min Van der Vaart hits the post with a sensational shot from just outside the area.
86 min Another horrific miss from Nani which sails over the bar with a good amount of pace. He proceeds to be taken off by the manger for Rolando.
88 min You’d have to think that this is the last time all of the Dutch superstars will be playing together in a major tournament. On a side, Ronaldo hits the post, nearly netting his hattrick.
Ronaldo is utterly brilliant. End.
#euro2012
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Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) June 17, 201290 min Four more (stoppage time) minutes for Holland to run around on the pitch and be on TV.
It’s all over.
Ronaldo 2 Holland 1.
How do you feel about this result, MASSIVE Holland supporter, Paul Metcalfe?
Brillant answer, Paul Metcalfe (who may or may not have had a tidy sum of money on Holland going through to the next round). I couldn’t have said it any better myself.
Netherlands, how do you go from the World Cup Final to not winning a game in the Euros in the space of 2 years?!! #Euro2012 #rapiddecline
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Ed Williams (@edwilliams88) June 17, 2012That’s all from me folks. Thank you kindly for following along today on the ol’ liveblog. Have an excellent evening and be good.
