What: 2013 European Under-21 Championship
Who: Holland U21 vs Russia U21
When: Sunday 9th June, 2013, at 17:00 UK Time
Where: Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem, Israel

Eye-catching Tulips Still Need To Grow

Given the abundance of talent within Holland’s squad, it is difficult for coach Cor Pot to keep a low profile and play a game of hide and seek with the Jong Oranje’s ambitions. “The goal is of course to go as far as possible”, Pot said. “Otherwise we would not even bother travelling [to Israel]. However, to say that we are expected to become European champions is overstating it a bit.”

Holland’s opener against Germany showed both sides of the team; on one hand a dominant side in the first half, with two goals scored and many chances created; and then a team unable to keep the ball and play football in the second period – 2-0 became 2-2 before Leroy Fer’s late header secured the win.

Curiously, Holland’s best players were two performers who on paper were reserves: Fer, who came on for the brilliant but sometimes anonymous Adam Maher, and Marco van Ginkel, chosen by Pot ahead of Jordy Clasie in the starting eleven and one of the few to keep his performance level high in both halves.

Jong Oranje have a lot of potential, but are still searching for consistency that lasts 90 minutes.

Nothing To Lose

In 2011, a well-disciplined, but not much more, Belarus finished with third spot in the European Championship. Today, Russia are as solid as their former countrymen, as their debut game against Spain showed. Russia do boast some talents Belarus did not though and that is part of the reason that coach Nikolai Pisarev can still be confident of his side’s chances of qualifying. Skilled players like Alan Dzagoev, Oleg Shatov and Denis Cheryshev can create something from nothing.

“People in Russia say the tougher, the better”, explained Pisarev. “This group is exactly what we need, because a lack of nervous tension is one of the worst enemies for Russian players.” To be in a group with the last three Under-21 champions looks a good guarantee of that for Pisarev.

Good news for the coach comes from Dzagoev and Fedor Smolov, who are back in his ranks after missing the opener against Spain due to senior side requirements in a 2014 World Cup qualifier against Portugal. Their presence will be vital to adding quality to the Russian attack in what is a do-or-die game.
 

Recent form

Holland U21:
Holland 4-1 Norway (25/03; Friendly)
Holland 3-1 Australia (24/05; Friendly)
Holland 3-2 Germany (06/06; Euro U21)

Russia U21:
Spain 3-1 Russia (25/03; Friendly)
Russia 7-0 Maccabi Ironi (03/06; Friendly)
Russia 0-1 Spain (06/06; Euro Under-21)

Players to watch

Holland – Adam Maher: A goal at just 17 years and 147 days against BATE Borisov in December 2010 made Maher the youngest Dutch player to score in the UEFA Cup/Europa League. Since then, this all-round midfielder of Moroccan descent has consistently improved, becoming a regular at 18 with AZ Alkmaar and making his Holland debut at 19. In 2012, Maher was voted the Eredivisie Talent of the Year, being praised for his “excellent performances in any position in midfield”. His movement between the lines can create many problems for the Russians.

Russia – Fedor Smolov: The Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde of Russian football. Every time Smolov wears the Russian shirt he turns from a disappointing goal-shy striker (three goals from 2007 until 2013 for Dynamo Moscow, Feyenoord and Anzhi Makhachkala) into a lethal marksman. After he led Russia Under-21s to Israel with seven goals in the qualifiers, last November the striker made his senior debut against the United States and scored after nine minutes. Now Pisarev’s men need his goals more than ever.

Match Prediction

Russia need a win just to survive, while Holland are looking for victory to make the semi-finals before a tough match against Spain.

The last time Russia’s Under-21s beat the same age group of Holland, they were still part of the Soviet Union, while the last meeting between the two in February 2007 saw the Tulips win comfortably 3-0.

Today both teams are better than their 2007 crops, but Holland are a step above Russia. Holland 2-0 Russia.

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