Netherlands vs. Denmark: Van Persie, Dutch Stunned by Denmark in Euro Opener

Already the reaper grins, barely a match deep in his deathly group of destruction and scant more than a day into an already gripping 2012 UEFA European Football Championship.

On this day, he waves the white-and-red-crossed banner of Denmark, and he arrives posing grim questions for the would-be Dutch conquerors.

After Denmark 1, Netherlands 0, were the Dutch accidental losers or accurately second-best? Were they woefully unlucky or critically under-equipped?

And most important of all, are they prepared for what comes next?

That Euro 2012's first big shock comes via the deathly hallows of Group B should come as no shock at all. Four of the world's top 10 squads bunched together before the knockout stage is as cruel to the teams involved as it is thrilling for the fans.

The only surprise is that the bringer of bad tidings for one of the consensus co-favorites—Germany and the Netherlands—wasn't Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portuguese pals. Instead it was Denmark and an unheralded 29-year-old journeyman from Brøndby named Michael Krohn-Dehli.

There's recent precedent, of course, for a favorite losing a major tournament opener before going on to glory. Spain dropped a 1-0 decision to Switzerland to start World Cup 2010 before beating—who else?—the Netherlands in the final and winning the whole thing anyway.

That, however, was two years ago, and this feels different.

This time, for all their possession and, at times, dangerous pinpoint passing, the Netherlands felt not like robbed winners at the final whistle, but rather more like the dysfunctional Dutch sides of old.

Twenty-eight shots flew from Dutch feet toward the Danish goal, but only five found the target. More often, Holland's thrusts bore the trademarks of debilitating disorganization: a final pass inches too short or too far; an attacking run mistimed or otherwise unnoticed; a headlong ramble down the wing followed by a blast into the cheap seats.

Two weeks ago today, Brazil showed what a dangerous wide attacker could do to Denmark by cutting in from the wing, with the perpetually perilous Hulk scoring two killer goals before the stroke of halftime in a 3-1 friendly win.

On Saturday, Arjen Robben did the opposite, following his disappointing night in the UEFA Champions League final in Munich with a ball-hogging, shot-wasting performance in his Euro 2012 opener.

Robben hit the upright in a first half dominated by the Dutch, but far more often he spurned open teammates and steamed too strongly ahead where restraint might have proved more valuable.

Robin van Persie, meanwhile, wasted almost as many chances as the number on his back.

So often Arsenal's savior during the 2011-12 club campaign, RvP was unrecognizable both whiffing at shots and wearing the unfamiliar orange No. 16. And although his would-be replacement at centre-forward, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, was no less wasteful, most will wonder whether Van Persie's starting place is now in doubt.

More, however, will now wonder whether Holland can recover in time to survive the reaper's wrath, after such a poor start and with such a hole-ridden defense. Two matches remain, but in truth, Denmark was supposed to be the most beatable of their three Group B opponents.

Now, distressingly, come the heavy-hitters—first in the form of the tournament co-favorites from Germany, and after that, the all-but-unmatched genius of Cristiano Ronaldo.

After a run to the World Cup final in 2010, this was supposed to be Holland's time, playing voetbal the way the Dutch have always believed it should be played.

But make no mistake: after a deserved loss to Denmark in their first outing at Euro 2012, the Dutch appear as dysfunctional as ever—and no nearer their first major title for 24 long years.

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