Bierhoff: Let’s not give Dutch a second chance

Oliver Bierhoff has called for his team to break the habit of their traditional second-game slump when the new tournament favourites Germany face the Netherlands in tonight’s Euro 2012 clash.

Germany take on the World Cup finalists in Kharkiv with the Dutch desperately needing a win to stay in the tournament after opening their Group B campaign with a shock 1-0 defeat to Denmark on Saturday.

But the Germans have a habit of crashing to defeat in their second game at major tournaments, despite starting with an impressive win. At the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, having opened with a 4-0 rout of Australia, Germany suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Serbia, five days later.

Likewise, at Euro 2008, an impressive 2-0 victory over Poland was backed up by a surprise 2-1 defeat to Croatia en route to the final and Bierhoff is hoping his team will brush off the second-game slump to beat the Dutch.

“I hope that after the second game this time it will be different and that we come out as winners,” Bierhoff told reporters.

Having hammered Holland 3-0 in Hamburg in a friendly last November, when both teams were missing several first-choice players, Bierhoff said any assumptions of a repeat result would be “crazy”.

“It was a good yardstick at the time and a great game for us, but that was a different Dutch team to the one we’ll face,” said Bierhoff. “This is a tournament situation and we would be crazy to think the game will go the same way. It will be much harder, they were missing a few players and the Dutch will be stronger.

“If everything comes together for us we can win this game. We have said we want to beat the Dutch and that has not changed.”

Grudge matches don’t come much bigger than this. Dutch fans will tell you they can handle a loss, just not to Germany.

That opening result was not part of coach Bert van Marwijk’s plans meaning the Oranje will have to pick up the pieces and defeat either or both of Germany and Portugal, to progress to the next phase.

Van Marwijk’s main point of contention will be whether he bows to popular belief and plays Schalke striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar up front rather than Robin van Persie, who proved wasteful in their opener.

The Arsenal captain had been in such scintillating form this season but against Denmark he looked distinctly out of touch and spurned a number of openings to the disbelief of the Dutch fans.

That the debate over who should start is even a consideration is staggering given van Persie’s feats at Arsenal over the past two seasons, yet Huntelaar’s scoring record in the Bundesliga and at international level has been scarily good also.

Whoever van Marwijk chooses, the attacking intent must remain the same, with a record of no draws in their past 38 games a testament to their do-or-die approach.

Defender Joris Mathijsen has returned to full fitness and is expected to return to face Germany in place of Ron Vlaar while Germany’s goal scoring hero Mario Gomez will likely lead the attack again ahead of Miroslav Klose.

Germany’s record of success at major tournaments is formidable and after typically edging Portugal despite not playing at their peak, their progression to the knockout stages again appears a formality.

Joachim Loew has a fully fit squad to chose from and his decision to start Gomez rather than Klose, a source of ongoing debate, was validated with the Bayern Munich striker’s 72nd minute winner on Saturday night.

“Honestly I don’t have the energy to worry about what other people are saying. I have a different point of view (on who to play up front) than the media or fans,” Loew said.

“The game plan for both teams will be pretty clear to the other. We know the Netherlands’ system but they know how Germany play and where the main points are. It will be a very even fight,” he said.

These two are no strangers to one another, having met eight times at finals tournaments. Germany has the slight edge, with three wins against two for the Dutch. The 1974 World Cup final was the most significant, as Germany broke Dutch hearts in a 2-1 win. The Dutch came out on top in Euro 88. In 1990 the Germans won a second round World Cup match where Frank Rijkaard infamously spat on Rudi Voller.