The Netherlands held a remarkable unbeaten record before losing to Spain in the final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Now, as they aim to put their troubles behind, the Dutch want to start all over again on a good track.
They got off perfectly against San Marino as they opened their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign with a comfortable 5-0 victory that saw Huntelaar bag a hat-trick. There was also space for Ruud van Nistelrooy to mark his return to international football with a last-gasp goal which rounded off the Netherlands’ easy win away from home.
On Tuesday, however, the Oranje will play host to Finland and it certainly sounds fair to say that they enter this Euro 2012 qualifying match as the favorites. The Netherlands possess enough potential and composure to build a great home record throughout qualifiers as they entertain Finland at the Stadion Feijenoord in Rotterdam.
Besides looking strong ahead of Tuesday’s clash, the Netherlands should also benefit from Sami Hyypiä’s absence for Finland. The former Liverpool defender was flashed a straight red card as his side succumbed to Moldova’s pressure and thus lost 2-0 in the end. Either way, nothing is impossible in football… at least, it seems so.
On this note, Finland could turn around the shocking defeat they endured on match-day one of the Euro 2012 qualifiers. As they go into Tuesday’s game away to the Netherlands, Finland occupy the fourth position in Group E’s six-team table. They are behind the Dutch, Sweden, and Moldova who all clinched maximum points from their first Euro 2012 qualifying fixture.
Pulling up an upset in Rotterdam against all the odds might breathe life into Finland’s dejected team spirit. Could the visitors (minus Sami Hyypiä) containing the likes of the Netherlands’ Dirk Kuyt or even Huntelaar who is an early contender for the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign top scorer award?
