Bettors at the bookmaker watched the Netherlands make the quarterfinals of the World Cup with a 2-1 victory over Slovakia. It was a disappointing result for those bettors at the online bookmaker that took the Netherlands on the goal line since Slovakia scored on a penalty kick on the last play of the match. It was also a brutally tough loss for those that bet the match under the total.
Bookmaker odds favored the Netherlands on Monday and they delivered with a solid performance against an overmatched Slovakia team. Arjen Robben scored in the first half and Wesley Sneijder scored in the second half of a match that the Netherlands really dominated. The Netherlands has done just enough throughout the World Cup to advance. If they end up facing Brazil as expected in the quarterfinals they are going to have to take their game up a notch if they are to get a win vs. the World Cup odds at the online bookmaker.
The Netherlands struck first against Slovakia as Robben, who was making his first start of the World Cup after coming back from a hamstring injury, scored in the 18th minute. The Netherlands didn’t do much until late in the match when Sneijder scored after a bad play by Slovakian goalkeeper Jan Mucha. The Netherlands probably would have led 2-0 or 3-0 long before Sneider scored but Mucha played very well until his mistake in the 84th minute that led to Sneijder’s goal. Netherlands goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg was not tested much but he came through with two big saves in the second half when the Netherlands was only up 1-0.
Robben got a standing ovation when he was replaced in the 71st minute by Eljero Elia. Robben will have to continue to play at a high level if the Dutch are to advance past the quarterfinals. The Netherlands is now unbeaten in their last 23 matches with 18 wins and five draws. The Netherlands has never won the World Cup with their best finishes being runner-up in 1974 and in 1978. Unfortunately for the Netherlands they are probably going to have to face Brazil in the quarterfinals and could be the end of their World Cup hopes since Brazil is the favorite at the bookmaker to win the title.