Slovakia had already sent the world champions, Italy, home and were now seeking to do the same to Holland.

Slovakia started the game with confidence and fired the first warning shot across the Dutch bows in just the second minute of play, in Durban.

The first real Dutch threat came in the seventh minute, through a deflected header by Robin Van Persie.

Holland were at it again three minutes later; Van Persie unselfishly feeding Wesley Sneijder.

Arjen Robben then took Slovakia apart all alone; sprinting down the right onto a  Wesley Sneijder lob, then cutting in on his left behind Jan Durica and Miroslav Stoch, and shooting for goal past the sliding foot of the incoming Martin Skrtel.

That took the wind out of Slovakia's sails and they struggled to get back in the match; as the orange shirts could afford to position themselves deeper and block Slovakia's route to goal.

Half-time: 1:0

Slovakia might have wanted to get level early in the second-half but it was Jan Mucha who had to work twice in a minute to keep Holland out; Arjen Robben and Robin Van Persie both looking to make things happen in and around the Slovakian penalty area with just five minutes of the new half played.

Maarten Stekelenburg had very little to do for Holland, then had to make two crucial saves in the space of a minute from Miroslav Stoch and Robert Vittek.

With seven minutes left to play, Slovakia lost the plot. Martin Skrtel conceded a needless free-kick and Jan Mucha came rushing off his line. Dirk Kuyt had plenty of time on the left of the area and just waited for Wesley Sneijder to come into osition in the middle; with an empty net at his mercy.

A consolation goal for Slovakia when Robert Vittek converted from the penalty spot with the last kick of the game; after Martin Jakubko invited Maarten Stekelenburg to catch his leg.

Holland 2 Slovakia 1