Watch Netherlands vs Denmark Live Streaming Soccer EURO 2012 on June 9th, 2012

The champions of 1988 meet the victors in 1992, as Netherlands meet Denmark at the Metalist stadium in Kharkiv on Saturday. However, the two former European champions come into this year's edition with massively differing expectations for the tournament. While Denmark will be realistic about their slim hopes of progression from arguably the tournament's toughest group, Netherlands are tipped to challenge for the title by many observers.Watch Netherlands vs Denmark Live Streaming Soccer EURO 2012 on June 9th, 2012

   Netherlands v Denmark 


Netherlands, who will be without Malaga centre-back Joris Mathijsen, will find a lot of attention falling on their weakened defensive line ahead of the opener. With Mathijsen out, experienced defender Wilfried Bouma is tipped to step-in from the wilderness, having not represented his country since Euro 2008, whilst at left-back 18-year-old Jetro Willems could become the tournaments youngest ever player should he make an appearance.

The attention, therefore, will fall upon Netherlands much vaunted attacking quartet of Robin Van Persie, Ibrahim Affelay, Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben to perform, ahead of a solid midfield base formed by the experienced Mark Van Bommel and Nigel de Jong. Whilst Sneijder and Affelay have not had the best of campaigns, for differing reasons, Van Persie and Robben come into the tournament full of confidence and ready to fire.

Denmark, for their part, come into the championship full of confidence, with six victories from their last eight official outings. Morten Olsen, himself in the job for twelve years, has picked a side full of experience, with rising youngster Christian Eriksen then expected to add the creative touches from his advanced midfield role.

Eriksen will be supported in attacking areas by wide-men Dennis Rommedahl and Michael Krohn-Dehli, both of Brondby. Full of experience, the two wingers will look to push forward on the counter - with Niklas Bendtner waiting for service in the middle - as well as providing defensive cover for their full-backs in the face of Netherlands' wing threat. William Kvist and Niki Zimling, of Stuttgart and Club Brugge, will then provide the industry from midfield to allow Eriksen to shine further-up the pitch.

Netherlands player to watch: Arjen Robben.

The club season ended in difficult fashion for the Bayern star, with his missed penalty in the Champions League final provoking a disappointing reaction from some elements of the German support when they met the Oranje in a post-season friendly. Robben, though, is a match-winner and has scored important goals throughout his career, but never more so than in the past two or three years. From his right flank role, Robben will look to cut in onto his deadly left foot at every opportunity to get a strike on goal. Nullifying Robben may well be key to stopping Netherlands as a whole.

Denmark player to watch: Niklas Bendtner.

If the Danes are to progress, they must score goals and that will mean that Bendtner must display his best form. With 18 goals from 48 international games, the Arsenal forward has a good record at international level, but comes into the tournament off the back of a mixed campaign on loan at Sunderland. With Denmark the second lowest scorers of all the teams who succesfully emerged from qualifying, the defensively strong side will need Bendtner to keep putting away the chances when they arise.

Key Battle: Robin van Persie v Daniel Agger.

Rather predictably, the key battle of the encounter features Dutch goal-machine Robin van Persie, who rarely goes a game without finding the back of the net of late. Denmark will be well aware of his threat and none more so than Daniel Agger, a frequent Premier League opponent of the Netherlands striker. Agger has had his best season in Liverpool colours and will be handed the responsibility of dealing with Van Persie, but with the interchangeable Dutch attack willing to drift into new positions during the match, a daunting task awaits.

Trivia: The last time Denmark beat Netherlands in a competitive game was 1967, winning only six of twenty-eight previous meetings.

Stats: Denmark scored in every one of their eight qualification matches for Euro 2012.

Odds: Netherlands (1.66), Denmark (6.00) and the draw (3.60) are on offer with bet365 while Niklas Bendtner is 9.50 to be the first goalscorer.

Prediction: Netherlands should emerge victorious, but with the Danes grabbing a goal to keep it competitive. 2-1

Watch Germany vs Portugal Live EURO 2012 Streaming on 09/06/2012

A 33rd-minute winner from Fernando Torres broke German hearts four years ago in the Euro 2008 final as Spain ended their hopes of claiming a record-extending fourth European Championship crown. On their way to that showpiece in Austria, Portugal were put to the sword in an entertaining quarter-final contest and the perennial international underachievers from Iberia have the opportunity to gain a measure of revenge in Lviv this Friday. Watch Germany vs Portugal Live EURO 2012 on 09/06/2012
   Germany v Portugal 

Germany qualified for Euro 2012 with an unbeaten record in qualifying, while Portugal needed to beat Bosnia in a play-off to reach Poland and Ukraine. Both sides have suffered from an uninspiring build-up, with Low's side losing to France in February before going down 5-3 to Switzerland and beating Israel 2-0 at the end of May; Bento's charges have fared even worse - drawing 0-0 with Poland and Macedonia, and losing to Turkey in their final friendly.

Both sides are full of attacking verve, though, and an entertaining opening fixture is expected. The major question hanging over Germany is whether Mario Gomez or Miroslav Klose gets the nod to play up front, with the former having enjoyed a prolific campaign with Bayern Munich and the latter just five goals away from usurping the legendary Gerd Muller as his nation's all-time leading scorer. Low has a big decision to make in attack, but he has been spared a defensive dilemma with the return to fitness of Per Metersacker in time for Saturday's Group D clash.

Portugal have also received an injury boost, with Manchester United winger Nani recovering from a knock sustained earlier in the week. Bento has generally preferred to operate a 4-3-3, with Miguel Veloso, Raul Meireles and Joao Moutinho in a midfield three, Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani playing wide and Hugo Almeida spearheading the attack from a central position.

The last time the two countries met in the group stage of a major finals was at Euro 2000, when Portugal won 3-0 and Germany finished bottom of their group - their worst ever performance at an international tournament. But there is no doubting that Joachim Low's side will be the favourites this time around, with the three-time winners heavily tipped to win the whole tournament.

Germany player to watch: Lukas Podolski

Arsenal's newest recruit has already amassed an incredible 97 international caps at 27 years old and could feasibly hit Lothar Matthaus' all-time record of 150 appearances for Germany. A veteran of four major tournaments with the national team, Podolski's experience in big-game situations and ability to ghost into goalscoring positions from the left flank is a valuable asset. He scored Germany's first goal at both Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup.

Portugal player to watch: Cristiano Ronaldo

Who else? Portugal's talisman enjoyed another blistering campaign with Real Madrid, plundering an astonishing 60 goals in 55 games for the Primera Division champions. Low insists he won't be paying Ronaldo special attention, but Germany's players don't need to be told about his potential threat. Whether it's set-pieces, his left foot, right foot or imperious aerial ability - the forward is capable of producing a decisive intervention at any moment.

Key Battle: Mesut Ozil v Miguel Veloso

Having burst onto the international football scene with some virtuoso displays at the 2010 World Cup, Ozil is now firmly established as the creative fulcrum of both Real Madrid and Germany. The former Werder Bremen star has become accustomed to bossing games for club and country and his nation will be relying on his guile and vision again at Euro 2012. Attempting to prevent Ozil from weaving his magic on Saturday will be Portugal's anchor Miguel Veloso, who has enjoyed a fine season in an otherwise struggling Genoa side. A tough-tackling presence in Paulo Bento's team, if Veloso can successfully shackle Ozil, it will allow the more attack-minded Moutinho and Meireles to focus on getting forward from midfield.

Trivia: Portugal have never been eliminated from the European Championship at the group stage in five previous appearances, while Germany have exited the competition before the knockout rounds in two of the past three tournaments (2000 and 2004).

Stats: Germany enjoyed a dominant, unbeaten qualification campaign - scoring at least three goals in eight of their ten games and never going behind in any match.

Odds: Germany (2.10), Portugal (3.80) and the draw (3.25) are on offer with bet365 while Nani to score anytime is available at 4.33.

Prediction: Portugal have looked very ordinary in their build-up to the tournament and though Germany have lost two of their past three friendlies, Low's side boast a wealth of attacking talent. Bento is reliant on Cristiano Ronaldo firing, while Low possesses more potential match-winners in his ranks so expect Germany to edge it.

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