San Marino have a dreadful record against the Netherlands. Their 23-0 aggregate score line over four meetings tells it all. Ironically, the Oranje have enjoyed bigger goal fests away to San Marino than in Holland. Just like Andorra and the Faroe Islands, San Marino’s status in the world of football is terribly below standards and there seems to have been very little improvement, if not nothing at all.
As Group E looks evenly balanced with Sweden, Finland, and Hungary appearing as realistic contenders to grab a qualifying spot, the Netherlands would love to kick start their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign in a great manner. Coach Bert van Marwijk will not fill his strongest side, but the Dutch are widely poised to trounce San Marino once again.
Actually, Robin van Persie isn’t the only forward that has his name missing on the Netherlands’ man-squad that will play on Friday. Bayern Munich’s Arjen Robben is also enduring some time on the sidelines. However, a considerable amount of Dutch players will be offered the opportunity to show what they are made of against San Marino in the Euro 2012 qualifiers this week. 
Theo Janssen, Vurnon Anita, Hedwiges Maduro, Jeremain Lens, Piet Velthuizen, Erik Pieters, and Ron Vlaar are expected to fill the void caused by the absence of Edson Braafheid, Andre Ooijer, Ryan Babel, Sander Boschker, and Stijn Schaars who have been left out by the coach. Best of all, the Dutch will welcome the return of the legendary Ruud van Nistelrooy.
The striker, whose last goal and match for the Netherlands was against Russia in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Euro 2008 where the Oranje lost 3-1, received a late call-up to replace the injured Robin van Persie. This season, Ruud has already scored 6 goals in 3 matches for Hamburg as he looks to be in good goal scoring form. Will Nistelrooy mark his international football career comeback with at least a goal against minnows San Marino to help the Netherlands enjoy a great Euro 2012 qualifying campaign?
San Marino vs Netherlands will get underway at 2:45pm EST on Friday, September 3. Sweden vs Hungary and Moldova vs Finland are two Euro 2012 qualifying fixtures in Group E that will also take place earlier on that day.
