NETHERLANDS 2-1 MEXICO, Freiburg (Germany) 26/05/10
Van Persie 17, 41; Hernandez 74

Two first-half goals from Robin Van Persie were enough for the Netherlands see off Mexico and retain the UFWC title.

The Netherlands had the best of the early exchange, as shots came in from every angle. In the 8th minute a diagonal pass for Van Der Vaart split the Mexican defence wide open, only for his shot to hit the post and deflect wide. The Mexican goal was living a charmed life as the Netherlands took five shots in the opening quarter of an hour before opening the scoring.

In the 17th minute, another diagonal pass this time found Van Persie who fired into an empty net because of the goalkeeper misjudging the pass.

Mexico tried to break through to get an equalizer, but the Netherlands’ defence stood firm, leaving Mexico to resort to harmless long-range shots. The Netherlands continued to strive for a second goal, but the Mexican defenders and the goalkeeper managed to keep the game at 1-0.

That was until the 41st minute, when another diagonal pass again found Van Persie, and he fired into the bottom corner with the goalkeeper rooted to the spot, and the Netherlands went into half-time in a commanding position.

The Netherlands started the second-half as they left it, but it wasn’t long before Mexico finally got a grip on the game, their first genuine chance coming in the 58th minue, as a long-range shot forced a decent save from the goalkeeper. Cracks started to appear in the Netherlands defence as they survived a goalmouth scramble in the 66th minute by the skin of their teeth, a last-ditch challenge being the only thing to prevent Mexico from hitting the net.

Mexico continued to probe and finally got what they deserved when Hernandez was first to a Torres Nilo cross, as he headed the ball into the corner and out of the reach of Stekelenburg.

But Mexico didn’t slow down, as a fantastic long-range effort destined for the top corner was kept out by a world-class save. Both teams tried to get another goal to help their cause, but both defences remained firm and the match ended 2-1 to the Netherlands, extending their unbeaten streak in the UFWC to fourteen.

The result puts the Netherlands level with Russia in joint 4th place in the all-time UFWC Rankings, and sets up a title match against Ghana on June 1st, which we will preview for you tomorrow.

Match Reports Mexico, Netherlands

NETHERLANDS vs MEXICO, Freiburg, 26 May 2010

Both the Netherlands and Mexico have named the provisional World Cup squads that will take part in the next UFWC title match on 26 May. Both sets of players will be keen to make the right impression in order to ensure they are on the plane to South Africa in June. And, of course, they will be desperate for a UFWC victory…

Dutch coach Bert Van Marwijk has named a 30-man preliminary squad. It includes star names such as Robin van Persie, Mark van Bommel, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Rafael van der Vaart and Dirk Kuyt. Other players familiar to British football fans include Edson Braafheid of Celtic, John Heitinga of Everton, Ryan Babel of Liverpool and Nigel de Jong of Manchester City. There was no room in the squad for Ruud van Nistelrooy (who must surely be nursing a long face), and Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has retired from international football.

Mexico’s Javier Aguirre has already trimmed his squad down to 24, with his side’s warm-up preparations well underway. The Mexicans face England two days before the title match against the Dutch, and also have pre-tournament games lined up against Gambia and Italy. Included in the squad are Rafael Márquez, brothers Jonathan and Giovani dos Santos, and Alberto Medina. Medina scored in a 1-0 win over Chile on Sunday. New Manchester United signing Javier Hernández will hope to lead the attack, and Carlos Vela of Arsenal and Guillermo Franco of West Ham are also in the squad. Oddly, Aguirre has only included five recognised midfielders, which could prove costly if injuries occur.

The match will take place at a neutral venue – the Badenova-Stadion in Freiburg, Germany. The Dutch, of course, go into the game as UFWC title holders. They’re 5th in the UFWC rankings, having won 40 title matches, just one less than 4th-placed Russia. Mexico have only ever won one title match – against Czechoslovakia at the World Cup in 1962 – and are ranked 40th. FIFA rank the Netherlands 4th in the world, with Mexico ranked 17th.

The Dutch preliminary squad is: Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Sander Boschker (FC Twente), Michel Vorm (FC Utrecht); Vurnon Anita (Ajax), Khalid Boulahrouz (Stuttgart), Edson Braafheid (Celtic), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), John Heitinga (Everton), Joris Mathijsen (HSV), Ron Vlaar (Feyenoord), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax), Andre Ooijer (PSV); Otman Bakkal (PSV), Mark van Bommel (Bayern Munich), Wout Brama (FC Twente), Orlando Engelaar (PSV), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), David Mendes da Silva (AZ), Stijn Schaars (AZ), Wesley Sneijder (Inter), Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid), Demy de Zeeuw (Ajax), Ibrahim Afellay (PSV); Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Jeremain Lens (AZ), Eljero Elia (HSV), Ryan Babel (Liverpool), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (AC Milan), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich).

The Mexican preliminary squad is: Óscar Pérez (Chiapas), Guillermo Ochoa (América ), Luis Ernesto Michel (Guadalajara), Rafael Márquez (Barcelona), Ricardo Osorio (Stuttgart), Francisco Rodríguez, Carlos Salcido (both PSV Eindhoven), Héctor Moreno (AZ Alkmaar), Paul Aguilar (Pachuca), Efraín Juárez (Pumas UNAM), Jonny Magallón (Guadalajara), Jorge Torres Nilo (Atlas), Andrés Guardado (Deportivo La Coruna), Jonathan dos Santos (Barcelona), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul), Israel Castro (Pumas UNAM), Giovani dos Santos (Galatasaray, on loan from Tottenham), Forwards: Pablo Barrera (Pumas UNAM), Adolfo Bautista, Alberto Medina (both Guadalajara), Cuauhtémoc Blanco (Veracruz), Carlos Vela (Arsenal), Javier Hernández (Manchester United), Guillermo Franco (West Ham).

Match Previews Mexico, Netherlands