![Denmark had billed as Group B's rank outsiders to reach knockout stages](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/120609050608-euro-2012-michael-krohn-dehli-story-top.jpg)
Denmark produced the first major surprise of Euro 2012 as Morten Olsen's side secured a 1-0 win over World Cup finalists Netherlands in Kharkiv.
Famed for their Total
Football approach, the Dutch were left totally frustrated by a Danish
side that was never fazed by the star-studded reputation of Bert van
Marwijk's team.
Billed as Group B's rank
outsiders, Denmark had to ride their luck against a Dutch team that
dominated possession for long periods of this game in Kharkiv's Metalist
Stadium.
Amid those lucky breaks
though Simon Kjaer and Daniel Agger in central defence showed plenty of
steel and when the Danes did get hold of the ball they produced some
intricate passing moves.
Danish goalkeeper Stephan
Andersen was also outstanding, notably when he thwarted Dutch
substitute Klaas-Jan Huntelaar after the Schalke forward was sent clear
by Wesley Sneijder's wonderful pass with the outside of his right foot.
That Huntelaar. who
scored 48 goals in all competitions last season for the German
Bundesliga club, was left on the bench by Van Marwijk was the first
surprise of Saturday's game.
And before he was introduced in the second half, Huntelaar could only watch as Robin van Persie's nose for a goal went missing.
A frustrating evening for
the Dutch striker, who has scored 30 goals in the English Premier
League for Arsenal this season, was encapsulated when he completely
miskicked the ball early in the second half.
Van Persie should have
scored early on in the game but put his shot wide and later on in the
first half the Arsenal striker was thwarted by Danish goalkeeper Stephan
Andersen.
Completely against the
run of play, Michael Krohn-Dehli gave Denmark a shock lead after he
gathered Simon Poulsen's deflected cross and drilled a shot through the
legs of Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.
Arjen Robben then curled a left-footed shot against the post as Denmark's goal continued to lead a charmed life.
The second half mirrored
the first with the Dutch pinning the Danes in their own half, but the
Danes refused to be cowed and after surviving a late handball appeal
against Lars Jacobsen, Olsen's team secured a memorable victory.
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