· A brace from Mario Gómez sees off Holland.

Another defeat to arch rivals Germany has left Bert Van Merwijk’s Holland with it all to in their final group B game against Portugal on Sunday to salvage a place in the quarter finals of Euro 2012.

The Dutch started brightly and should have got their noses in front inside the opening minutes from  a fine diagonal ball delivered by Gregory Van De Wiel in behind the German back four only for Robin Van Persie’s hit a half volley straight down the throat of Manuel Neuer.

Germany went close when Mezut Ozil’s volley was smartly tipped on to the post by Stekelenberg in the Dutch goal before threatening minutes later when Batstuber escaped his marker but somehow couldn’t steer his header past the Roma ‘keeper from point blank range due to his sharp reflexes.

Holland enjoyed the lion share of possession inside the first twenty minutes before felling behind against the run of play when Mario Gomez latched onto a precise through ball from Basten Schweinstiger, aided by Muller’s deceiving run, deceiving Mathison and Heitinga flat footed before the Bayern Munich striker capitalised on the central pairing’s lapse of concentration before finally sending Stekeleberg the wrong the way.

Germany doubled their lead when Gomez added a second. The influential Sweinstiger picked out his club teammate again with a superb side rule ball, splitting the Dutch defence wide open for Gomez to smash the ball across Stekelenberg and into the top corner.

The goal allowed Germany to assert their authority by overwhelming and overrunning Holland for long periods, particularly after Van Mewijk brought on Rafael Van Der Vaart and Klass Jan Huntelaar in place of his son-in-law Mark Van Bommel and Ibraham Affaley.

It had looked like the game was petering out, the sheer amount of Dutch attack minded players on the pitch lead to Holland being overran in midfield until Van Persie finally ended his tournament duck with a low, right footed strike from the best part of twenty five yards out.

This was a reminder that Low’s free flowing, young team are a genuine threat with an excellent opportunity to win a first major International trophy for the first time since Euro 1996. As for the Dutch, they can only hope that the old enemy can do them a favour- to beat Denmark emphatically and to take care of their own of end of the deal by beating Portugal in Kharviv on Sunday.