NETHERLANDS 2-0 NORWAY, Rotterdam, 10/06/09
Ooijer 32, Robben 51

The Dutch retained the UFWC title with this win over Norway and set up a title clash with England.

A goal in each half from Andre Ooijer and then Arjen Robben were enough to win the game for the Netherlands. Ooijer struck just before the half-hour mark, heading in a Rafael van der Vaart free kick from close range. Five minutes into the second half, Van der Vaart and Robin Van Persie set up Robben, who drove a low left-foot shot under Norway keeper Jon Knudsen.

The Dutch, already qualified for World Cup 2010, made it seven wins out of seven in their qualifying campaign. This was the Netherlands’ 37th UFWC victory, and their sixth consecutive successful UFWC title defence since taking the title from Sweden in November. The Dutch have won five of those six title matches, scoring 15 goals, conceding just three, and only failing to beat Tunisia, with whom they drew 1-1. FIFA now rank the Dutch second in the world, behind Spain.

Having seen off Sweden, Tunisia, Scotland, Macedonia, Iceland and Norway, next up for the Netherlands is England, who should, on paper, provide a much tougher test. Currently ranked sixth by FIFA (and second by the UFWC), England are also currently enjoying a hundred-percent WC qualification campaign. Last night, the English defeated Andorra 6-0. England have won 74 UFWC title matches over the history of the competition, but have not held the title since 2000.

Netherlands vs England is shaping up to be one of the biggest UFWC title matches for years. Over the next few weeks we’ll be dipping into the archives to highlight some classic UFWC matches involving both sides, and inducting some Dutch and English players into the Hall of Fame. We’ll also, of course, be previewing the big match itself. Watch this space.

Match Reports Netherlands, Norway

NETHERLANDS VS NORWAY, Rotterdam, 10/06/09

Now ranked fifth in the all-time UFWC table, and second in FIFA’s world rankings, the Netherlands have a 100-percent record in World Cup 2010 Qualifiers – being the first team to successfully qualify – and are Europe’s form team.

Norway are struggling, bottom of qualifying group 9 and without a win, having drawn 0-0 with Macedonia at the weekend, but they do still have a chance of qualifying for WC 2010. That chance would be all but obliterated if they were to lose to the Dutch on Wednesday in a UFWC/WCQ double-header.

Amazingly, the Norwegians have never held the UFWC title in the competition’s 137-year history, losing all ten of their UFWC title matches. One famous UFWC title match in 1945 saw Norway lose 10-0 to Sweden. Norway’s last UFWC match, in 2002, resulted in a 1-0 defeat – to the Netherlands.

Norway, once again under the management of Egil ‘Drillo’ Olsen, who led the nation to World Cups in 1994 and 1998, are ranked 47th in the world by FIFA, having been an almost permanent fixture in the ranking top ten throughout the 90s.

With the Dutch having already qualified, it will be interesting to see how their team responds. Freed from the pressure of qualification, will they already be distracted by thoughts of summer holidays? Or will the new-found freedom allow them to play even more attacking football?

Should Norway manage to win the UFWC title for the very first time, they will defend the title in a WCQ match against Scotland on 2 August.

If the Netherlands retain the title, they will take it into a friendly match on 12 August against England.

Therefore, whatever happens on Wednesday, the next UFWC match will involve a British challenger.

Match Previews Netherlands, Norway