Julian Finney/Getty Images Euro 2012 Group B—Metalist Stadium, Kharkiv, Ukraine.
NETHERLANDS 0-1 DENMARK (Full time)
Goals: Krohn-Deli (Denmark) 23'
Lineups
Netherlands: Stekelenburg; Van der Wiel (Kuyt), Heitinga, Vlaar, Willems; De Jong (van der Vaart), Van Bommel; Robben, Sneijder, Afellay (Huntelaar); Van Persie
Denmark: S. Andersen; Jacobsen, S Poulsen, Agger, Kjær; Zimling, Kvist; Krohn-Dehli, Eriksen (Schone), Rommedahl (Mikkelsen); Bendtner
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We'll have plenty of reaction and analysis coming up on Bleacher Report after this game, but right now we turn our attention to the next Group B game which is GERMANY vs PORTUGAL. Head on over and I'll see you there!
Well that is a real turn-up for the books and the first big shock result of Euro 2012.
Denmark have beaten one of the pre-tournament favourites, Netherlands, by a single goal to nil, courtesy of the early strike from Michael Krohn-Deli.
The Dutch had plenty of possession and created a bushel load of shooting opportunities, but Robben, Huntelaar, van Persie and Sneijder all missed chance after chance.
Julian Finney/Getty Images FULL TIME IN KHARKIV
Netherlands 0 Denmark 1
92'—Last 60 seconds now. Bendtner gives the ball away in attack and Holland come forward one last time...but Kuyt's cross is blocked.
90'—Netherlands have a corner, and we are into injury time. Forward goes Heitinga and Vlaar too...but the header is inaccurate and hopeful from the defender, and the ball goes wide.
TV images show that last handball claim was almost certainly worthy of being a penalty. A definite ball-to-hand from Jacobsen.
89'—BIG HANDBALL SHOUT! Netherlands want a penalty in the closing moments for a handball in the box. Huntelaar played juggling the ball in the box and claimed it hit the hand of Kjaer on the way down, but nothing doing says the referee.
Three minutes of added time to be played.
88'—No movement, no urgency, no idea. Netherlands are looking very, very lost at the moment.
87'—Kuyt crosses deep from the right but there is only one player in the box for the Dutch, and Andersen claims it under no pressure at all.
Lars Baron/Getty Images 85'—Five minutes remaining. van Persie is playing deep now, with Huntelaar central up top and Kuyt on the right side, Robben left.
Are they going to be able to fashion a clear opening though? van Persie and Huntelaar have already missed great chances today.
...And Dirk Kuyt comes on for Gregory van der Wiel for Netherlands.
83'—SUBSTITUTION TIME. Tobias Mikkelsen comes on for Dennis Rommedahl for Denmark.
81'—Kvist is booked for a deliberate hand-ball, joining team mate Poulsen in the book as he was shown a yellow card a few moments ago for time-wasting.
80'—Daniel Agger has been superb in defence for Denmark this evening. He has made tackles, blocks and interceptions but has also played the ball simply, keeping possession, has organised his defence and brought the ball forward to relieve the pressure at times.
A great performance.
Ian Walton/Getty Images 78'—It's like an action replay with Arjen Robben; every time he gets the ball down that right flank he cuts in, faces the ball onto his left-foot and curls it over the bar. Andersen watches the ball float harmlessly away this time.
78'—Simon Poulsen robs the ball in midfield and breaks towards the Dutch goal, but eventually sheer numbers crowd him out.
77'—Less than a quarter of an hour now for the Dutch to score, for Denmark to hold onto this result.
74'—WONDERFUL DOUBLE SAVE! Sneijder sends a brilliant outside-of-the-foot pass through to van Persie who controls the ball and tries to chip the ball over the 'keeper, but Andersen smothers it really well. On the rebound Huntelaar follows up and drills his foot at the ball but the goalkeeper has recovered and grabs hold of the ball enough to win the free kick for the follow-through by Huntelaar.
Great chances being spurned here by Netherlands.
Denmark sub: Christian Eriksen off, Lasse Schone comes on.
72'—What difference will those changes make for Netherlands? Immediately they have a chance, breaking through down the right channel but nobody is in the centre to latch onto the cross from van der Wiel.
70'—Krohn-Deli drills a low shot in with his right foot and Stekelenburg has to palm it around the post. Now Holland make their changes:
Huntelaar and van der Vaart on, Afellay and de Jong off.
69'—Still Netherlands wait to make their changes, and Denmark are growing in confidence, moving the ball about well.
67'—Huntelaar and van der Vaart are indeed going to come on now for Holland.
First though, Denmark have a corner.
66'—First yellow card of the game and no real surprise that it goes to one of the Dutch midfielders; Mark van Bommel gets it for a late tackle.
64'—It's Robben again, but this is his poorest effort yet. Cutting inside onto his left foot, he screws a shot well wide of Andersen's left-hand post.
The Dutch have 25 minutes left to get themselves back on level terms. With Dirk Kuyt, Rafael van der Vaart, Klass-Jan Huntelaar and such talent on the bench, when will Bert van Marwijk decide to make his move?
62'—GREAT CHANCE, AGAIN MISSED! Arjen Robben this time runs onto a good cross from Sneijder from the left, and heads low towards goal—but it just drifts harmlessly wide.
61'—Sneijder sends over a curling free kick for the Dutch, but Heitinga, who gets on the end of it to nod back across goal, is in an offside position.
Lars Baron/Getty Images 58'—Kvist drags down Sneijder and Netherlands have a free kick. It's in Sneijder territory...but he hits the wall. van Bommel's attempted cross from the loose ball ends up about 40 yards behind Andersen's goal.
Most disappointing.
57'—Daniel Agger launches a Denmark attack, breaking into midfield from the back line, but the eventual cross from Rommedahl is over-hit and Netherlands have the ball back.
54'—Just a reminder for Netherlands that Denmark have already proven able to get beyond them—Poulsen gets behind the defence and pulls the ball across the six yard box, but nobody is running onto it and the Oranje can clear.
53'—Johnny Heitinga is the next to try his luck, firmly heading the ball just over the crossbar from a corner.
It's all Holland, but still no joy for them.
Ian Walton/Getty Images 51'—JUST WIDE! It's four shots in four minutes for Netherlands as they go close again, this time Ibrahim Afellay turning onto his right foot and sending an effort scuttling an inch wide of the post.
50'—FINE STRIKE, FINE SAVE! Van Bommel strides into space and shoots fiercely from 25 yards, but Andersen gets down to make a really good save. Netherlands looking far more menacing in this half already.
49'—What's wrong with van Persie's boots?! He is threaded through on goal by a fine pass and, with the ball on his left-foot, completely mis-kicks and falls to the ground.
47'—Robben on the attack again! That familiar run down the right and cut inside onto the left foot is evident again, but this time his shot is deflected over.
46'—So Holland have 45 minutes to get themselves back into the match and, with fixtures against Germany and Portugal to come, would it be too outlandish to say back into the group?
We're about ready to get back underway in this Group B opener where the score is Netherlands 0 Denmark 1.
Julian Finney/Getty Images So what have we found out after that first half? Netherlands have been in control of the ball for long spells in the game but, aside from the Robben shot which hit the post after a poor pass from Stephan Andersen, the Danish 'keeper has not had much to do.
Denmark have not had too much of the ball in the attacking third of the pitch—but they've taken one of their chances.
Can they see the game out, or will they look for a killer second?
45'+1—Half time in Kharkiv. Michael Krohn-Deli's goal after 23 minutes separates the two sides despite the domination in large spells of Holland.
One minute of added time to be played.
44'—Almost a second! Agger almost gets something on the ball, Bendtner prods it goalwards and then Agger can't get anything on it for the second time—Stekelenburg claims it inside his six yard box.
44'—Final moments of the first half now and Denmark have a corner.
42'—Golden chance for van Persie! Robben plays the ball right for van Persie who is all on his own in the box, but his first touch was poor and the angle is narrowed far too much by the team he shoots.
His effort is blocked away and then Sneijder's effort on the rebound is curled wide.
41'—Krohn-Deli has his eye on the goal. This time he bends a right-footed effort low towards the far corner of the Dutch goal, but the tall frame of Stekelenburg keeps it out.
39'—Chance for Denmark! Zimling runs onto the ball and stretches to volley the ball left-footed, but in doing so takes it off the foot of the better-placed Krohn-Deli.
38'—Afellay picks up the ball and strides past the challenge of Agger, but his shot flies over the crossbar.
38'—Denmark keep hold of the ball well, passing their way out of danger in defence. They are anxious to get to half time now while they still lead.
35'—Robben hits the post!
Denmark keeper Andersen gives the ball away 30 yards from goal and Robben strides forward, shapes the ball onto his left foot and drills one low and hard—only to see his shot bounce back off the foot of the post, with players either side screaming for the ball.
34'—Now Denmark do have a little spell of possession outside the penalty box and they get one or two in the box, but Poulsen's cross is over-hit again and drifts away on the far side.
32'—Holland committing men forward at every opportunity, which is leaving them a little open to the counter-attack at times—though Denmark aren't exactly going gung-ho when they do get the ball.
Rommedahl and Krohn-Deli remain threats on the break though.
29'—Afellay has just taken team mate Ron Vlaar's head into his face and is suffering a little as a result. He needs some treatment on the sidelines, but the game continues.
27'—Holland have had all the ball since the goal but Andersen still hasn't yet been tested.
Simon Poulsen is momentarily at risk of handball inside the box but neither referee, assistant nor the anonymous, inefficient and pointless extra man in black behind the goal line say anything about it.
What about that?!
Holland have had most of the possession but have created very little; with one raid into the penalty area from Simon Poulsen, which ricocheted off to Michael Krohn-Deli to run through and blast through Stekelenburg's legs, the Danes have taken the lead.
What response can Holland muster?
23'—GOALLLLL!!!! Netherlands 0 Denmark 1
Martin Krohn-Deli has scored the opening goal of the game for Denmark!
22'—Another effort from van Persie...but he fails to find the target this time. Robben lays it into the Arsenal forward's feet and he spins to shoot right footed, but again drags it well wide of goal.
21'—It's certainly been a case of the Dutch on the front foot in this opening 20 minutes or so, but they ultimately have nothing to show for their efforts so far and Andersen hasn't really had all that much to do.
Denmark happy to let Holland have the ball in deep midfield positions and get numbers back outside their own penalty area.
19' — Agger needs to be alert now to boot the ball away off the head of Robin van Persie after a lightning move from the Dutch down the inside right channel. They win a corner from the clearance—but Andersen claims it easily.
17' — What a chance for Holland!
Robben sprints away down the right after van Persie releases him and he has a chance to shoot—but tries to cross instead and Denmark get enough bodies back to stop any chance of a goal.
16' — A rare attack from Denmark as Dennis Rommedahl speeds away down the right flank, but he crosses blindly and with only one Dane in the box, his ball over only finds the Dutch keeper Stekelenburg.
They'll need to hold onto the ball far better in the final third to make an impact in this match.
15' — Arjen Robben cuts infield onto his favoured left foot and hits a low shot, but Andersen gets behind the ball and makes a comfortable save.
12' — The free kick is disappointing though as van Persie slips while taking it, and the wall do their job.
12' — Robin van Persie wants this free kick for himself.
10' — It's almost another chance for Holland, who are really controlling this game now.
van Persie floats a fine pass over the defence for Wesley Sneijder to run onto, but it's a touch too high for him to do anything but head without pace, and Andersen picks it up.
A moment later, van Persie is tripped by Zimling and it's a free kick in a dangerous area for the Dutch.
9' — Robben and van Persie combine in the middle of the park and Netherlands work it left to Afellay.
A stepover, a jink inside the defender and a driving right-foot shot—but it clears Andersen's crossbar.
... but he drives the ball straight into the wall, and eventually it bobbles harmlessly behind for a goal kick.
8' — Bendtner wins a free kick for Denmark, knocking the ball past Ron Vlaar before being taken out.
It's almost dead centre, 30 yards from goal. Too far to shoot?
Christian Eriksen is lining it up...
6' — First sighter for van Persie!
It's a first time shot for Robin van Persie after the pull-back finds him inside the penalty box, but his left-footed effort is dragged wide.
5' — Plenty of patient build-up possession from the Dutch early on, but there's also a lot of space for them to play around in.
Denmark looking a little too open between their lines of midfield and defence in these opening stages.
4' — Afellay is next in line to have a look at goal, but it's an awkward angle for him to try a volley and he skies the ball. Nice knock-down from van Persie to set up the half-chance, though.
3' — Good effort! Willems runs onto the ball and drives a shot in at goal from 25 yards, but his rising drive clears the crossbar of Andersen.
2' — Agger involved again, this time up the other end. Gregory van der Wiel overlaps Arjen Robben down the right flank and looks to get into space to cross, but Agger comes across and makes a fine sliding challenge.
1' — Denmark have an early free kick and look to send forward their tall centre backs.
Simon Poulsen curls it in and Agger does get his head to it...but Stekelenburg makes a comfortable save.
0' — Here we go! Group B is underway.
Captains Nigel de Jong and Daniel Agger shake hands in the centre circle; Holland will kick off.
We're just a few minutes from kick off now; the teams are about ready for the national anthems.
Netherlands finished top of Group E in qualifying for the Euros, having lost just one from their 10 matches, scoring 37 goals in the process.
Denmark similarly won their Group H with just one defeat, though only 15 goals in eight games is symptomatic of their approach to the game—reliable defence first.
Which will come out on top today, the mean defence or the all-out-attack?
The match kicks off in approximately 45 minutes; we'll be back shortly with more news and build-up ahead of the start of this Group B fixture.
For now, feel free to take a look at what happened yesterday—and there was a lot—in the games between Poland and Greece, and Russia and the Czech Republic.
How about some team news first?
Netherlands: Stekelenburg; Van der Wiel, Heitinga, Vlaar, Willems; De Jong, Van Bommel; Robben, Sneijder, Afellay; Van Persie.
Denmark: S. Andersen; Jacobsen, S Poulsen, Agger, Kjær; Zimling, Kvist; Krohn-Dehli, Eriksen, Rommedahl; Bendtner.
Netherlands, or Holland if you prefer, leave out the likes of Kevin Strootman and Dirk Kuyt in favour of Nigel de Jong and Ibrahim Afellay, who has not had an awful lot of game time this season.
Could be a big call from boss Bert van Marwijk.
Denmark are pretty much as expected, with Daniel Agger and Simon Kjaer in the middle of defence and Nicklas Bendtner up front as the lone striker, supported by a trio of attacking midfielders in support.
One of those is the highly-rated Christian Eriksen; yesterday we got an exhibition in youth superstardom from Russia's Alan Dzagoev, let's see if Eriksen can provide a similar spark today.
First up, right here, it's Netherlands vs. Denmark and then later on we'll have commentary on Germany vs. Portugal, which you can catch here.
Good afternoon/evening everybody, wherever you are watching from... it's day two of Euro 2012 and we've got a couple of cracking matches in store for you.
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