Wesley Sneijder stood apart from the rest of the team before the Netherlands match last night, seemingly unhappy with the tall mascot who had been paired with him.

Argentina 0 Netherlands 0. (AET) (Argentina win 4-2 on penalties)

Netherlands 0 Costa Rica 0 - Netherlands win on penalties

Netherlands 2 Mexico 1

WORLD CUP GROUP B:

WORLD CUP GROUP B:

Spain 1 Netherlands 5

WORLD CUP GROUP B:

Last year’s beaten finalists Borussia Dortmund were just four minutes away from exiting this year’s competition before Kevin Grosskreutz’s scuffed winner in Marseille saw them qualify as group winners.

Galatasaray 3 Real Madrid 2 (Real Madrid win 3-5 on aggregate)

Galatasaray 3 Real Madrid 2 (Real Madrid win 3-5 on aggregate)

Real Madrid 3 Galatasaray 0

Real Madrid 3 Galatasaray 0

Wesley Sneijder believes Jose Mourinho is doing a “perfect” job at Real Madrid and is not convinced by talk his old Inter Milan boss will definitely be leaving the Bernabeu at the end of the season.

No disrespect to the Premier League but there has been a distinct lack of wailing and gnashing of teeth elsewhere in Europe at the absence of English clubs from the Champions League quarter-finals.

Manchester United are favourites to swoop for Crystal Palace’s highly-coveted winger Wilfried Zaha.

Wesley Sneijder has completed his move to Galatasaray from Inter Milan.

Inter Milan midfielder Wesley Sneijder could agree to join Galatasaray tomorrow, according to his agent.

Galatasaray say they have opened negotiations with Inter Milan over the transfer of unsettled midfielder Wesley Sneijder.

Inter Milan star Wesley Sneijder has been offered by an agent to relegation-haunted QPR, according to their manager Harry Redknapp.

Inter Milan midfielder Wesley Sneijder has edged closer to a potential January exit from the San Siro after being sent on his Christmas break ahead of schedule.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini faces losing Gareth Barry to suspension after the defensive midfielder was charged by the Football Association.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini insists Mario Balotelli is not for sale, despite his stern words for the striker after Sunday’s Manchester derby.

Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has denied accusations that the Serie A club are “blackmailing” midfielder Wesley Sneijder.

Victory is the great redeemer.

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.

An arduous club season, no matter how successful, might not be the platform on which the national side can thrive

Germany defender Mats Hummels cannot wait for the chance to send the Netherlands out of Euro 2012 and book a place in the quarter-finals with victory in Kharkiv on Wednesday.

Denmark might be sitting pretty atop Group B with Germany but they know they must improve significantly to make a prolonged impact on Euro 2012.

When you are the favourites, you play with pressure.

The Netherlands 0 Denmark 1

Wesley Sneijder believes reaching the Euro 2012 final is the minimum requirement for Holland this summer.

IF Manchester United are to sign a midfielder in this transfer window, then it won’t now be Wesley Sneijder.

Wesley Sneijder has ruled out a move away from Inter Milan during the current transfer window.

ALEX FERGUSON has ruled out the possibility of strengthening Manchester United’s midfield during the January transfer window despite ruling Anderson out until February with a knee injury.

Alex Ferguson has ruled out the possibility of strengthening Manchester United’s midfield during the January transfer window despite ruling Anderson out until February with a knee injury.

IF we were in any doubt as to where United’s priorities lie during the excruciating boredom of Saturday’s game, then Fergie settled it in his post-match interviews.

NONE of you will have been too surprised by the way Goodison turned out, I daresay: after an apocalypse like City, defensive caution and an overall sense of non-event were only to be expected.

“I’VE just been listening to a foaming-mouthed BBC reporter describe this past United month as “the perfect start”.

ALEX FERGUSON has already seen off a few pretenders to his Manchester United throne — and he intends to repel a few more even though he will celebrate his 70th birthday later this year.

Alex Ferguson has already seen off a few pretenders to his Manchester United throne – and he intends to repel a few more even though he will celebrate his 70th birthday later this year.

Inter Milan playmaker Wesley Sneijder revealed today he came “close” to joining Manchester United this summer.

AFTER last week’s giddy column, I did wonder whether I’d been guilty of letting myself get too carried away by the mere flash of some teenage flesh.

WESLEY SNEIJDER will remain at Inter Milan this summer according to president Massimo Moratti, who has described the Dutch playmaker as “untouchable”.