

The Dutch are big favourites to win this match but the few people expected Slovakia, playing in the World Cup for the first time as an independent nation, to make it out of a group that included Paraguay and reigning World Champions Italy. Yet the Eastern Europeans did so in style, dumping out Marcello Lippi's Azzurri with a 3-2 victory in their final game.


It will be an interesting clash of styles too. While the Dutch like to utilise the wings and stretch the play across the full width of the pitch the Slovakian widemen prefer to drift into the middle and keep the play narrow. With Van Marwijk employing two defensive midfielders ahead of his back four it could get very congested in that area.
He is yet to display the form that helped Inter Milan win the UEFA Champions League title this season but you get the feeling it is only a matter of time before he sparks into life. That's not to say the former Ajax star hasn't had an impact, he scored the winner against Japan, but he could do better. With Robben back in the team and the weight of expectation shared, Sneijder's keen eye for a pass and superb shooting ability should make him a key figure against Slovakia.
Having failed to score in nine games during qualifying, Vittek has hit three goals in three games at the World Cup to put him in contention for the Golden Boot. Kamil Kopunek is the only other Slovak to find the back of the net and that could be a problematic if the Dutch do a job on the previously little-known Ankaragucu striker. Can he handle the burden of being the star man?

Key battle:
Robin Van Persie v Martin SkrtelVan Persie bagged four goals in the Oranje's three warm-up games prior to the World Cup and although he has not


Prediction
This will be a real test for Slovakia against a Dutch side that is unbeaten in their last 22 internationals and expect to book a place in the quarter-finals. It could, and should, be a step too far for Vladimir Weiss' unfancied side.
THE PICK

Take HOLLAND give 1 goal >>> SLOVAKIA (Main Bet)
FIXED ODDS
Take HOLLAND WIN
Odds Centre >>> www.asianbookie.com
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