The Netherlands already secured a ticket for Euro 2012 but the Dutch squad hope to finish the qualification campaign with a perfect record at Sweden on Thursday. The hosts need a win to qualify for Euro 2012.
Together with Germany and Spain the Netherlands are still on track to record a perfect qualifying campaign. France (2004) and Czech Republic (2000) are the only countries to have recorded a perfect qualifying campaign in the history of the European Championships. In their penultimate qualifying match against Moldova the Dutch were not able to give their home crowd the expected football show. Thanks to a Klaas-Jan Huntelaar goal they grabbed a slim 1-0 victory. The Schalke 04 striker equaled Johan Cruijff’s record for all-time Dutch top scorer in European Qualifying matches with 12 goals.
The win against Moldova marked Bert van Marwijk’s 31st victory as Dutch national team manager. He equaled Dick Advocaat in third place. Only Marco van Basten (35 , 2004-2008) and Bob Glendenning (37, 1923-1940) won more. Since the World Cup Final versus Spain, Holland are unbeaten in 14 matches (11 wins). The Dutch record was set just ahead of this 2010 World Cup final with 25 games without defeat (20 wins).
As far as Mark van Bommel is concerned the Dutch will continue their winning streak. “This team always sees a challenge, even if there’s nothing at stake. We want to keep focused, despite the fact that some important players are injured.” Amongst those injured players are Wesley Sneijde, Arjen Robben and goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.
Sweden are on course to become the best number two in the Euro 2012 qualification campaign, but they need a win to secure that position. Other contenders to qualify as best number two are Denmark, Portugal or Norway from Groupe H, Croatia from Group F and Russia and Ireland from Group B. If Sweden win they are sure to qualify as best number two, with a draw they will depend on a lot of other results and with a loss they have to try and qualify in the play-offs against another number two.
Winning against the Dutch is tough, and it gets even more difficult without Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The AC Milan striker is suspended and will probably be replaced by Ola Toivonen, who plays for PSV in the Netherlands. Van Bommel, who plays with Ibrahimovic at AC Milan his team mate’s absence. “It’s a pity. We want to play against string opponents and Zlatan had so many qualities, he can make any team better.”
The win against Moldova marked Bert van Marwijk’s 31st victory as Dutch national team manager. He equaled Dick Advocaat in third place. Only Marco van Basten (35 , 2004-2008) and Bob Glendenning (37, 1923-1940) won more. Since the World Cup Final versus Spain, Holland are unbeaten in 14 matches (11 wins). The Dutch record was set just ahead of this 2010 World Cup final with 25 games without defeat (20 wins).
As far as Mark van Bommel is concerned the Dutch will continue their winning streak. “This team always sees a challenge, even if there’s nothing at stake. We want to keep focused, despite the fact that some important players are injured.” Amongst those injured players are Wesley Sneijde, Arjen Robben and goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.
Sweden are on course to become the best number two in the Euro 2012 qualification campaign, but they need a win to secure that position. Other contenders to qualify as best number two are Denmark, Portugal or Norway from Groupe H, Croatia from Group F and Russia and Ireland from Group B. If Sweden win they are sure to qualify as best number two, with a draw they will depend on a lot of other results and with a loss they have to try and qualify in the play-offs against another number two.
Winning against the Dutch is tough, and it gets even more difficult without Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The AC Milan striker is suspended and will probably be replaced by Ola Toivonen, who plays for PSV in the Netherlands. Van Bommel, who plays with Ibrahimovic at AC Milan his team mate’s absence. “It’s a pity. We want to play against string opponents and Zlatan had so many qualities, he can make any team better.”
