Euro 2012 Group B: Netherlands 1-2 Germany
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The Netherlands' hopes of advancing to the Euro 2012 quarter-finals are hanging by a thread after suffering a 2-1 defeat by Germany in Kharkiv on Wednesday night.
In-form striker Mario Gómez put Germany ahead in the 24th minute with an excellent finish after Bastian Schweinsteiger's through-ball cut the Dutch defense in two.
The Germans doubled the advantage seven minutes before half-time when Schweinsteiger played in Gómez and slammed an unstoppable shot across Maarten Stekelenburg from a tight angle.
Bert van Marwijk's men were able to improve after the break, though, and pulled one back when Robin van Persie smashed home an unstoppable shot with his weaker right foot on 73 minutes.
That sparked a late spell of pressure by the Dutch, but Germany were able to hang on and take their place at the top of Group B with six points, leaving them on the verge of qualification for the last eight.
Joachim Löw's side now only need a point against Denmark to reach the knockout stages, while the Netherlands must now defeat Portugal in their final Group B game to stand any chance of reaching the quarter-finals.
Lineups:
Netherlands: Maarten Stekelenburg; Gregory van der Wiel, John Heitinga, Joris Mathijsen, Jetro Willems; Mark van Bommel (Rafael van der Vaart, 45), Nigel De Jong; Arjen Robben (Dirk Kuyt, 83), Wesley Sneijder, Ibrahim Afellay (Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, 45); Robin van Persie
Germany: Manuel Neuer; Jérôme Boateng, Mats Hummels, Holger Badstuber, Philipp Lahm; Sami Khedira, Bastian Schweinsteiger; Thomas Müller (Lars Bender, 90), Mesut Özil (Toni Kroos, 81), Lukas Podolski; Mario Gómez (Miroslav Klose, 72)
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| Germany forward Mario Gómez scores past Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg Photo: AP |
In-form striker Mario Gómez put Germany ahead in the 24th minute with an excellent finish after Bastian Schweinsteiger's through-ball cut the Dutch defense in two.
The Germans doubled the advantage seven minutes before half-time when Schweinsteiger played in Gómez and slammed an unstoppable shot across Maarten Stekelenburg from a tight angle.
Bert van Marwijk's men were able to improve after the break, though, and pulled one back when Robin van Persie smashed home an unstoppable shot with his weaker right foot on 73 minutes.
That sparked a late spell of pressure by the Dutch, but Germany were able to hang on and take their place at the top of Group B with six points, leaving them on the verge of qualification for the last eight.
Joachim Löw's side now only need a point against Denmark to reach the knockout stages, while the Netherlands must now defeat Portugal in their final Group B game to stand any chance of reaching the quarter-finals.
Lineups:
Netherlands: Maarten Stekelenburg; Gregory van der Wiel, John Heitinga, Joris Mathijsen, Jetro Willems; Mark van Bommel (Rafael van der Vaart, 45), Nigel De Jong; Arjen Robben (Dirk Kuyt, 83), Wesley Sneijder, Ibrahim Afellay (Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, 45); Robin van Persie
Germany: Manuel Neuer; Jérôme Boateng, Mats Hummels, Holger Badstuber, Philipp Lahm; Sami Khedira, Bastian Schweinsteiger; Thomas Müller (Lars Bender, 90), Mesut Özil (Toni Kroos, 81), Lukas Podolski; Mario Gómez (Miroslav Klose, 72)
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