NETHERLANDS v FINLAND
Football : International : UEFA EURO 2012
Tuesday, September 7th, 2010, 7:30pm GMT

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NETHERLANDS

Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk will be without Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt for this match, as he picked up a shoulder injury today in training. Kuyt opened the scoring in this Euro campaign but the Dutch look like they have plenty of depth to make up for his absence. Khalid Boulahrouz is also doubtful with a groin injury.

The Oranje started their campaign off with a bang last week as they shook off any hangover from losing the World Cup finals to thump San Marino 5-0. Kuyt scored from a penalty to get the ball rolling, before Huntelaar struck a hattrick to kill the game off. It was left to Nistelrooy to apply the icing on this rather special cake (love you Amsterdam) with a goal on his return from a 2 year absence from the national side.

That's 34 goals for his country now from the former Real Manchester-Madrid United man. Van Persie will not be playing for his country due to an injury. No one in north London looks surprised.

Van Bommel, De Jong, Sneijder and new Spurs recruit Van Der Vaart will all be in the midfield and Finland don't look like a team that will have much luck against that lot.

FINLAND

Captain Sami Hyypia is suspended for this match, and his team will have to make do without him for this toughie against a team they have not beaten in 60 years. Finland have not made this campaign easy for themselves, by losing 2-0 in the opening game to Moldova.

Finland have a bad record against the Netherlands. In their last 2 meetings, both qualifier matches for the World Cup 2006, Finland lost 1-3 and then 0-4 to their hosts. Nistelrooy and Sneijder remain from those matches and who would bet against them netting here again?

The line-ups are not yet announced but I think we have all we need to get a few winning bets on

BETTING VERDICT

Netherlands tore Finland apart the last time they met and since then have become an even better team. They destroyed everyone they met until the finals of the World Cup and since then have gone straight back to what they've done for the last 2 years, win and win well.

The 5-0 thumping is proof enough that their heads are in the right place and I think they will be quite ruthless with Finland, who would do well to get a goal here.

The Statistics :

The Pick :

Netherlands to win

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Take Over 3 goals @ 1.80 (Bet365)

HANDICAP BETTING :

Take Holland -2 goals at 1.75 (Pinnacle) - MAIN BET