Dutch eye Slovakia sign-off boost

Following defeats in their previous two Euro 2012 warm-up matches, the Netherlands will be looking for a positive performance and result when they host Slovakia on Wednesday evening.

The Dutch were defeated 3-2 by Champions League finalists Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on May 22 and were beaten 2-1 by Bulgaria four days later on home turf.

Coach Bert van Marwijk and team captain Mark van Bommel insist that preparations ahead of next month’s tournament in Poland and Ukraine remain on track, but the Oranje will be eager to silence their doubters when they take on Slovakia.

The Eastern European side failed to qualify for Euro 2012, and were defeated 1-0 by tournament co-hosts Poland on Friday, but their squad boasts some considerable talent and experience of competing at a high level.

Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsik captains the side and he is ably supported in the middle of the park by Manchester City fringe man Vladimir Weiss and Fenerbache’s talented former Chelsea prospect Miroslav Stoch.

The Slovaks will look towards Bursaspor hitman Stanislav Sestak for goals, but it is difficult to see the number 34 ranked side in the world upsetting the 2010 World Cup finalists.

The Dutch head into the game as 1/4 favourites to win the match, the draw is available at 21/5, while Slovakia are out at 9/1 to cause an upset and boost team morale ahead of their qualifying campaign for the 2014 World Cup.

But despite losing their last two internationals, the Netherlands have found the net in both matches and should rack up the goals in Rotterdam tomorrow night.

A 4-0 win for van Marwijk’s men is not beyond the realms of possibility and, at 12/1, that particular selection represents excellent value for money. 3-0 is available at 11/2, while the Dutch are at 16/1 to hit five past their visitors and keep a clean sheet.

Those who fancy the favourites to stutter ahead of their European Championship test might fancy the 2-2 draw selection, which can be bought at 16/1, although given that there have been 16 goals scored in the Netherlands’ last four out outings, the 0-0 or 1-1 selections, though available at tempting prices respectively, should be avoided for this one.

A Dutch half-time/full-time win is available at 8/13, but there is better value to be found elsewhere. A tie at the interval followed by a home victory after 90 minutes can be bought at 3/1, while a Slovakia half-time lead followed by a come-from-behind win for their opponents is available at 22/1.

And, given the Netherlands’ obvious issues at the back in recent matches, that last selection looks a very attractive prospect indeed.

“You should never give away a goal like that,” said a rueful van Marwijk, reflecting on Bulgaria’s winner against his side earlier this week.

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Slovakia dealt Karhan blow

Slovakia (150/1 to win the tournament) midfielder Miroslav Karhan has been ruled out of the World Cup because of a recurring Achilles tendon injury.

“There’s a little tear which means I can’t take part in the tournament,” the 33-year-old said.

“I have a three week break ahead of me and the World Cup begins in two weeks. So my withdrawal is final,” added Karhan, who plays for Bundesliga club Mainz 05.

The former Wolfsburg and Besiktas player has 96 caps for Slovakia, scoring 13 goals.

The announcement came as Slovakia were pegged back by Cameroon as the two sides drew 1-1 in a pre-World Cup friendly.

Enoh Eyong’s goal seven minutes from time saw Cameroon escape with a draw after the Slovakians, who in a previous entity as Czechoslovakia reached the last eight in 1990, had taken the lead through Kamil Kopunek in the sixth minute.

Kopunek scored with a great strike from 18 metres out after being set up by Chelsea midfielder Miroslav Stoch, giving no chance to Cameroon goalkeeper Hamidou Souleymanou.

The Slovaks dominated the first-half against a Cameroon side still without their superstar striker Samuel Eto’o, who has been given time off since winning last Saturday’s Champions League title. The European team repelled Cameroon for most of the match, marshalled by Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel.

Slovakia (13/2 to win Group), who are in Group F at the finals in South Africa along with defending champions Italy, New Zealand and Paragua, could have taken a 2-0 lead but Stanislav Sestak’s shot rattled back off the crossbar.

Cameroon – who are in Group E for the June 11-July 11 tournament along with Denmark, Japan and the Netherlands – came back into the match after that and finally were rewarded when Ajax midfielder Eyong struck.

For Cameroon (80/1 to win the World Cup), the draw comes on the back of a 0-0 draw with non-qualifiers Georgia earlier in the week and they will be looking for a vastly-improved performance in their June 1 friendly with 2006 World Cup semi-finalists and fellow finalists Portugal in Covilha, Portugal.

They have a final friendly after that against fellow qualifiers Serbia on June 5 in Belgrade.

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