Euro 2012, Group B, Saturday, 5pm, Kharkiv
THE dazzling Dutch hit the Euro 2012 stage today and they'll hope to be as red-hot as the Russians.
Russia could meet Holland in the quarter-finals and Dick Advocaat's men have set the bar high after a thrilling 4-1 win against the Czech Republic.
Holland are a biggest 7-1 third favourites for the tournament with Ladbrokes and Coral and they'll be keen to get off to a solid start against Denmark in the group of death.
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They are a side packed with talent but there are always doubts about them mentally. And while they will always score – they were leading marksmen in the qualifiers with 37 – you have to worry about their defenseive toughness.
Still with the likes of Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben, Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Wesley Sneijder in their ranks you have to admire their quality.
In recent events they've started strongly then fell away and I expect them to dump the Danes.
You can have 3-5 with William Hill, Paddy Power and BetVictor on a Holland victory and 7-4 with bet365 on them win by more than one against a side they've beaten by two or more in the last three meetings of the sides.
Arsenal goal king van Persie is first-scorer favourite at 7-2 with bet 365 and BetVictor and it seems as if he will up front on his own.
Check teams news to confirm this but if boss Robin van Marwijk is going with that tactic it means no start for a disenchanted Huntelaar.
The Schalke star top-scored in qualifying and was expected to play a leading role for the Dutch – and he could still do so.
Denmark are basically written off in this one with most firms offering 11-2 and BetVictor pencilling in the draw at 3-1.
Recommendations
Van Persie to score first
(7-2, bet365, BetVictor)
Holland -1
(7-4, bet365)
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Holland are now 8/11 with PP and 2/1 -1 with the same firm.
I’ve taken holland Germany double, holland -1 single and Germany single. Will look at goal markets when teams are announced. Could be a good day if both win. Also puts down a good marker for the dual forecast bet.
Marc’s right, you can now 8/11 at PP for a Holland win, and as I went to put the double on with Germany, their price changed too, from 11/10 to 23/20. My free bet of £50 now would return just over 135 instead of the 125 it would’ve paid last night!
Going to go with rvp dd hh
£150 if you have it.
Would folio 75 -1 goal and 75 rvp
See Paul a few days before payday and having to tap my mother £150 for a couple of bets
Chris, hope they win then.
germans have now went from 23/20 to 6/5 on hills.
money is going on portugal.
Still germans for me
Andy, still Germany for me but Portugal are a decent side, especially if Ronaldo is in the mood.
no huntelaar for holland, afellay starts, good news for ma fantasy fitbaw
Craig, pretty much as expected with Huntelaar. Hopefully he’ll come on and do some damage.
Chris guy following u tonight fingers crossed
Hopefully David. Eurosport website is getting pretty bad. Still no team line up!!
“@paddypower: Netherlands: Stekelenburg; Van der Wiel, Heitinga, Vlaar, Willems; Van Bommel, De Jong; Robben, Sneijder, Afellay; Van Persie”
Afellay first scorer dd/hh and van persie dd/hh
David, pretty poor start from the Dutch. Could pay for going down the more defensive road and hopefully that goal will be a wake-up call to them.
Holland are playing rubbish. £40 down the swanny already. Have to hope for rvp last goal now. I didn’t even think Denmark would have scored
Chris, to be fair there were stats about the Danes scoring in 16 of their last 18 games and they are 10th in the world so maybe slight underestimated. However, if Holland were on top of their game they’d win and can still do do. But I think they need Huntelaar on an attack with a bit more belief.
Absolutely unreal!! Still got robben and ronaldo anytime double hah cmon! Dutch are good at passing but theyre doing nuthin with it. Danes could score again before the dutch do.
bad luck troops know alot ae the lads on here have done a power a dosh on dutch mugs hope use got it back on the germans a got a stroke a luck buckelt kod missed eh full dutch woke up half way through germany-portugal geed the in play a by