NETHERLANDS vs DENMARK, Johannesburg, 14/06/10

The first UFWC title match in 12 years to take place at the FIFA World Cup will see the Netherlands defend their crown against fellow European qualifiers, Denmark.

The Netherlands have already had an incredible reign as UFWC champions, having defended the title 15 times in a row, the joint second-best record in UFWC history, tieing with Germany and beaten only by Scotland, who achieved 20 consecutive defences between 1880 and 1888.

Having had an unbeaten World Cup qualifying campaign and a string of great results since then, the team will be high on confidence, but are yet to find out if Arjen Robben will be in the team or not, having suffered an unfortunate injury in their warm-up match with Hungary. A scan later today will reveal whether he will be present in South Africa or not.

Unlike the Netherlands however, Denmark’s form has stuttered recently. Having qualified for the World Cup as winners of their qualification group, they seem to have lost their edge recently, having lost three of their last four matches, against Austria, Australia and South Africa. Their last match in the UFWC was in 2008, when they failed to defeat Hungary to claim the title as the match ended 0-0. They have won the UFWC title on three separate occasions; the last time they held the title was in 1989.

So who will triumph? Will the Netherlands continue their unbeaten streak, or will Denmark cause an upset to reclaim the title for the first time in 21 years? The odds suggest that it will be the Netherlands: they are 4/7 to win the match, and 1/12 to retain the title, while Denmark are 11/2 to claim the trophy.

One way or another, history will be made. The question is, who will make it?