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Live Commentary: Euro 2012 - Portugal 2-1 Netherlands - As it happened

:Headline: Live Commentary: Euro 2012 - Portugal 2-1 Netherlands - As it happened:
Sports Mole brings you live updates from Portugal's Group B match against the Netherlands.
Sports Mole

Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of tonight's Euro 2012 Group B clash between Portugal and the Netherlands in Kharkiv.

Portugal can book their place in the quarter-finals with a win tonight, but things aren't so straightforward for the Dutch.

Holland, who are yet to pick up a point in the competition, must win here tonight and hope that Germany do them a big favour in their match against Denmark.

Bert van Marwijk's side don't have a great record against the Portuguese, failing to defeat them in their last eight attempts, losing five and drawing three.

The Netherlands have perhaps been the tournament's biggest disappointment so far, but if Group A's conclusion taught us one thing, it's that anything can happen in football.

> Full team news for the match


21:37That's all from us here tonight. Thank you for reading.

21:36And Holland go home without so much as a point. Portugal face the Czech Republic in the last eight, who finished top of Group A last night.

21:36Portugal qualify for the quarter-finals

Full-TimeIt's all over here!

90 minsFour minutes of added time to be played.

89 minVery nearly a hattrick for Ronaldo there. He lets fly and hits the post! That would have made him joint leading scorer in the competition.

87 minThe United man has played a blinder, always looking dangerous when linking up with Ronaldo.

87 minPortugal substitution: Nani off, Rolando on.

83 minAnd the goal was by Bender!

82 min2-1 to Germany in tonight's other game. That will give them some breathing space at the top of the group.

81 minVan der Vaart strikes the inside of the post! The keeper was well beaten. Very unlucky for the Spurs man.

78 minPortugal could ask questions of Olivira there. Ronaldo was calling for it on the attack, but he went for goal himself, dragging it wide.

75 minAnd that goal has as good as sent Holland packing. Portugal looking good for that second spot in Group B now.

73 minLovely ball from Nani following a Portugal counter-attack. Ronaldo took his time putting it away, but it's fair to say that he's silenced his critics tonight.

73 minGOAL! Portugal 2-1 Netherlands (Ronaldo)

71 minGreat run by Ronaldo, followed by a perfect cross to line up Nani. Nice save from Stekelenburg, but that was a sitter!

71 minAnother Portugal change: Rual Meireles is making way for Custodia.

69 minVan Persie is booked for going in with his arm during a challenge on Pepe.

67 minHolland substitution: Ibrahim Afellay replaces Willems, who looks like he's taken a knock.

66 minCoentrao is teed up by Ronaldo and forces a decent save from Stekelenburg!

64 minVan Persie, who has been marked out of the game, unleashes a vicious strike straight into Alves. Good block by the big man.

63 minBut it's Portugal who make the first change. Miguel Nelson Olivira on for Helder Postiga.

62 minVan Marwijk needs to make a change here to inject some life into Holland. How many times have we seen Dirk Kuyt come off the Liverpool bench to turn a game on its head?

59 minPostiga has a goal ruled out for offside, and rightly so.

58 minA determined Coentrao wins a corner. Meireles takes, and Huntelaar heads clear.

57 minRonaldo drives the ball across the Holland goal. Hard to say whether that was a strike or a cross, though it didn't cause any problems for Stekelenburg.

54 minMoutinho with an ambitious left-footed effort at the other end. It wasn't too far away, but he didn't get much on it.

52 minGood ball in from Sneijder, finds the head of Vlaar, who should have done better. The ball drifts over.

51 minJetro Willems booked for a bad tackle on Moutinho. He can't have any complaints about that.

50 minSneijder crosses in and finds the head of Mathijsen, but he doesn't get enough on it.

48 minMoutinho whips in a free kick for Portugal. The ball ends up back at his feet and he shoots first time, blazing it over. Rash! He should have taken a touch.

47 minNani gets the better of the Dutch defence to line up Ronaldo. Great understanding between the two players, though it came to nothing.

45 minHoland restart knowing they need two goals from somewhere. Let's hope they have a few more ideas in the second-half.

20.45Teams are back onto the pitch now, and the second-half is imminent.

20.41More shots for Portugal, though, with 11 against 7. That stat paints a fairer picture.

20:39Bizarrely enough, Holland had the better of the possession in that half with 59% to 41%, despite being on the back foot for the last half an hour.

20:36All in all, that was an exciting first-half. Wonderful goal from Van der Vaart, and a well-taken equaliser from Ronaldo. Holland need to find more in the final third in the second-half, though.

20:33So, to recap Germany are going through as group winners as it stands, and Portugal will be joining them as runners-up. Holland need to find two goals from somewhere to upset the apple cart.

20:31It's been all Portugal for much of the half. Bento's side have played some good attacking football, and Ronaldo has been a constant threat. His best game of the tournament by far!

Half-timePortugal 1-1 Netherlands

44 minHolland need two clear goals to give themselves a chance of going through. It doesn't look likely the way things are going.

43 minClear handball there from Huntelaar. Referee!

40 minRonaldo displays some nice control, but can only steer his shot wide.

39 minThe Dutch whip in a free kick, which is harmlessly gathered up by Rui Patricio. Portugal go back on the attack straight away.

38 minThe Dutch looked dangerous in the early stages, though it's all Portugal at the moment. Van Marwijk's men are looking short on ideas.

37 minVeloso goes for goal from the set piece, but it loops harmlessly over the bar.

36 minHolland find themselves in the back foot again. Nani goes down for a free kick in a good position.

34 minThe corner is met by a diving header from Ronaldo, which flies wide. He's proving a handful for the Dutch defence.

33 minRonaldo is on the attack once again. His deflected effort almost fell to Nani, but has gone out for a corner instead.

32 minGood effort from Ronaldo, met by an equally impressive save from Stekelenburg. The Portuguese are playing with real attacking flare!

31 minNani has a blistering shot that doesn't miss by much.

27 minHe was bound to score at some point, and the Real Madrid man has gotten the goal that puts Portugal back into second in the group. Calmly placed past the big Dutch keeper!

27 minGOAL: Portugal 1-1 Netherlands (Ronaldo)

26 minWesley Sneijder tries to catch out Rui Patricio in the Portugal goal with a swerving effort that causes him no problems.

25 minA close range header from Krohn-Delhi. If that remains the same, both Germany and Denmark will go through.

25 minEqualiser in the Denmark game!

22 minRonaldo almost opens his account with a powerful header. Good save from Stekelenburg!

21 minNigel De Jong gets a free header at the far post. Poor marking from the Portuguese, that was a let off!

20 minGermany have taken the lead against Denmark through Podolski! Follow the action from that game here.

19 minAnother good run by Robben, who is looking really dangerous, but Van Persie's effort is blocked.

18 minAnother Portugal chance as Rual Meireles smashes into the side netting.

16 minThe Portuguese are gifted a goalscoring opportunity. Postiga is clean through but scuffs his shot. He's unlikely to get a better chance than that all night!

16 minHe's not had the best of tournaments, has he. He didn't take to kindly to those Danish fans chanting 'Messi' at him, and his yet to find the net.

15 minRobben gives the ball away, and Portugal go on the attack through Ronaldo, whose shot skims the post on its way behind.

12 minSo as things stand, both of these teams will go out, with Germany and Denmark progressing. Game on!

11 minAn absolute screamer from outside the box from the Tottenham man!

11 minGOAL! Portugal 0-1 Netherlands (Van der Vaart)

9 minMistimed run by Sneijder, who is caught offside.

7 minStekelenburg is caught off his line. Bruno Alves attempts to embarrass him with a cheeky chip, but it drifts over.

6 minFree kick to Portugal at the other end. Ronaldo skies it, but it took a deflection along the way. Corner.

5 minVan der Vaart shoots from outside the box, but it's blocked by Moutinho. Ambitious effort from the Spurs man.

3 minGreat work from Robben to win the ball along the right flank. The move ends with a ballooned effort from Sneijder. First chance of the game.

2 minThe Dutch are playing from right to left in a orange and black strip. Portugal are sporting all red.

1 minVan der Vaart commits the first foul of the game inside the first minute. Let's hope this isn't a sign of things to come.

19:45We're under way!

19:42Handshakes are being exchanged now, and we'll soon be under way.

19:40And here's Portugal's. It's an upbeat number this one.

19:39The two teams are heading onto the pitch now, and the national anthems are coming up, starting with the Dutch.

19:37There have been reports of internal divisions within the Dutch squad of late. Will that have a bearing on tonight's result?

19:35Portugal came out 1-0 winners that night, a result which will do them just fine this evening.

19:33We can expect some fire and brimstone here tonight if past encounters are anything to go by. Who can forget the Battle of Nuremberg at the 2006 World Cup where four players were sent off?

19:30Bento's men have a good record against tonight's opponents, losing just once in the last ten games, and winning half of those.

19:29A win for Portugal will guarantee them a place in the quarter-finals, but the outcome of this group could very well be decided on goal difference.

19:27The Dutch have a mountain to climb after losing their first two games, and require a big favour from bitter rivals the Germans in their game against Denmark. You can follow Sports Mole's commentary on that game here.

19:25Tensions are hitting critical mass in Group B with all four teams facing the prospect of a flight home tomorrow morning. Naturally, some are in a stronger position than others.

19:23And his opposite number Bert van Marwijk: "The biggest change for us is that it is about one game, it's like a final - a one off-game and so we have to go for it. We need Germany to win but we know from the start we have to win by two goals and I will keep that in mind. We have to go for it, that's what the tactics are based on... the tactics will reflect that situation. It's going to be a frantic game and there were lots of yellow and red cards in the past. So we need lots of discipline for this game. I told the players that but they know that themselves."

19:22Portugal's Paulo Bento: "Our aim is not only to go through but to win the game. We know what their tactics will be. Dutch teams like to have the ball and dictate the game. They have always had a great technical quality but this cannot let us rely just on our counter-attacks - we need to possess the ball too. And I don't think the Netherlands have an advantage just because they've played here (Kharkiv) twice. We have already shown great defensive quality. We will try to counter-attack better and will fight until the end. Although the Netherlands haven't won yet, they deserve a lot of respect. They are very organised and have great quality. They have great pedigree and also can reach the quarter-finals. I'm a great optimist. I wouldn't be here otherwise."

19:21Tonight's odds: Portugal 17/10 Draw 5/2 Netherlands 6/4. Pre-match comments from both coaches coming up...

19:21Team news: Netherlands: Stekelenburg, Van der Wiel, Mathijsen, Vlaar, Willems, De Jong, Sneijder, Robben, Van der Vaart, Huntelaar, Van Persie

19:18Team news: Portugal: Rui Patricio, Alves, Pepe, Coentrao, Pereira, Veloso, Moutinho, Meireles, Nani, Ronaldo, Postiga

19:17We've got some team news coming your way...

19:16Just under half an hour until this mouthwatering clash gets under way. Group B's conclusion has a lot to live up to after last night's drama!
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