Sport-locker.net preview the tie of Euro 2012 so far, as arch rivals Holland and Germany look set to do battle again….

WASTEFUL DUTCH NEED TO RE-FOCUS THEIR ATTACK

Castrol EDGE Performance data shows that, despite dominating their UEFA EURO 2012™ opening clash against Denmark, the Netherlands failed to make that possession count, with Bert van Marwijk’s side eventually going down 1-0. Indeed, the Netherlands’ haul of 27 shots attempted against the Danes was the joint-highest total in a single European Championship finals game since 1980.

Most shots attempted in a European Championship Finals match

Even having such potent attacking talents as Arsenal’s Robin van Persie, Bayern Munich’s Arjen Robben and Schalke’s Klaas-Jan Huntelaar in their ranks couldn’t help the goal-shy Dutch, who struggled to seriously test Danish ‘keeper Stephan Andersen. Indeed, the Netherlands only managed to hit the target with five of their 27 attempts.

On the road to Poland and Ukraine, the Dutch were the top-scorers in qualifying, netting 37 goals, while both their shooting accuracy and chance conversion rates (26.6% and 56.8% respectively) were also competition-highs. Rediscovering their shooting boots against their old foes the Germans will be vital if the Oranje are to stay in the tournament.

One positive for the Dutch from the defeat against Denmark was the performance of Inter Milan playmaker Wesley Sneijder. The talented midfielder was central to all the good attacking play from the Oranje, creating 10 goal-scoring chances for team-mates, the joint-highest figure ever in a single European Championship Finals game.

Most chances created in a European Championship Finals match

 GERMANS NEED TO REDISCOVER FORM FROM QUALIFIERS AGAINST DUTCH

While Germany got off to a winning start in UEFA EURO 2012™, manager Jogi Loew will be hoping for more from his team against the Netherlands, as according to Castrol EDGE Performance data, the Germans produced a display well below their form in qualifying.

While the Mannschaft side against Portugal was full of creative talent such as Mezut Ozil, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Thomas Müller, they created nine chances, significantly fewer than they had averaged on the road to Poland and Ukraine (15.6). Their haul of 463 passes was also far below their 603 average in qualification.

Despite having the likes of Müller, Lukas Podolski and forward-thinking full-back Philip Lahm, the Germans also embarked on far less dribbles on average while overall, they made approximately 200 fewer touches of the ball against Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. than in qualification.

Interestingly, against Portugal, the Germans did make a higher proportion of their passes in the attacking third (30%) than they had managed in the qualifiers (26%).

 

When Germany last met their old foes the Netherlands, in a friendly back in November 2011 in Hamburg, the home side ran out impressive 3-0 winners. In that game, the Germans played a compact formation in midfield, compared to their more expansive game against Portugal, with impressive effect.

Germany v Netherlands – Friendly – November 15th 2011

FORWARD-THINKING HUMMELS CENTRAL TO GERMAN SUCCESS

While the more high-profile stars such as Mezut Ozil, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mario Gomez were doing their best to break down a stubborn, defensively-minded Portuguese side, Castrol EDGE Performance research shows that defender Mats Hummels was producing a superb all-round display for Germany in their UEFA EURO 2012™ opener.

The Borussia Dortmund player was as the centre of much of Germany’s best play, making more touches than any other player in the game, while over the course of the first two match-days, only Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder made more ball touches.

Despite playing in the central of defence against Portugal, Hummels was eager to push the play forward, with the former Stuttgart man making more passes into the opposition half than any other defender over the first two days of the competition.

So who do you think will win out of Holland and Germany? Will the winner of this go on to win Euro 2012? Let us know in the comments section below or on our Twitter and Facebook pages!