Euro 2012: Group B Wrap-Up

Christiano Ronaldo decided to show up, putting his team through to the Quarterfinals

Euro 2012: Group B Wrap-Up

The Dutch Masters were sent packing by a dominant Portuguese performance, one where star Christiano Ronaldo finally showed up, while Germany scored late to finish with three wins out of three.

Dutch fans will be wondering how everything went so horribly wrong, their team a heavy favourite and crashing out without so much as a point to show for it.

Portugal 2 – 1 Netherlands

Silencing his critics and putting his team through to the next round, Christiano Ronaldo delivered an inspired performance and scored twice to beat the Dutch 2-1.

Rafael van deer Vaart scored early and gave his team hope, knowing that a win was their only way through to the quarterfinals.

Despite the high-stakes, the Dutch failed to impress themselves upon the match and were second best to a high-intensity Portugal.

Ronaldo was all over the pitch for much of the 90 minutes and showed the pace and keen scoring instinct that has made him a star.

He slotted home Joao Pereira’s pinpoint pass late in the first half, before scoring a sensational goal with 15 minutes left in the game; a dagger to the hearts of the Dutch.

The win sets up a quarterfinal matchup with the Czech Republic, the unlikely winners of Group A.

Man of the Match: Christiano Ronaldo

– – –

Germany 2 – 1 Denmark

While being pegged as the ultimate underdogs in the “Group of Death,” Denmark were able to battle through the group stage and it was a late goal in the 80th minute from defender Lars Bender who sent the Danes out.

Germany took the lead off a Lukas Podolski strike, but the plucky Danish equalized off the boot of Michael Krohn-Dehli just six minutes later.

A dominant German performance from start to finish was almost ruined by Nicklas Bendtner who had a chance wasted late in the game, before Bender broke down the wing and scored a brilliant goal.

The Germans will match up with Greece in the next round, heavily favoured to reach the semi-finals.

Man of the Match: Lars Bender

– – –

Final Group Standings: Germany 9pts | Portugal 6pts | Denmark 3pts | Netherlands 0pts

Group B – Netherlands, Germany, Portugal, Denmark

The Portuguese snuck through on the back of Christiano Ronaldo, while the predictably dominant Germans swept through with ease. How many people predicted the Dutch would finish with no points in this one? Ridiculous.

– – –

Henry is a writer for Sportstream.ca  and part of the Bill McLean Sports Show on 88.1 CKDU  every Thursday Morning at 9am. You can follow him on twitter at @HenryWhitfield , he’ll be bringing daily updates throughout the entire European Championships.

Euro 2012 – Day 6, As It Happened

Germany continues to win at the Euro’s

Euro 2012 – Day 6, As It Happened

Super Mario took over Group B, giving Germany a 2-1 win over the Dutch, while Portugal outlasted a resilient Denmark 3-2.

The results leave the Group wide open, with Germany through, while Portugal and Denmark both sit on 3 points each, leaving plenty of drama for the last day of matches.

– – –

Portugal 3 – 2 Denmark

Pepe gave his team an early lead off a header, with Helder Postiga doubling the lead off a shot from six yards out.

Silvestre Valera saved the day for Portugal

Denmark pulled one back before half time off the head of Bendtner, but trailed 2-1 despite controlling the possession.

After a trio of terrible misses by Christiano Ronaldo in the second half, Nicklas Bendtner pulled the two teams even on a header that snuck by the keeper.

In the most cruel way, Portugal snatched the win in the final moments as a substitute Silvestre Valera struck the back of the net.

Man of the Match: Nicklas Bendtner

– – –

Germany 2 – 1 Netherlands

Mario Gomez scored a pair of brilliant goals, pacing his German team to a dominant 2-1 win over a Dutch team that never seemed interested in the game.

Mario Gomez is on fire for Club and Country

Manager Bert van Marwijk will be left wondering what went wrong, his side failing to imprint themselves in the match and played off the pitch by a dominant German team.

Mark van Bommel had an early chance, but it was the Germans who would strike first.

Gomez was sent in alone on a perfect pass by Bastian Schweinsteiger, turning on the ball and slotting the shot under a helpless  Maarten Stekelenburg.

Unfortunately for the Dutch, Gomez was far from finished.

The Bayern Munich forward doubled the lead before half-time, smashing a shot across the face of the net and just inside the far post; a perfectly placed shot.

The Dutch tried to liven things up at halftime, bringing Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Rafael Van deer Vaart on but the changes failed to make the impact they wanted.

Robin Van Persie pulled a goal back on a great individual effort late in the game, but that was all that the Netherlands could muster as they fell to two losses in the tournament.

The loss means the Dutch must beat Portugal on their final day, while hoping for a German win against the plucky Danish.

Man of the Match: Mario Gomez

– – –

Henry is a writer for Sportstream.ca  and part of the Bill McLean Sports Show on 88.1 CKDU  every Thursday Morning at 9am. You can follow him on twitter at @HenryWhitfield , he’ll be bringing daily updates throughout the entire European Championships.

Euro 2012 – Day 2, As It Happened

Euro 2012 – Day 2, As It Happened

By: Henry Whitfield

After fireworks on day one, it was a lacklustre pair of matches on Day 2 that lead to just two goals being scored in the first matches of the so called Group of Death.

Denmark ran out surprise winners 1-0 over a Netherlands team that were unable to convert their superior possession into goals, and tournament favourites Germany were able to manufacture a 1-0 win over an uninspiring Portuguese team.

Both results leave Group D wide open and leave the Netherlands desperate for results against Portugal and Germany, while Denmark will be celebrating a famous victory.

– – –

Krohn-Dehli scored the unlikely winner against the Netherlands

Denmark 1 – 0 Netherlands

In a remarkable game, it was the Danes that shook the tournament knocking off the Netherlands and leaving the Dutch with a tough path to the quarterfinals.

Despite heavy pressure to open the match and a number of near misses from the men in Orange, it was Denmark who opened the scoring against the run of play. Michael Krohn-Dehli picked up the ball from Simon Poulson and slotted through Martin Stekelenburg’s legs, sending their fans into delirium.

The Dutch continued to put the pressure on and dominate possession, finishing the game with 28 shots but a meagre six efforts ending up on target.

The Danish defensive play of Captain Daniel Agger was heroic, as he managed to turn away wave after wave of Dutch attackers, holding on dearly to the slim lead.

Supporters may look to a number of questionable handball claims turned away by Damir Skomina, including a very late handball by defender Lars Jacobson. However, the game was lost in the final third on poor finishing. Their best effort coming off a curled shot by Arjen Robben who clanged his shot off the woodworks, wasting a golden change to draw the match.

The loss puts the Netherlands under pressure to qualify, with both Portugal and Germany still to play, while Dane’s will celebrate a famous upset and a dream start to their tournament.

Man of the Match: Daniel Agger

– – –

Khedira and Gomez combined for the lone Germany goa

Germany 1 – 0 Portugal

While dominating the stat line, the Germans were unable to dominate the score board and were saved an embarrassing start to the tournament when Mario Gomez found the back of the net with a splendid header late in the second half.

The game started slowly as both teams attempted to poke and prod, getting familiar with each other as the Germans slowly took control.

62% of the possession at half-time was the story for the Germans as they were continually frustrated by a sturdy Portuguese defence, with the biggest chance falling to Portuguese Defender Pepe, who fired a shot off the underside of the crossbar but it bounced off the line. The close call averted more calls for goalie technology and the Germans were able to avert an embarrassing end to the first half.

The tightly contested football continued into the second half, with the Germans outplaying the Portuguese and enjoying much of the possession and finally found a way to break through.

Mario Gomez was the man of the hour, heading the go-ahead goal in the 72nd minute off a cross from Sami Khedira, a chance that Gomez took without question.

Despite being a highly touted matchup, the two teams failed to excite fans and their talents essentially negated each other resulting in a chess-like battle in the midfield.

Man of the Match: Mario Gomez

– – –

Henry is a writer for Sportstream.ca  and part of the Bill McLean Sports Show on 88.1 CKDU  every Thursday Morning at 9am. You can follow him on twitter at @HenryWhitfield , he’ll be bringing daily updates throughout the entire European Championships.