Germany take on the Netherlands in the pick of Wednesday’s ties in Euro 2012, with the Dutch knowing that defeat could consign them to an early exit from the tournament.
Joachim Loew’s Mannschaft go in to the match in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on a high after beating Portugal in their Group B opener while the Oranje, who suffered a shock 1-0 reverse to unfancied Denmark, face an uphill battle. Dutch captain Mark van Bommel said all the players are aware of the importance of the crunch tie — and their final group match against Portugal — if they hope to progress in the competition. “We have to win (the remaining two games). We have no other choice,” he said before the match.
The Dutch misfired badly against the Danes on Saturday. But hopes of greater accuracy against one of the pre-tournament favourites have been hit by apparent disquiet in the squad.
Last season’s top scorer in the Bundesliga, Schalke 04’s Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, in particular is unhappy with coach Bert van Marwijk for preferring Robin van Persie of Arsenal up front.
Dutch players have rejected suggestions of a rift but Huntelaar was pointedly the only player not to give pre-match interviews to the domestic media on Monday.
A Germany win will put them in the quarter-finals and Loew is aware that his side will be feeling less pressure than the Dutch, despite the intense rivalry that comes with every sporting encounter between the two nations.