A packed stadium in Stuttgart will watch the contest. The Netherlands go through to the next round with a win. Ivory Coast, meanwhile, are fighting for survival.

The Netherlands start with:
Van der Sar, Heitinga, Ooijer, Mathijsen, van Bronckhorst, van Bommel, Sneijder, Cocu, van Persie, van Nistelrooy, Robben

Ivory Coast's first eleven:
Tizie, Eboue, K. Toure, Meite, Boka, Y. Toure, Zokora, Romaric, A. Kone, Drogba, B. Kone

The referee is Oscar Ruiz from Columbia.

1. min.
The match begins with the Netherlands first on the ball.

3. min.
A cautious start by both sides, who know there's a lot on the line.

5. min.
Van Histelrooy can't quite reach a van Bommel cross directly in front of Ivory Coast's goal.

7. min.
Ivory Coast's defense looks a bit unsure, especially on long balls.

10. min.
Little rhythm on display here, with lots of niggling fouls and misdirected passes.

12. min.
Eboue hits the ground in the box, but Ruiz says, play on.

15. min.
Romaric tries one from long distance but no problem for van der Sar.

16. min.
A. Kone hits the side netting. Ivory Coast with more of the ball now.

20. min.
The Netherlands' midfield is practically invisible, as the Oranjes try their luck with long balls.

21. min.
GOAL for the Netherlands!!!!!
Van Persie with an explosive free-kick from the edge of the box.

23. min.
Zokoro booked, after van Persie's goal opens the match up.


26. min.
Goal for the Netherlands!!!!!! 2-nil.
Van Nistelrooy hits pay dirt after a lovely solo run by Robben.

27. min.
No more lethargy here after a pair of goals for the Netherlands. Ivory Coast will have to do more.

31. min.
Sloppy passing kills an incipient Ivory Coast attack.

32. min.
Zokora hits the bar with a powerful blast from just outside the box.

33. min.
Robben booked for diving.
Replay shows there was contact.

34. min.
And yellow for Mathijsen as well.


36. min.
What was a snoozer has developed nicely, with Ivory Coast trying to narrow the deficit.

37. min.
Goal for Ivory Coast!!!!
B. Kone pushes the ball up the right and fires a rocket into the upper left-hand corner.

40. min.
Drogba sees yellow after contact with van der Sar.
Drogba misses next match. A bitter blow for Ivory Coast.

42. min.
Drogba on the breakaway, but his pass to A. Kone came too late.

44. min.
Netherlands with a corner-kick but Ivory Coast clear easily.

45. min.
A. Kone lifts a shot over the bar.

45. min.
+2 The Netherlands lead 2-1 at half-time, but Ivory Coast are gaining momentum. The second half should be a real corker.

46. min.
Boulahrouz for Heitinga


46. min.
The second half kicks off. Ivory Coast have first possession.

47. min.
Van Persie with the half's first shot on goal.

49. min.
K. Toure with a long free-kick, but van der Sar scoops it up.

49. min.
Van der Vaart replaces Sneijder


50. min.
Van Nistelrooy tests Tizie.

53. min.
Eboue with a chance from 4 meters out but Mathijsen blocks the shot.

54. min.
Sloppy play in the Netherlands' midfield is giving Ivory Coast opportunities.

56. min.
Yellow card for van Bommel.


61. min.
Yapi-Yapo and Didane for Romaric and B. Kone
Fresh legs for Ivory Coast

63. min.
Dutch coach Marco van Basten exhorts his players to increase the tempo.

65. min.
Boka is booked after tripping van Persie from behind.


67. min.
Netherlands will try to catch Ivory Coast on the counter-attack, while Ivory Coast need at least one more goal.

69. min.
Robben fires from short range but Tizie parries.

72. min.
Landzaat for van Nistelrooy Akale for A. Kone
Both teams with substitutions.

75. min.
The final fifteen minutes, with the result hanging on a knife's edge.

76. min.
Van Persie clears on the line after an Ivory Coast corner. That was close.

78. min.
The Netherlands have withdrawn into their own half of the pitch.

81. min.
Ivory Coast in complete control of the ball but with problems penetrating the penalty area.

84. min.
Robben counter-attacks but pulls his shot over the goal.

87. min.
Ivory Coast make little headway against the Dutch defense.

88. min.
Long ball to Drogba rolls out of bounds.

90. min.
At the end of regulation time, Ivory Coast have the ball.

90. min.
Three minutes injury time.

90. min.
+1 Ivory Coast corner-kick sails well over the box.

90. min.
Cocu
+3 Final free-kick for Ivory Coast comes to naught.

90. min.
Netherlands win 2-1!
+4 The Dutch are through to the next round, while Ivory Coast are out. Van Persie was the best man for the Oranjes, and Bakary Kone for Ivory Coast, in a close, close match.