There sounds the final whistle, and the Netherlands grab three points in the opener even if it wasn't the most convincing of Dutch displays. Denmark had decent chances, but Holland's class shined in the second half following the unfortunate own goal in the first minutes of the second half.
90' +2
Kuyt bids for a brace with a long-range shot, but the ball slices well wide of the goal.
90'
Rommedahl drills the ball through the six-yard box, but there is no one at the other post to tuck it home. Three minutes of stoppage added on.
88'
D. de Zeeuw enters the game and replaces N. de Jong.
And now the hobbled de Jong comes off in place of Demy de Zeeuw. Meanwhile, Simon Poulsen clears it off the line as Afellay looked to have a sure third for the Dutch.
85'
D. Kuijt has scored a goal for Netherlands!
Goal Netherlands! Sneijder slides in a great ball for Elia, whose shot comes off the post. But Liverpool striker Kuyt is right there to tuck home the rebound. The super sub Elia has helped put this match beyond doubt.
83'
Another long-range effort in space, this time for Afellay. But the PSV man can't guide it on target.
82'
A looping shot by Sneijder from the top of the area, but the ball lands on the top of the bar.
81'
De Jong is in some pain grasping his lower leg. He is limping around the pitch but not coming off.
79'
Sliding cross from the left by Afellay, but the ball can't quite reach its target in the center.
77'
I. Afellay enters the game and replaces R. van Persie.
Van Persie's day is done as Ibrahim Afellay replaces the Arsenal striker.
Minute
Description
76'
Agger and Kjær lost radio signals for a moment as their lack of communication nearly put the Dutch clean in on goal.
74'
Great shot by van Bommel in the area is pushed aside by Sørensen.
73'
C. Eriksen enters the game and replaces T. Kahlenberg.
Some history in this sub for Denmark as Christian Eriksen becomes the youngest player to appear for the Danes at a World Cup. The 18-year-old replaces Kahlenberg.
71'
Hopeless shot by van Bommel in the center of the pitch. He had all the space in the world, but he balloons it into the seats.
69'
Elia nearly makes an immediate impact with a phenomenal touch and turn up the left side, but his cross is lacking to van Persie.
68'
Agger attempts a long drive on goal, but Kuyt gets a piece and makes it easy for Stekelenburg to handle.
67'
E. Elia enters the game and replaces R. van der Vaart.
And now Elia will come on in place of van der Vaart in a straight swap of left wingers.
66'
Denmark will really need to start taking some risks if they are to grab a point from this opening game. Meanwhile, Eljero Elia is warming up on the sidelines.
64'
The attendance has been announced as 83,465. Good showing from the Jo-burg crowd.
63'
S. Kjær gets yellow.
Denmark gets their first booking as Kjær is cautioned for tugging at Sneijder.
62'
M. Beckmann enters the game and replaces N. Bendtner.
Surprise moves Bendtner comes off, though he was struggling with injury coming in. He'll be replaced up front by Mikkel Beckmann who is based at domestic club Randers.
61'
Nervous moment as van Persie is offside, but he continues play in any event. Danes wanted a booking, which would have been his second. But van Persie convinces Lannoy that the stadium noise prevented him from hearing the whistle.
59'
Van Persie crosses to the center of the area for van der Vaart, whose stab of a shot forces a diving save by Stoke City keeper Sørensen.
57'
A long throw by Agger causes chaos in the Dutch area, but Stekelenburg finally gathers to quell the threat.
56'
J. Grønkjær enters the game and replaces T. Enevoldsen.
The first sub of the game is made by Denmark with Enevoldsen being replaced by the aforementioned Grønkjær.
54'
Jesper Grønkjær has begun his warm-up routine for Denmark on the touchline.
52'
A wasted chance there for van Persie as Kuyt plays him in wonderfully. But Sørensen comes out to close down the Arsenal man.
49'
R. van Persie gets yellow.
A poor challenge by van Persie on Kjær earns the Dutchman a booking.
48'
What a stunning start to the half as the solid Danish defense fell apart within 30 seconds of the restart. Can they recover, or will the Dutch now pour it on?
46'
D. Agger is unfortunate, scores an own goal!
Goal for the Netherlands! We have the first own goal of the tournament as van Persie's cross from the left is headed by Simon Poulsen into his own net via the back of Agger.
45' +1
No added time as Lannoy brings to a close the first half. The Dutch had the better of the possession, but it could be said that Denmark enjoyed the better scoring chances in the opening period. We're in store for a great second half in Johannesburg.
45'
Rommedahl's corner kick finds the head of Bendtner, but he can't direct the shot on target.
44'
N. de Jong gets yellow.
Nigel de Jong goes in the book for a reckless challenge on Bendtner. It was coming to him as an earlier challenge went unpunished.
43'
A great piece of individual skill from van Persie as he frees some space from Agger, but his right-footed effort slides wide of the target.
40'
Holland's only major trophy win came in the 1988 European Championship. The next winner in 1992? Denmark. Plenty of history between these two sides.
37'
The Danes opening up the game a bit as Bendtner serves it through for a charging Kahlenberg, and a turning shot is palmed away by Stekelenburg for a corner.
36'
Free kick for Denmark about 35 meters from goal, but Simon Kjær's effort is straight into the wall.
34'
A long cross finds Rommedahl on the right who runs in on goal, but his shot is right at a waiting Maarten Stekelenburg.
33'
Great ball from Kuyt on the right that goes through several players, but it comes last off Kahlenberg for a corner.
30'
We've reached the half-hour mark and the scoring chances have not been plentiful. Bendtner came closest of all, and the Danes will be upset not to be a goal up from that one.
27'
So close for the Danes as Bendtner sends a free header wide. Dennis Rommedahl plays in a pinpoint cross from the right, but the Arsenal man just put the shot the wrong side of the post. Slack defending by the Dutch there.
24'
A bit of history for the Dutch today as captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst becomes just the fourth person to reach 100 caps for Holland. He joins Edwin van der Sar (130), Frank de Boer (112) and Phillip Cocu (101) in that elite company.
22'
At the other end, it was a darting run up the middle from Enevoldsen, but he can't complete the move as the strike sails high.
21'
Another attempt for van der Vaart as Mark van Bommel plays him into the top of the area, but the winger's off-balance attempt goes wide.
19'
Great move by the Dutch as Robin van Persie's ball comes through for Rafael van der Vaart, but the Real Madrid man's shot is deflected out for a corner.
18'
Sneijder takes the corner, but it is vigorously headed clear by Christian Poulsen.
17'
The Dutch win a corner as Lars Jacobsen heads out Kuyt's tantalizing cross.
16'
Each team still feeling the other out, and less Kuyt's effort we haven't had a shot on goal.
13'
More and more possession for the Dutch, and more and more long balls being played by Denmark. Each side, however, looks very organized early on.
10'
First shot on goal is off the boot of Dirk Kuyt from 25 yards, but Sørensen saves after a brief fumble.
7'
This time a free kick from distance for Denmark, and Thomas Enevoldsen drives it wide.
6'
Long free kick for the Dutch about 40 meters from goal, but Wesley Sneijder has a go nonetheless. Ambitious drive and well over the top.
4'
Solid defending from Joris Mathijsen as he prevents Thomas Kahlenberg from crossing in on a good Danish move.
3'
Despite early Dutch possession, the first shot comes to an advanced Daniel Agger for Denmark, but it is blocked by John Heitinga.
1'
Stéphane Lannoy of France is today's match referee and his whistle gets this Group E encounter under way in Johannesburg.
Good afternoon friends and welcome to live coverage of the opening match of Day 4 of the 2010 World Cup. Action returns us today to where it started on Friday - Johannesburg's Soccer City for the first match in Group E between the Netherlands and Denmark. The Dutch have high hopes for a long run in this year's tournament, but they will have to survive today's match without the services of injured winger Arjen Robben. Denmark, meanwhile, mark their return to football's biggest stage after missing out on the 2006 edition of the World Cup. In a bit of surprise news, Nicklas Bendtner and Thomas Sørensen have been declared fit to start for Denmark, but defender Patrick Mtiliga is not in the starting XI.
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