Holland vs Serbia Betting Analysis

When youth and inexperience face organisation and discipline there is only one winner and Marco Van Basten's young Dutch side are going to find out exactly why this years dark horses, Serbia and Montenegro, are a team to fear in this year's competition. Both teams qualified impressively from their respective groups, with solid defensive performances and neither side losing a game throughout to see them qualify as group winners. The Dutch won ten of their twelve qualifying games only conceeding three goals and averaging over two goals per game. Impressive indeed but I feel that their Group wasn't the toughest and winning it was the least they could do. What Van Basten is building is an exciting young side with the emphasis very much on attractive attacking football reminiscent of the classy side he was part of in his era. What they lack is experience and the demanding nature of the World Cup may prove too much of a test this early in their progression. A test I feel their opponents in this opening fixture will relish. This Serb team is to be taken very seriously. Qualifying as winners in a group that consisted of Spain and Belgium is quite some achievement for this underrated nation and they are going to be very hard to beat. A solid foundation at the back consisting of a mean central defensive partnership of Vidic(suspended for opening game) and Krstajic who, together with their full backs('the fantastic four'), only let in one goal during qualification and this resolution will be the platform for any success. In midfield they offer a work rate that is second to none. They are technically sound but the secret is how well disciplined they are in carrying out their managers instructions. Up top they have the imposing frame of Nikola Zigic who is likely to be partnered by ex-Chelsea star Kezman. This big man/small man combination works beautifully well and Kezman netted 5 goals in his seven appearances during qualification. They are a very compact unit led by a manager that has so much confidence in his players and I can see them proving a real handful in this tournament starting by beating the Dutch. Holland have a few injury scares after a couple of bruising friendlies this past week including two key experienced players such as Cocu and Gio Van Bronhorst as well as major doubts over Wesley Sneijder and Rafael Van Der Vaart who may not even make it to Germany now. This would mean the likely inclusion of more youngsters for 'The Oranje' and at this late stage preparations are hardly ideal. The emphasis will therefore lie on big performances from likely match winners Robben and Van Nistelrooy who will form part of a three-man front line that Van Basten likes to use. The Dutch may have the more gifted players on display but I believe they will get out worked and out fought. The Serbs' tactics will be spot on to not only contain the Dutch but actually beat them as their coach Petkovic is as wily a tactician as we'll see in this World Cup and at 7/2 they are massive value to cause an upset at this early stage.