Super Mario Outshines Robin

Netherlands Line-Up: Stekelenberg, Mathijsen (c), Heitinga, Willems, Van Der Wiel, Van Bommel (Van der Vaart, 45'), De Jong, Afellay (Huntelaar, 45'), Robben (Kuyt, 83'), Van Persie, Sneijder

Germany Line-Up: Neuer, Lahm (c), Hummels, Badstuber, Boateng, Schweinsteiger, Khedira, Podolski, Gomez (Klose, 72'), Muller (Bender, 90'), Ozil (Kroos, 81') 

Mario Gomez moves up to three goals for the tournament while potentially eliminating Netherlands from the tournament. Two goals from the Bayern Munich striker were enough to see Germany come through as winners despite Robin Van Persie's efforts to fight back.

The outlook to the game looked set quite early with Netherlands' back line looking extremely frail once again. Maarten Stekelenberg was being extremely overworked and Germany's best early chance came from Mesut Ozil. His stinging shot required Stekelenberg and the post to keep the effort out.

But Stekelenberg's resistance was no match for Gomez and the deadlock was broken on 24-minutes when a ball from Bastian Schweinsteiger split the defence and the striker was through on goal. A decent turn followed by a shot was all that was required to put Germany ahead. 

It would then be 2-0 seven minutes before half-time. Schweinsteiger was once again the creator with another sublime pass to play Gomez in. Gomez took a touch before unleashing a venomous shot into the back of the night.

As the scoreline suggested, Netherlands weren't looking like a team. There were a few half-time clashes of views between the players and Arjen Robben would sulkily leave the pitch when he got substituted for Dirk Kuyt. 

The introduction of Klaas Huntelaar and Rafael Van Der Vaart at half-time did somewhat bring more of an attacking threat. But their frailties were still being tested with Stekelenberg managing to keep the score down. Manuel Neuer was tested a little more in the second half but not enough to see Netherlands getting back into the game.

Van Persie then gave Netherlands some hope with a pile driver from outside the box that Neuer could do nothing about. But the Dutch couldn't muster up another moment of genius and now only a two goal+ victory over Portugal and Germany beating Denmark can put them through to the quarter finals. With two wins out of two, Germany are virtually there.