Germany inflicted a second-successive Euro 2012 on Netherlands in a renewal of one of football's great rivalries.
These two nations have a
fierce history, punctuated by on-field battles that the legendary German
captain Franz Beckenbaur claimed had cost him "years of my life".
This latest encounter was no classic, largely because Joachim Low's Germany dominated for the vast majority.
Two superb first-half goals from Mario Gomez took his tally for the tournament to three and put the Germans in complete control.
Robin Van Persie pulled a
goal back as Netherlands improved in the second half, but Germany
comfortably held on for a second successive victory at this tournament.
Portugal's earlier win
over Denmark means that nothing in Group B is yet decided, though
Germany need only a point against Denmark to reach the quarter finals,
while the Netherlands need something of a miracle to progress.
Mario Gomez scored two
stunning goals to earn Germany a deserved win and heighten expectation
that Joachim Low's side can win this European Championship.
The Germans took control
of a crucial game when Gomez brilliantly collected Bastian
Schweinsteiger's pass and spun to slide home a clinical finish.
It was 2-0 before the
break as Gomez scored an even better goal. Again Schweinsteiger was the
provider, his pass allowing Gomez to escape rookie defender Jetro
Willems and fire across Maarten Stekelenburg and into the far corner,
his 14th goal in his last 16 international games.
Netherlands were,
briefly, ranked the number one team in the world as recently as August
but they looked a poor imitation of the side that had reached the World
Cup final in South Africa two years ago.
But a game between the
two highest scoring teams in the qualifying campaign was always set to
see goals and Van Persie's brilliant strike 17 minutes from time
breathed life into an ailing game.
The Arsenal striker's
touch had previously deserted him at this tournament, but he suddenly
looked deadly as he spun away from Sami Khedira and smashed a superb
shot past Manuel Neuer with his weaker right foot.
Germany's young side suddenly looked vulnerable, but limited the Dutch to long-range efforts that failed to trouble Neuer again.
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