Portugal vs. The Netherlands Kharkiv Ukraine, Metalist Stadium 19:45GMT Line ups: Portugal Rui Patricio Coentrão - Pepe - Bruno Alves - Pereira Nani - Moutinho - Veloso - Raul Mereiles Postiga - Ronaldo The Netherlands Huntelaar Van der Vaart - Van Persie - Robben Sneijder - De Jong Willems - Mathijsen - Vlaar - Van der Wiel News: Bert van Marwijk said in a press conference yesterday that he will apply changes to the starting eleven line up. Journalists asked the head coach of the Dutch if he will make drastic changes in the team to make a 'do or die' effort this evening. Van Marwijk said that he changed tactics towards the conclusive match against Portugal. It is likely that he will field both Huntelaar and Van Persie and it is likely that Van der Vaart will start instead of Ibrahim Afellay. Van Bommel is likely to make way for Huntelaar. Results needed to advance for both teams: Denmark needs to lose or draw and The Netherlands needs to win with a 2 goal lead to advance to the quarter finals. Portugal can lose this match as long as Denmark loses. If Denmark draws then Portugal needs a draw. If Denmark wins against the Germans, then the Portugese have to win on a +1 goal base over the Danes to advance. Both squads have currently a goal difference of 0.
I hope it is a better than their encounter in 2006 when there was 16 yellow cards and four reds: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_F...C_Portugal_vs._Netherlands_.28Second_round.29 Still an international record I think.
Dutch media just confirmed that Huntelaar will start with Van Persie playing on the #10 position. Appointed refereee for this match,Nicola Rizzoli (ITA), is known to hand out alot of yellow cards in a single game. On average 4 to 5 cards per game.
Hot off the press, Heitinga will not play, will be replaced by Ron Vlaar. line ups are updated, game will start in a couple of minutes.
What strikes me the most, in the first 20 minutes, against Denmark, Germany as well as Portugal, the Dutch team has full control over the game and dominates, and then bam, it's over like a house of cards.
Shows a lack of focus, they dominate, think they have the opposition where they want them, and instead of going in for the kill, they take their collective foot off the gas.