In their first game France suffered a disappointing goal less draw to Romania, where as the Netherlands beat the current World Cup holders Italy by a three goal margin. Winning this game would allow the Dutch to qualify for the quarter finals, and a loss for France would put them in serious trouble and make it difficult for them to get in to the knock out stage.
After kick off, France started to dominate the game, keeping possession well and even having a few early shots, but it was after just nine minutes when, on a counter attack, the Netherlands were awarded a corner. After a superb cross, on form Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt headed the ball past the helpless French goal keeper in to the net.
After that the Dutch dominated for a long time, keeping possession extremely well and creating some good opportunities for shots, although they failed to capitalize these chances. Then, on the thirtieth minute the tides changed and France started to dominate, pounding shot after shot in to the capable hands of Manchester United shot stopper Edwin Van Der Sar, although he was getting increasingly annoyed with his defence’s poor display.
Back out for the second half, and the French look fresh and ready to go, coming extremely close to scoring on a couple of occasions, but they can’t get the ball in to the Dutch goal, then all their hard work is undone by an Arjen Robben cross which Robin Van Persie slams into the French goal keeper, who can’t keep it out.
France look more and more beaten as the game progressed, but there was a glimmer of hope when Willy Sagnol played a ball across the Dutch goal and Barcelona strike Theirry Henry touches the ball into the Dutch net.
But the French celebrations are cut short, as less than a minute later, Chelsea winger Arjen Robben runs up the left wing before cutting inside and blasting the ball past the keeper from what appeared to be an impossible angle.
Understandably, the men from France are getting extremely worried, and are pressing, desperately trying to salvage a draw from the game, but on the last minute of stoppage time, Van Persie passes to Wesley Sneijder on the edge of the box, who turns and pounds the ball into the top corner to round off an amazing game.
Well, what a game! The Netherlands are through to the quarter finals, and France, Italy and Romania all have a chance to come second. A remarkable performance by Holland though, who look like they might just go all the way.
Before kick off, the general opinion seemed that Italy were going to walk this game, with the Netherlands missing key players due to injury, such as Mario Melchiot, Ryan Babel and Arjen Robben, with Robin Van Persie just passing a very late fitness test.
In the first couple of minutes, both teams seemed very eager to make a good start, especially after France’s shock draw against Romania. After around five minutes Holland started to dominate the game, putting Italy’s’ defense under immense pressure, and it was obvious Italy were missing their usual captain, Fabio Cannovaro.
After twenty minutes, Italy conceded a corner. As the ball flew in, Buffon reached out and punched the ball, landing at Sneijder’s feet. He then whacked the ball and Ruud Van Nistelrooy converted it into the bottom corner. Van Nistelrooy was quite far offside, and Italian players were understandably appalled, Luca Toni getting booked for his arguments.
Italy soon found their feet though, forcing the Dutch back into their own half where they conceded a silly corner. The ball came across and Van Bronckhorst blocked off the line, before running the whole length of the field before making a perfect cross, straight to Dirk Kuyt who headed back into the six yard box for Wesley Sneijder to volley past Buffon.
Just minutes later, Dirk Kuyt played a perfect through ball to Van Nistelrooy, who took it round the Italian goalie but appeared to be caught. Van Nistelrooy stayed up (just about) and crosses the ball back into the middle to no avail, but if he had gone down it would have undoubtedly been a penalty. The Netherlands go into the changing rooms well on top, and Italy didn’t look like coming back from two goals down.
The second half wasn’t any less exciting. Italy started well, but once again Holland started to take control, passing the ball around and playing some extremely good football. There was almost nothing to choose between the two teams, until Pirlo took a curling free kick from the edge of the area which Edwin Van Der Sar superbly saved, before throwing it up the field, for new substitute Robin Van Persie to thread the ball through to Dirk Kuyt who shot from the edge of the box with Buffon making a fantastic save. The Liverpool striker then crossed the ball back in and Van Bronckhorst had an easy header to make it three nil.
After that there really was no way back for Italy, although they had a couple of opportunities that would have gone their way on another day, they failed to score.
It was definitely the most entertaining match of Euro 2008 so far, with fluent football from both sides and some amazing team goals, but it is the Netherlands that came out on top, and, judging by this performance, they certainly have the ability to win the competition.
