The Netherlands have secured their berth in the World Cup Finals with a 2-0 win over the Czech Republic in their Group 1 encounter, and in doing so have assured the qualification of England, Poland and Croatia for next summers World Cup Finals.

The Czech Republic, even though they were missing their top striker Jan Koller, started brightly enough, with Milan Baros looking lively for the home team, and the match seemed well balanced, with both teams contesting the game from the start, and players from both sides finding their way into the referee’s notebook in the early stages.

The Czech Republic were awarded a penalty in the 28th minute when Ex-Liverpool striker Milan Baros was felled in the box by Hamburger SV defender Khalid Boulahrouz.

The resulting spot-kick was taken by Czech midfielder Tomas Rosicky, and was spectacularly saved by Dutch keeper Edwin Van der Sar.

Just two minutes later the visitors took the lead. A lovely through ball from Chelsea FC’s Arjen Robben found Van der Vaart, who slipped the ball past Peter Cech to open the score-line.

The Czech Republic were unlucky not to equalise just minutes later, when the ball found it’s way into the back of the net from a shot by Stajner, but his effort was ruled off-side.

This began a phase of Dutch superiority, with Cech being forced into a few fine saves, but the Oranje pressure was too much and a corner, resulting from a Cech save, was superbly met by Dutch defender Opdam, who rose above the Czech defence to header in a beautiful goal to double the score-line.

The Netherlands went into half-time looking the stronger team, but the home side came out of the traps in the second-half hoping to get back in the game early on.

Baros and Rosicky were forming a decent partnership, and forcing the Oranje No.1 into committing himself for some brave goalkeeping, and with Van der Sar being solely responsible for keeping the score at 2-0.

First half substitute Vladimir Smicer, (44 Jiranek), had a rising shot sail over the Dutch crossbar in the 62nd minute, but this was followed by a slowing down of play, which saw the home fans getting restless.

Smicer came close yet again in the 76th minute, and his former Liverpool team-mate Milan Baros also came close, hitting the bar in the 81st, and Rosicky tried, but yet again the Manchester United keeper Van der Sar denied the Czech’s any reply.

Van der Sar's team-mate Ruud van Nistelrooy had a couple of opportunities to finish the game off in the closing minutes, but the Netherlands had already done enough for them to assure qualification for Germany next summer.

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