The Netherlands already secured a ticket for Euro 2012 but the vice World Champions will seek to maintain their perfect record in the qualifying campaign against Moldova on Friday. They will miss some top players due to injuries, amongst them Wesley Sneijder.
If the Netherlands win their last two matches and post a perfect qualifying campaign for the European Championships, they will equal the France and the Czech Republic, who managed a perfect campaign for the 2004 and the 2000 tournaments respectively. Germany and Spain are also track for a perfect campaign for Euro 2012. The Netherlands also hope to break the goal scoring record for a European country in Euro or World Cup qualifying. Spain scored 42 goals in their 2000 qualifying campaign, the Orange squad are on 34 goals from their first eight games, an average of 4,25 goal per match. If they continue that rate in their last two matches the Spanish record is in danger of being broken.
Due to a couple of injuries Coach Bert van Marwijk has some difficult choices to make for his starting eleven on Friday, but if he is looking for goals Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is the answer. The prolific striker hit the target twice for his club during the 2-1 league victory at Hamburger SV last weekend and he also tops the goal scorer list for Euro 2012 on 10 goals. He leads Germany’s Miroslav Klose (9 goals). With Internazionale playmaker Wesley Sneijder out due to a groin injury Tottenham Hotspurs Rafael van der Vaart will probably play at the crucial number ten position, which is the pivot of the Dutch attack. Arjen Robben will not play against Moldova and the Bayern München winger will also miss the last qualifier against Sweden. Van Marwijk may choose for Eljero Elia on the left, but he could also play with Robin van Persie, Dirk Kuyt or PSV’s Jeremain Lens as wingers.
Mark van Bommel trained separately because of a knee injury this week, but he will be able to start against Moldova. The AC Milan midfielder will probably team up with Manchester City’s Nigel de Jong or PSV’s Kevin Strootman as defensive midfielders. The Orange back four are not clear yet. With Everton’s John Heitinga injured Van Marwijk called Hedwiges Maduro, but the Valancia defender injured his ankle at the training this week. Hamburger SV’s Jeffrey Bruma is most likely to team up with Joris Mathijsen at the heart of the Dutch defense, but Khalid Boulahrouz (VfB Stuttgart) and Ron Vlaar (Feyenoord) could also replace Heitinga. Michel Vorm (Swansea) is most likely to replace goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg (AS Roma), who is still suffering from a head injury.
Netherlands have played Moldova three times before and have won all three times with an 8-1 aggregate score. Their only home match against Moldova resulted in a 5-0 victory on 11 October 2003. Their latest match in Moldova ended in the narrowest of victories for Holland (0-1). Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored the match winner on 8 October 2010.
Moldova only won two of eight Euro 2012 qualifying matches, a 2-0 win over Finland and a 0-2 win at San Marino. Alexandr Suvorov is Moldova’s top scorer in this qualification campaign with three goals.
Due to a couple of injuries Coach Bert van Marwijk has some difficult choices to make for his starting eleven on Friday, but if he is looking for goals Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is the answer. The prolific striker hit the target twice for his club during the 2-1 league victory at Hamburger SV last weekend and he also tops the goal scorer list for Euro 2012 on 10 goals. He leads Germany’s Miroslav Klose (9 goals). With Internazionale playmaker Wesley Sneijder out due to a groin injury Tottenham Hotspurs Rafael van der Vaart will probably play at the crucial number ten position, which is the pivot of the Dutch attack. Arjen Robben will not play against Moldova and the Bayern München winger will also miss the last qualifier against Sweden. Van Marwijk may choose for Eljero Elia on the left, but he could also play with Robin van Persie, Dirk Kuyt or PSV’s Jeremain Lens as wingers.
Mark van Bommel trained separately because of a knee injury this week, but he will be able to start against Moldova. The AC Milan midfielder will probably team up with Manchester City’s Nigel de Jong or PSV’s Kevin Strootman as defensive midfielders. The Orange back four are not clear yet. With Everton’s John Heitinga injured Van Marwijk called Hedwiges Maduro, but the Valancia defender injured his ankle at the training this week. Hamburger SV’s Jeffrey Bruma is most likely to team up with Joris Mathijsen at the heart of the Dutch defense, but Khalid Boulahrouz (VfB Stuttgart) and Ron Vlaar (Feyenoord) could also replace Heitinga. Michel Vorm (Swansea) is most likely to replace goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg (AS Roma), who is still suffering from a head injury.
Netherlands have played Moldova three times before and have won all three times with an 8-1 aggregate score. Their only home match against Moldova resulted in a 5-0 victory on 11 October 2003. Their latest match in Moldova ended in the narrowest of victories for Holland (0-1). Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored the match winner on 8 October 2010.
Moldova only won two of eight Euro 2012 qualifying matches, a 2-0 win over Finland and a 0-2 win at San Marino. Alexandr Suvorov is Moldova’s top scorer in this qualification campaign with three goals.
