Monday, September 5, 2011

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06.09. (Tue) 19:00 Finland - Netherlands

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Finland (4-5-1):
Hradecky; Moisander, Toivio, Arkivou, Raitala; Eremenko, Hetemaj, Sjolund, Ring, Hamalainen; Forssell

Djurgarden midfielder Kasper Hamalainen looks set to keep his place in the side following his brace against Moldova, while veteran attacker Jari Litmanen misses out once more. Petri Paatelainen will continue to look to youth in goal, with Lukas Hradecky keeping his place over Otto Fredrikson.

Netherlands (4-2-3-1):
Stekelenburg, Van der Wiel, Mathijsen, Heitinga, Pieters; van Bommel, Strootman; Kuyt, Sneijder, van Persie; Huntelaar

Van Marwijk understandably looks set to name an unchanged side from the trouncing of San Marino on Friday, with Strootman continuing to deputise in the place of the injured Nigel de Jong, and Robin van Persie pushed back into a midfield role due to the absence of Arjen Robben.

DID YOU KNOW?

Unattached Finland striker Mikael Forssell has notched up seven goals this qualifying campaign, fewer only than Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Miroslav Klose

These two sides last met in a qualifying campaign in the run up to Euro 92, which saw a 1-1 draw in Helsinki between the teams.

Finland have never qualified for a major competition, meanhile, their opponents have only failed to reach a tournament once since the 1986 World Cup.

The Netherlands' 11-0 victory over San Marino was the biggest winning margin in the Oranje's history.

The Dutch side have scored 32 goals in qualifying, more than any other side aiming to reach the Ukraine and Poland showpiece.

Bert van Marwijk's side are one of two teams with a 100% record qualifying for Euro 2012, the other being their fierce rivals Germany, whom they face in a friendly in November.

Prediction
The Netherlands showed the world why they're ranked as the top team in football by taking Group E by storm, and I expect that the Oranje will will keep normal service up in Helsinki on Tuesday night.
Editor's Prediction
Finland 0-3 Netherlands