Holland and Denmark played each other for the first time in a World Cup match; with Giovanni Van Bronckhorst earning his 100th cap for the Netherlands.

Promising so much before the game, Holland took a while to warm up; either stifled by Denmark or almost snoozing to the sound of bees. The slow start seemed like a game being played in the middle of summer rather than an African winter.

Almost half an hour was played before anything resembling excitement happened; Nicklas Bendtner heading wide from Daniel Agger's cross.

Then Thomas Kahlenberg earned Denmark's first corner in the 37th minute. Neither event was enough to stop the constant vuvuzela drone.

The French referee, for his part, tried to let the game flow but just before half-time he finally showed a yellow card to Nigel De Jong; who was lucky not to have been booked earlier.

The closest Holland came to a goal was when Robin Van Persie couldn't find the space to release a shot on his left foot, so turned again and smashed the ball into a row of cameras behind the net.

Half-time: 0:0

Bizarely, Holland took the lead without really threatening the Danish defence; just after the start of the second-half.

Simon Poulsen wasn't really under any pressure when he headed into his own net - and smiled. Interestingly, Poulsen plays for AZ Alkmaar; in Holland.

Van Persie, already on a yellow card, could be a little lucky to have stayed be on the pitch for chipping the ball into the Danish net after the whistle was sounded for offside. The Arsenal player tried to blame the noise of the vuvuzelas.

The arrival of Eljero Elia brought some width and excitement to Holland's play while the departure of Nicklas Bendtner took away some of Denmark's threat up front.

Shortly after Wesley Sneijder looped a shot onto the Danish bar, the Inter Milan midfielder sent Eljero Elia through. Thomas Sorensen pushed the initial shot onto the post but Dirk Kuyt was there to follow up for Holland.

So it's a double dutch scoreline for Holland but the Danes will feel disappointed; or at least Simon Poulsen should, for handing the game to the Dutch on a plate.

Holland 2 Denmark 0