Today's first game will be between The Netherlands and Denmark. The game will be played starting 18:00 CET. Please share your thoughts.


Stadium
Metalist Stadium, Kharkiv (UKR)

Referee
Damir Skomina (SVN)

Assistant referees
Primož Arhar (SVN)
Matej Žunič (SVN)

Fourth official
Pavel Kralovec (CZE)

Additional assistant referees
Matej Jug (SVN)
Slavko Vinčić (SVN)

23-man Holland Euro 2012 Squad: Goalkeepers: Maarten Stekelenburg (AS Roma), Michel Vorm (Swansea), Tim Krul (Newcastle). Defenders: Khalid Boulahrouz (Stuttgart), John Heitinga (Everton), Joris Mathijsen (Malaga), Ron Vlaar (Feyenoord), Wilfred Bouma (PSV Eindhoven), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax), Jetro Willems (PSV Eindhoven). Midfielders: Ibrahim Afellay (Barcelona), Mark van Bommel (AC Milan), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Stijn Schaars (Sporting Lisbon), Wesley Sneijder (Inter Milan), Kevin Strootman (PSV Eindhoven), Rafael van der Vaart (Tottenham). Forwards: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke), Luuk de Jong (FC Twente), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Luciano Narsingh (Heerenveen), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich). The Coach: Bert van Marwijk

23-man Denmark Euro 2012 Squad: Goalkeepers: Stephan Andersen (Evian Thonon Gaillard), Anders Lindegaard (Manchester United), Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester City). Defenders: Lars Jacobsen (FC Kobenhavn), Daniel Wass (Evian Thonon Gaillard), Daniel Agger (Liverpool), Simon Kjær (AS Roma), Andreas Bjelland (Nordsjælland), Simon Poulsen (AZ Alkmaar), Jores Okore (Nordsjælland). Midfielders: Christian Poulsen (Evian Thonon Gaillard), Jakob Poulsen (Midtjylland), William Kvist (FC Nürnberg), Niki Zimling (Club Brugge), Thomas Kahlenberg (Evian Thonon Gaillard), Christian Eriksen (Ajax), Michael Silberbauer (BSC Young Boys), Lasse Schone (NEC Nijmegen). Forwards: Dennis Rommedahl (Brondby IF), Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal), Michael Krohn-Dehli (Brondby IF), Tobias Mikkelsen (FC Nordsjælland), Nicklas Pedersen (FC Groningen). The Coach: Morten Olsen

Sneijder @ training yesterday:

http://www.dumpert.nl/mediabase/2167731/cb6cdbab/geweldige_goal_sneijder.html

Netherlands vs Denmark discussion.

There's been very little talk about Denmark for a team that's actually as decent as they are. I guess that's what being underdogs in a group of death does to you. Does anyone believe they could surprise the Dutch tonight? As the game draws closer and closer, I get an increasing feeling that anything's certainly possible...

Of course anything is possible. They must play really smart though , if they go out to face them as equals and they not try to disturbe their football , they will pay for it against the Dutch.

Moreover , knowing Van Bommel , he will have a big say on the midfield battle and if Huntelaar/RVP can exploit the mistakes Denmark's suspect defence will most probably do , they will have problems.

On the other , the Dutch defence ain't anything out of this world either. It will be an open game , if Denmark play their cards right and wait for them.

"The Euros are much more difficult than the World Cup," Sneijder told reporters ahead of the game.

"You do not have teams in other continents against which you know you will get three points. There are strong teams.

"I feel good, I feel more than 100 per cent, I do not feel any pain, I can train, I can play matches and I am healthy and ready.

"This year I have not played much, I'm fine and I'm not as tired as two years ago. But I will have to wait until after the tournament to see if it was an advantage or not."

mtfootball wrote:
"The Euros are much more difficult than the World Cup," Sneijder told reporters ahead of the game.

"You do not have teams in other continents against which you know you will get three points. There are strong teams.

"I feel good, I feel more than 100 per cent, I do not feel any pain, I can train, I can play matches and I am healthy and ready.

"This year I have not played much, I'm fine and I'm not as tired as two years ago. But I will have to wait until after the tournament to see if it was an advantage or not."

Many have being saying that over the years really.. The Euros are of top difficulty when it comes to the 3 points . I believe this is correct , too .

Also , i've read somewhere that the next Euro will have 32 teams ; i can't recall if it's already official though or they just think of it ..

Dante wrote:Also , i've read somewhere that the next Euro will have 32 teams ; i can't recall if it's already official though or they just think of it ..

Euro 2016 will have 24 teams in it, not 32. It's official, 24 teams from UEFA Euro 2016 in France.

matpol wrote:

Dante wrote:Also , i've read somewhere that the next Euro will have 32 teams ; i can't recall if it's already official though or they just think of it ..

Euro 2016 will have 24 teams in it, not 32. It's official, 24 teams from UEFA Euro 2016 in France.

oh , i see . I can't recall exactly when i read that , but must have been before it goes official , cause i am pretty sure i ve read 32 ; but whatever , i like this prospect of more teams . Means more games

Denmark defend by keeping the ball, we love to have possession a lot, and i have faith in Morten Olsen will get the tactics right for this game, because he is probably the most well-prepared national team coach, seriously it is ridiculous how well he prepares for every match. I can't remember we have ever tried to park the bus to win a game, we always try to play our own game and we don't settle for another approach.
On the positive side, we could have surprised Holland in the WC in '10, but unfortunately we made an awful own goal and from then we looked like a horrible team the rest of the tournament.
The team has gotten a lot stronger since then, Eriksen is now more mature and a better player, but the only thing that worries me is that Zimling got injured yesterday and won't play today, so we have to play Christian Poulsen

Freeza wrote:Denmark defend by keeping the ball, we love to have possession a lot, and i have faith in Morten Olsen will get the tactics right for this game, because he is probably the most well-prepared national team coach, seriously it is ridiculous how well he prepares for every match. I can't remember we have ever tried to park the bus to win a game, we always try to play our own game and we don't settle for another approach.
On the positive side, we could have surprised Holland in the WC in '10, but unfortunately we made an awful own goal and from then we looked like a horrible team the rest of the tournament.
The team has gotten a lot stronger since then, Eriksen is now more mature and a better player, but the only thing that worries me is that Zimling got injured yesterday and won't play today, so we have to play Christian Poulsen

C.Poulsen ? and you are only worried

Jokes aside , it's great Denmark try their own football and we can only admire that ; but if your coach wants to get you out of this particular group stage , he must concede a bit .

Do you believe Denmark have the quality in their midfield , and defence in an extent , to deal with the pressing and up the pitch football Holland will bring?

Dante wrote:

Freeza wrote:Denmark defend by keeping the ball, we love to have possession a lot, and i have faith in Morten Olsen will get the tactics right for this game, because he is probably the most well-prepared national team coach, seriously it is ridiculous how well he prepares for every match. I can't remember we have ever tried to park the bus to win a game, we always try to play our own game and we don't settle for another approach.
On the positive side, we could have surprised Holland in the WC in '10, but unfortunately we made an awful own goal and from then we looked like a horrible team the rest of the tournament.
The team has gotten a lot stronger since then, Eriksen is now more mature and a better player, but the only thing that worries me is that Zimling got injured yesterday and won't play today, so we have to play Christian Poulsen

C.Poulsen ? and you are only worried

Jokes aside , it's great Denmark try their own football and we can only admire that ; but if your coach wants to get you out of this particular group stage , he must concede a bit .

Do you believe Denmark have the quality in their midfield , and defence in an extent , to deal with the pressing and up the pitch football Holland will bring?

We would have had the quality in midfield and defense, if Morten Olsen didn't insist on playing Simon Kjær instead of Andreas Bjælland all the time, it makes me rage.
Also the injury to Zimling probably means that our chances of progressing are non existent now

Freeza wrote:

Dante wrote:

Freeza wrote:Denmark defend by keeping the ball, we love to have possession a lot, and i have faith in Morten Olsen will get the tactics right for this game, because he is probably the most well-prepared national team coach, seriously it is ridiculous how well he prepares for every match. I can't remember we have ever tried to park the bus to win a game, we always try to play our own game and we don't settle for another approach.
On the positive side, we could have surprised Holland in the WC in '10, but unfortunately we made an awful own goal and from then we looked like a horrible team the rest of the tournament.
The team has gotten a lot stronger since then, Eriksen is now more mature and a better player, but the only thing that worries me is that Zimling got injured yesterday and won't play today, so we have to play Christian Poulsen

C.Poulsen ? and you are only worried

Jokes aside , it's great Denmark try their own football and we can only admire that ; but if your coach wants to get you out of this particular group stage , he must concede a bit .

Do you believe Denmark have the quality in their midfield , and defence in an extent , to deal with the pressing and up the pitch football Holland will bring?

We would have had the quality in midfield and defense, if Morten Olsen didn't insist on playing Simon Kjær instead of Andreas Bjælland all the time, it makes me rage.
Also the injury to Zimling probably means that our chances of progressing are non existent now

i wouldn't say that yet , though i get the feeling , when the coach does make decisions against a nations will but i've learned to deal with it...

Anyway , i wouldn't write you off because of an injury , even if it is that important; it could as well turn out that it might be a blessing in disguise , assuming his absence on the pitch will make the team even more cautious and realistic.

Morten Olsen actually plays football because of his own will, it is not because the nation wants him to play like that, us danes only cares about winning, but Morten Olsen has always wanted to play a beautiful game of football.

Niki Zimling, reportedly still has a chance to play

Nicolai Boilesen has predicted a 1-1 result!

"We know them a bit from two years ago,” Van der Wiel told Uefa.com. “But I also heard from [Denmark playmaker] Christian Eriksen that it's a different team now with a lot of young players in it.

“They have improved, so I think that we can expect to face a strong Denmark side who will want to win the game.”

Van der Wiel then went on to praise Ajax team-mate Eriksen, saying: “As a player he is amazing. He has good technique, always has his eye in for the right weight for the through ball, so it's just really nice to play with him.

“He's a very good player and, as a person he's fun and he's a calm guy. He never does anything crazy, he's a proper person."

Everton centre-back Heitinga agreed that the Danes will be no pushovers and stressed that three points in the first match are vital for his side.

"I think that Denmark have grown since our match against them two years ago," he said. "They play better as a team now, so I think it will be a good opening match in our group.

“Everybody expects us to win the game. We want to win, because it is important to take a good first step in the right direction at the Euros, but I don't think Denmark will be as easy to beat as they were two years ago.”

Heitinga went on to pick out Premier League opponent Nicklas Bendtner as Denmark’s biggest threat.

“I've played against Bendtner a few times this season, both in the league and the FA Cup,” the 28-year-old continued.

“He is a quality striker, big and strong, so you need to be sharp and awake. He is a player who likes to use his physical power, so you have to try and be one step ahead of him."

Freeza wrote:Morten Olsen actually plays football because of his own will, it is not because the nation wants him to play like that, us danes only cares about winning, but Morten Olsen has always wanted to play a beautiful game of football.

Niki Zimling, reportedly still has a chance to play

Nicolai Boilesen has predicted a 1-1 result!

Good luck then ! I like Denmark , hope you do well . I would like the Dannish NT even more if it weren't for Poulsen , but what can we do

Netherlands line-up: Stekelenburg; van der Wiel, Heitinga, Vlaar, Willems; van Bommel, de Jong; Robben, Sneijder, Afellay; van Persie.

Denmark line-up: Andersen; Jacobsen, Kjaer, Agger, S. Poulsen; Zimling, Kvist; Rommedahl, Eriksen, Krohn-Dehli; Bendtner.

Well Zimling is starting anyways, which is quite funny since he was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance just yesterday

The Danish line-up

Stephan Andersen
Lars Jacobsen, Simon Kjær, Daniel Agger, Simon Poulsen
Niki Zimling, William Kvist
Dennis Rommedahl, Christian Eriksen, Michael Krohn-Dehli
Nicklas Bendtner

Still pains me to see Simon Kjær in there

Freeza wrote:Well Zimling is starting anyways, which is quite funny since he was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance just yesterday

The Danish line-up

Stephan Andersen
Lars Jacobsen, Simon Kjær, Daniel Agger, Simon Poulsen
Niki Zimling, William Kvist
Dennis Rommedahl, Christian Eriksen, Michael Krohn-Dehli
Nicklas Bendtner

Still pains me to see Simon Kjær in there

Haven't seen Zimling play , will keep an eye on him today .

As for Rommedahl , doesn't Olsen have anyone better there.. i was highly not impressed during his time at Olympiacos

But national football is different , obviously . Actually , he was decent against Brazil , who knows.. Let's see.

Rommedahl is still alive?

Rommedahl is by far one of our best players in the national team, he is still fast, and was probably our best player against portugal last year

Is Rommedahl still a decent player? Im a Charlton fan and not really heard anything about him since he left. Eriksen's a fantastic player but Holland still should be too much for them

Netherlands: Stekelenburg; Van Der Wiel, Heitinga, Vlaar, Willems; De Jong, Van Bommel; Robben, Sneijder, Afellay; Van Persie

Denmark: Andersen; Jacobsen, Kjaer, Agger, S. Poulsen; Jorgensen, Eriksen, Zimling; Rommedahl, Bendtner, Krohn-Dehli

Vlaar... That's ok.

Let's do this shit.

Ok.. that was.. unexpected