Wesley Sneijder has sent the Netherlands’ angry and shell-shocked supporters a heartfelt apology for the way his team have performed so far at Euro 2012, indicating just how low the World Cup finalists have sunk in the space of two years.

When Holland’s divided and reportedly dysfunctional team lost to Denmark at Euro 2012 a tabloid newspaper back home in the Netherlands ran a headline that read ‘Legoland beat Egoland’; so goodness knows what kind of abuse is heading Bert van Marwijk’s way today after his team lost 2-1 to Germany to stand on the brink of elimination.

You could sense before the game that there was concern in the Dutch camp.

The Netherlands 0 Denmark 1

Holland coach Bert van Marwijk wants to concentrate on football matters after claims of racism against some of his players overshadowed his team’s build up to their Euro 2012 opener against Denmark.

NETHERLANDS coach Bert van Marwijk and captain Mark van Bommel last night refused to dwell on the racist abuse allegedly suffered by black members of the squad during a training session in Krakow.

UEFA today acknowledged Holland's black players were the victims of racist abuse during a training session in Krakow.

UEFA had “no plans” today to launch an investigation into allegations Holland’s black players were racially abused during a training session in Krakow.

Holland’s black players were allegedly subjected to monkey chants during an open training session in Krakow last night, with captain Mark van Bommel branding the abuse “a real disgrace” on the eve of Euro 2012.

Johan Cruyff wasn’t impressed by the Champions League final. For him there was no glory in Chelsea’s heroic defending and improbable success.

Tonight’s clash of the heavyweights at Camp Nou is set up to be a classic.

Conspiracy theorists suspect the Champions League draw is arranged in consultation with UEFA’s marketing department.

No formation is ever perfect.

It was a game and a result that might have been the catalyst for a golden era.

INTER MILAN denied their neighbours AC Milan a place at the top of Serie A and threw their own hat into the ring for the Scudetto in the process with a 1-0 win at the San Siro last night.

BARCELONA secured top spot in Champions League Group H, finally shaking off AC Milan in a cracker at the San Siro last night.

AC Milan 2 Barcelona 3

Clarence Seedorf has signed a new contract with AC Milan that will see the veteran remain with the Italian champions until the end of the 2011/12 season.

Andrea Pirlo has announced he is leaving AC Milan after 10 years at the club.

Mark van Bommel will wait until the end of the season before deciding his next move, according to his agent.

AC Milan have signed veteran defender Nicola Legrottaglie from Juventus, the Serie A leaders confirmed today.

Bayern Munich have confirmed the transfer of their captain Mark van Bommel to AC Milan with immediate effect.

“Please God, he’ll still be here in February. I don’t see any way Robbie won’t be here unless someone comes up with £50 million or something for him!”

Wolfsburg are reportedly lining up a bid for Bayern Munich midfielder Mark van Bommel to plug a gap in their midfield.

INJURED Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has been named in the preliminary Holland squad for their friendly against Turkey in Amsterdam on November 17.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter yesterday insisted under-fire English referee Howard Webb had a “very hard task” in Sunday night’s fiery World Cup final.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter today insisted under-fire English referee Howard Webb had had a “very hard task” in last night’s fiery World Cup final.

Arjen Robben has claimed Howard Webb was not up to the job of handling the World Cup final.

Howard Webb set a new World Cup final record after handing out 14 yellow cards and one red to Spain and Holland in a tempestuous climax to this tournament.

Holland 0 Spain 1

WHILE the whole of the football world, and especially those parts of it coloured either orange or red, works itself into a fit of feverish anticipation ahead of tomorrow’s World Cup final, your correspondent finds himself in the unusually luxurious position of feeling eminently chilled about the outcome.

ARJEN ROBBEN would be delighted to win ugly in the World Cup final tomorrow night.

IT’S quarter-final time, the Dutch are flying, the Oranje Army is in full voice and expectations are high.

Holland 2 Slovakia 1

Cameroon 1 Holland 2

Orlando Engelaar was one of four players to miss out as Holland boss Bert van Marwijk made the final cut to his 23-man World Cup squad today.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL: Bayern Munich v Inter Milan (Bernabeu, 7.45pm)

BAYERN MUNICH coach Louis van Gaal still does not believe his team are among the elite sides of European football even though they are now just one step away from winning the Champions League.

Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto’o pointed to combative midfielder Mark van Bommel as Bayern Munich’s “decisive weapon” ahead of tomorrow night’s Champions League final in Madrid.

Ruud van Nistelrooy’s international career appears to be over after the veteran striker missed out on Bert van Marwijk’s 30-man preliminary World Cup squad today.

LYON against Bayern is a semi-final clash no one expected, and so far it has lived down to expectations.

BAYERN MUNICH defender Philipp Lahm has played down the impact of Lyon’s travel woes ahead of tonight’s Champions League semi-final first leg.