Holland's failure to convert any of their numerous chances against Denmark proved to be their undoing and has left the much-fancied Dutch facing an early elimination from Euro 2012. They have nobody to blame but themselves for their profligacy and poor conversion rate, from 29 shots to muster only six on target is pitiful and to draw a blank when dominating a match so completely does note bode well for their chances of progressing into quarter-finals.
There was however a single mitigating factor which one has to feel some sympathy for the blighted boys in orange. The lack of any decisive action by any of the extra officials who take up their position behind the goal line is baffling. There were two penalty shouts for handball against the Danes in either half but there was not a peep out of any of the additional officials whose primary role is to help the referee with incidents in and around the penalty area.
Indeed that is their only task yet I am struggling to think of a single decision made by one of the fourth/ fifth officials in last night's match, or actually any match in which they have been involved. Referees never seem to consult with them even if an incident is "on their patch" and one has to question exactly what they are doing there. So without any clear intervention in decision-making maybe their role is to act as top grade ball boys with one of the best views in the stadium and not a care in the world. With goal-line technology not too far away, there will be even less justification for them, but I am sure that in their infinite wisdom UEFA and FIFA will be upholding the right to have them installed for all major tournaments.
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