Holland vs Slovakia World Cup 2010 Live Blog: Results, Scores & Analysis

Another day, another game. A lot is expected of Holland in this year's World Cup, and although they have yet to lose a game, some are still unsatisfied with their level of performance.

Slovakia on the other hand gave their fans an unexpected treat, as they triumphed over Italy to earn themselves a fourth game in South Africa.

This game should be very exciting. Holland are expected to put on a show, while Slovakia should be able to play with great freedom knowing they have already passed expectations.

Full-time Synopsis:

Although Netherlands won the game quite easily, there will be questions asked of them. They never really turned it on up front and their defense showed signs of cracks.

Slovakia had a couple of chances in the second-half and better finishing could have spun the game on it's head, but Slovakia for the most part were out-played.

The game in general was quite poor and has definitely brought down the quality of the last 16 round.

93: The final whistle goes and Holland are through.

93: The Dutch are very sloppy at the back and the keeper has given a penalty.

Vittek can get his fourth of the tournament if he can put this way. He sends the keeper the wrong way, and it is 2-1.

90: Holland have been dangerous in the final few minutes attacking the Slovakian defense but that is mainly down to Slovakia pushing players forward.

The game is just winding down now.

Holland Sub: Sneijder makes way for Afellay.

86: Slovakia Subs: Sapara comes on in place of Hamsik, while Jakubko replaces Zabavnik. It is all too late for Slovakia and their changes may be just to ensure that all 23 men in the squad make an appearance.

85: Elia makes the wrong choice with a weak shot on goal when he had bodies inside the Slovakian box to cross it to.

83: And there is the second! Sneijder secures the victory for Holland. Kuyt took the ball around Mucha and then squared the ball to Sneijder who had an open net to slot the ball into.

81: The referee has killed any chance of a game today with his ridiculous calls. And Sepp Blatter has surely made a farce of the game by choosing "Micky Mouse" officials for the tournament in a bid to secure votes from the smaller nations in the next FIFA elections.  

78: Holland Sub: Klass-Jan Huntelaar comes on to replace Van Persie. Van Persie has done very little in the game, he had one great chance earlier on in the game which he couldn't get his head behind.

73: Mucha has pulled out another great save. Kuyt came inside from the left and rocketed a shot at goal. Mucha got both hands behind it and sent it out for a corner.

Everton look like they have snapped up another good keeper.

71: The two subs have just come together and Kopunek has received a yellow card. Elia showed great pace to break away before being taken down.

70: Slovakia have started to get themselves back into the game and Holland made become a little nervous at the back.

Holland Sub: Robben makes way for Elia. Robben has been the biggest threat in Orange.

Slovakia Sub: Kopunek comes on to replace Jendrisek. Slovakia have nothing to lose in going forward.

67: Just inches away! Stoch drove at the Dutch defense from the left-hand side. He skipped inside and his shot was just tipped over by he Dutch keeper.

What a save! Vittek was clear inside the Dutch area and rocketed a shot goal-ward, but the Dutch keeper rushed out and got a hand to the ball and a thud rang out when the ball made contact with his hand.

65: Great block by Pekarik. Sneijder broke forward down the left cut inside the defenders and struck the ball goal-wards. Pekarik threw his body in-front of the shot and Slovakia cleared the danger.

Holland are finding some space when they break on the counter.

58: Again Mucha makes a great stop. A Van Persie free-kick was whipped in, Mucha came out bravely to punch clear and was taken out by Kuyt who was charging towards the goal.

55: The Dutch have started stronger in the second-half in comparison to the first.

Slovakia look like they may be forced into a change as Zebavnik seems to have an ankle or achilles injury.

50: What a save! Mucha got his fingertips onto a low driven shot from Robben. I can not understand why the Slovakian players are not forcing Robben down the flank.

And again! What a save. His second was even better than his first. From six yards out Mathijsen had an open goal and Mucha just got across to save excellently.

45: Holland get the second-half going.

First-half Synopsis:

The only difference between the two sides in this game has been a great individual goal by Arjen Robben. Other than that strike there has been little in this game.

The Dutch, although they are winning, have been average and their supporters will be less than impressed at how they have played thus far.

Slovakia have tried but failed to create anything dangerous and this game has without doubt been the least impressive of the last 16 games.

45: The referee has just given a high foot against a Slovak player which is an absolutely disgraceful decision. 

43: Holland's first really threatening move since scoring has led to a poor attempt from Van Persie inside the Slovakian penalty area.

40: The ref is starting to throw the yellow cards around and any player who feels any hint of contact are going down like bricks and getting the opposition booked.

35: The first substitute of the game, and it is the lineman's flag. He has not had anything to do but apparently his flag has been worn-out and needs to be replaced.

32: The game has died-down somewhat since the Dutch goal, and Slovakia actually look the more likely of the two to score.

31: Nigel De Jong just did the strangest piece of defending. He was running towards his goal defending a free-kick and instead of allowing the ball to run out of play he back-heeled it across his own box.

30: The pitch is starting to get cut up and bobbles and divots are starting to form and could have a detrimental effect on the game.

25: The crowd has began a Mexican-African wave as the vuvuzelas turn the stadium into a giant beehive.

19: The vuvuzelas have raised since the Dutch goal, and Slovakia will have to try to either throw caution to the wind and go forward or try and hold Holland to just the one and work on the break.

17: Goal. It's there. You could see it the moment he cut inside on his left.

Robben used the space down the left, cut inside and wrapped his left boot around the ball taking the ball into the left-hand bottom corner.

10: Mucha was called into action for the first time as he had to get down and stop Sneijder's effort.

09: Van Bronckhorst is going to be tested against Stoch and Weiss in this game down the flank, both of whom are so younger than the 37 year old Dutch left-back that he could be their father.

05: It took Holland over four minutes to get their first shot at goal, but Sneijder's effort went way over the bar. Slovakia have started quite strongly.

02: The first real shot in anger has came from a Slovakian boot. The Netherlands looked very slack in defense in the opening few minutes of the game.

00: Slovakia gets the game underway.

5 minutes until kickoff: No real surprises in the Dutch set-up. I am glad to see Robben is fully fit and set to go again. With any luck there will be no officiating mistakes that cause the game to go in favor of one team.

Team News:

Holland: 4-2-3-1

Stekelenburg

Van Der Wiel—Mathijsen—Heitinga—V. Bronckhorst (C)

V. Bommel—De Jong

Kuyt—Sneijder—Robben

V. Persie

One To Watch: Arjen Robben

Slovakia: 4-4-2

Mucha

Zabavnik—Skrtel—Durica—Pekarik

Weiss—Kucka—Hamsik (C)—Stoch

Vittek—Jendrisek

One To Watch: Merek Hamsik

Prediction: Breaking down every position on the field and on the bench, it is very hard to see how Slovakia can gain an advantage in this game.

Holland should be more than capable of surpassing Slovakia in this game, but they must not overlook their opposition either. A Holland win is all that can be expected from this game, but the most important thing for the guys in Orange is that they meet their fans' expectations with their performance.