Holland Team: Van Der Saar, Mathijsen, Van Bronkhorst, Cocu, Ooijer, Heitinga(Boulahrouz 46), Robben, Van Bommel, Snijder(Van Der Vaart 50), Van Persie, Van Nistelrooy(Landzaat 73)

Ivory Coast Team: Tizie, Boka, Eboue, K.Toure, A.Kone(Akale 73), Meite, B.Kone(Yapi Yapo 62), Y.Toure, Romaric(Dindane 62), Zokora, Drogba,

Match Report: After a fine performance against the Argentines in their opening game Ivory Coast needed a result against Holland to prolong their tournament, and keep them in the group of death. Holland, on the other hand knew a win would put them in the knockout stages without the need to take points from Argentina in their final group game. All things pointed to a classic.

A lively start was the Dutch on the offensive with Robben and Van Persie both keen to get on the ball and explore the full width of the pitch. The Ivorians looked perhaps a little nervous in the early stages, and looked to contain early pressure, with Kolo Toure looking as assured as ever in the heart of their defence.

An early half chance came on the counter for Arouna Kone, but his anticipation of a through ball was poor and he finished wide of the mark. He should have struck it first time. Still, it was a note for the Dutch to be vigilant at the back.

The Dutch continued to have the better of the openings and looked the more likely scorers. The pressure must have told on the Ivorians as a spell of indecision and lapse concentration in the next few minutes would ultimately result in their exit from the tournament.

First a rare mistimed challenge from Kolo Toure brought down his club team mate Van Persie just outside the box. Van Persie seized the ball himself. He fancied this free kick. His left foot blasted strike, reminiscent of a Stuart Pearce effort finished high to the keepers right, almost unstoppable - but the keepers effort was hindered by him hiding behind his own wall.

Worse was to follow shortly after for the Ivory Coast when they went two behind. Robben, this time cutting in from the right drew defenders towards him at the edge of the box. The Ivorians were guilty of ball watching, and Nistelrooy sneaked off to the far side and recieved the ball in acres of space. The finish was inevitable, but again the keeper made a poor effort - this time going to ground very early. He may not have got close to the shot in any event, but he made Nistelrooy's job a tad easier.

Just under half an hour gone and the Ivorians were surely out of the competition altogether now. They wouldn't however, go without a fight. They now stirred into action.

Drogba became more and more of a handful as the match progressed. Zokora and Kone produced great trickery and movement and when Zokora hit the bar from almost thirty yards out with Van Der Saar well and truly beaten, the Ivory Coast were visibly lifted.

Bakary Kone went one better moments later with a superb goal. Veering to the right inside two Dutch pedestrians the tiny Kone unleashed a stunning strike which veered across the keeper into the top right corner. No keeper alive would have stopped this one. The Ivory Coast were well and truly back in it now.

It was now Holland that looked shaken and should have been pegged back to equal terms before half time. Drogba had a great chance to play in the unmarked Kone, but fluffed the pass. Kone then shot over the bar in the half's last chance and Holland were far the more grateful to hear the whistle.

Half Time: Holland 2 Ivory Coast 1

The second half started and ended with a tidal wave of Ivory Coast pressure. The Dutch would certainly need to defend well to take this result.

Van Der Saar's safe hands dealt with a Toure free kick, and frantic Dutch defending was just about keeping the Ivorians at bay. The Dutch were throwing bodies into everything. Drogba was giving them all sorts of problems and the equaliser looked as though it was coming. A great midfield move gave Kone a superb chance but he slashed at his shot and the chance was gone. During all this pressure, however, there were no clear cut opportunities as the Dutch defence just did enough.

Van Persie was non stop in his running, back to help the defence and then as an outlet for the counter. From one such counter he was almost through when cynically brought down by Boka. Another counter saw Robben's firmly struck shot parried away by Tizie, but a third Dutch goal didn't look likely.

The Ivorians still pressed in search of the equaliser, and when Drogba headed back across goal from a corner it was Van Persie who chested off the line to save a certain goal. Still Ivory Coast poured forward.

Eboue got himself into a good position in the box, but his shot was blocked. Yapi Yapo might well have done better when he cut inside only to shoot straight at Van Der Saar, and corner after corner was repelled by the stout Dutch resistance. It just wasn't going to be the Ivorian's day and the group of death claimed it's victim, perhaps depriving us of more excellent future entertainment.

There is a fine line between success and failure at this level and those moments of indecision in the first half cost the Ivory Coast dear.

There were also two different styles shown here. The free flowing and attacking style of the Ivorians negated by the staunch defence of the Dutch.

On balance the Dutch just about chose the right horse for the course.

Full Time: Holland 2 Ivory Coast 1

Holland Ratings: Van Der Saar 7, Mathijsen 7, Van Bronkhorst 6, Cocu 7, Ooijer 5, Heitinga 6(Boulahrouz 6), Robben 8, Van Bommel 6, Snijder 5(Van Der Vaart 6), Van Persie 8, Van Nistelrooy 6(Landzaat 5)

Ivory Coast Ratings: Tizie 4, Boka 7, Eboue 5, K.Toure 6, A.Kone 6(Akale 7), Meite 6, B.Kone 7(Yapi Yapo 6), Y.Toure 6, Romaric 6(Dindane 6), Zokora 7, Drogba 8

Referee: O.Ruiz (Columbia) 5. Generally o.k. but a little keen to give the cards out. Not a bad performance.

Good: Ivory Coast played good attacking football again, but didn't get the rewards.

Bad: Ivory Coast won't be joining us for the knockout stages. The could have gone far, and been entertaining all the way.

Ugly: Some of the Dutch names. Terriable spellinges.