Holland’s 2-0 victory over Denmark at Soccer City in Johannesburg on Monday lacked the masterful brush-strokes of the traditional Dutch masters.

The Netherlands needed a lucky own goal and a strike by Dirk Kuyt to get their World Cup campaign off to a winning start with a 2-0 win over Denmark.

Dutchman Guus Hiddink led his young Russian team to a memorable 3-1 win in the Euro 2008 tournament on Saturday over his Dutch compatriots.

It is pretty good stuff, this European Championship. In some ways it is better than a World Cup, a tournament that has become too big.