The Netherlands are in a comfortable position for qualifying for Euro 2012 as the Dutch team booked an easy 4-1 win over Sweden on Tuesday, atop the group with a maximum score of twelve points.
Both Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Ibrahim Afellay scored two goals in the Amsterdam Arena.
One of the main issues before the match was whether captain Mark van Bommel would start in the Dutch team. The midfielder picked up a knee problem in the 1-0 win against Moldova on Friday and missed out on Sunday's training session. His club Bayern Munich wanted Van Bommel to return to Germany to undergo medical examination, but the Dutch football association KNVB refused to let him go.
With skipper Van Bommel in the starting line-up the World Cup runners-up started furiously. After four minutes Klaas-Jan Huntelaar opened the score finishing a fine one touch attack via Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart. Ibrahim Afellay doubled the score in the 36th minute celebrating his first goal for the Netherlands. The Dutch remained the dominant side in the first half with the only setback being Dirk Kuyt subtituted after suffering an injury.
In the second half Huntelaar made it three after heading in an Afellay cross. The Schalke 04 striker scored his eighth goal in his last four internationals. Four minutes later the same duo was responsible for the fourth goal, but this time Huntelaar made the cross and Afellay hit the target. Substitute Jeremain Lens had the chance to raise the score even more for "Oranje", but the home team settled for four goals.
Sweden's biggest chance was in the first half for Ola Toivonen, who's lob just missed its destination. In the second half the visitors finally got their goal when Andreas Granqvist scored in 69th minute. A poor comfort for a disappointing and outclassed Swedish side.