Netherlands will open their campaign in the 14th Euro Cup against Denmark at the Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv, Ukraine on Saturday (June 9). This match will start at 21.00 hours (PST).
It will be the 29th international match between the two teams and third in European Cup finals. Netherlands have won 12, lost six and draw 10 in 28 previous international matches against Denmark. The sides have met twice before in European Championship finals, with Netherlands winning 3-0 in the group stages in Euro 2000 and Denmark winning a penalty shootout in the semi-finals of Euro 1992 after match ended 2-2. The Dutch have not lost to Denmark in regulation playing time in eight meetings since 1967 – though they did suffer a reverse at the Euro 1992 finals in Sweden when they went out on penalties after a 2-2 draw with the Danes in the semi-finals. Denmark went on to win the final against Germany.
Netherlands have an astonishing record in recent competitive games, winning 23 of their last 25. Their only defeats were the extra time 1-0 loss to Spain in the World Cup final two years ago and a 3-2 reverse to Sweden in their last, and meaningless, qualifying game for the Euro 2012 finals in October last year. Their last draw was more than five years (and 37 games) ago, a 0-0 with Romania in a Euro 2008 qualifier in Rotterdam. Denmark won their last four group qualifying games and come into the tournament unbeaten in their last six competitive matches. Since their shock 1992 title win, Denmark have been disappointing in Euro finals and have won just two matches in the three tournaments they have played since. They failed to qualify for the 2008 tournament in Austria and Switzerland.
The second match of the day will be played between Germany and Portugal at Arena Lviv, Lviv, Ukraine. This match will start at 11.45 hours (PST). This will be the 17th international match between Germany and Portugal and fourth meeting in European Championship.
Germany have won eight, lost three and draw five in 16 previous matches against Portugal. This time round, however, their Euro group rivals – Netherlands, Portugal and Denmark – will come up against one of the youngest, fastest and most furious German teams in at least a generation. Saturday’s match will be the fourth meeting between Germany and Portugal at European Championships, with Germany winning 3-2 in Euro 2008, Portugal winning 3-0 in Euro 2000 and the sides drawing 0-0 at Euro 1984. Germany have only won two of their last 10 European Championship group stage games, drawing four, losing four, and have been eliminated at this stage in two of the last three tournaments. Portugal have never been eliminated from the Group Stages of the European Championships in five previous appearances.
