Delightful Dutch Trounce Azzurri

The Netherlands have put on a masterclass in their opening game of Euro 2008, seizing the initiative in Group C with an imperious 3-0 victory over world champions Italy.

The Dutch dominated from the off, and thanks to goals from Ruud van Nistelrooy, Wesley Sneijder and Giovanni van Bronckhorst, they put in a performance reminiscent of the great Dutch teams of the past, in what was clearly the match of the tournament so far.

After France were held to a goalless draw earlier in the day by Romania, both the Netherlands and Italy had the chance to take control of Group C, which many consider to be the 'Group of Death'.

Dutch boss Marco van Basten was left with selection headaches before kick-off, with Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie both struggling with injuries. For the Azzurri, manager Roberto Donadoni opted for a largely conservative formation, isolating Luca Toni up-front, and preferring Massimo Ambrosini to Daniele De Rossi, completing an AC Milan trio with Andrew Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso in the middle of the park.

The game began with the Italians sitting back in their customary counter-attacking style, whilst the Dutch settled into a nice passing rhythm with Sneijder and Hamburg's Rafael van der Vaart seeing plenty of the ball early.

Italy's rearguard was breached on the quarter hour when Dirk Kuyt slipped van Nistelrooy through, but pressure from Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon forced him wide, and his subsequent cross was cleared.

Buffon actually clipped Van Nistelrooy as the striker tried to round the keeper, but van Nistelrooy chose to stay on his feet, stifling the chance.

But the game sprang to life after 26 minutes, as the Dutch went ahead after a highly controversial goal.

After Buffon failed to punch a van der Vaart cross clear, van Bronckhorst flashed the ball back across the box, where van Nistelrooy, in a seemingly offside position, was on hand to divert it home.

Italian defender Christian Panucci was injured in the build-up, but he was lying off the pitch over the byline when van Bronckhorst sent the ball back across goal. Nevertheless, the goal stood, despite vehement protests from the Italians.

The goal clearly stunned the Azzurri, and seven minutes later they were two behind, but this time, nobody could question what was truly a sumptuous Dutch move.

Having just cleared a dangerous Italian corner, van Bronckhorst energetically raced down the left in a sweeping counter-attacking move. After being released by Sneijder, he played a delightful cross-field ball onto the head of the tireless Dirk Kuyt.

Despite back-pedalling, Kuyt headed it square to Sneijder, who poked the ball beyond the on-rushing Buffon.

The game could have been all but over at half time, as van Nistelrooy was once again put through on goal by van der Vaart just before the interval, but his shot was brilliantly saved by Buffon's outstretched boot.

Despite being two goals in arrears, the Azzurri were hardly outclassed, and they made their intentions clear after half-time, enjoying better possession as Pirlo probed around the Dutch penalty area.

The introduction on the hour of veteran Alessandro Del Piero gave the Italians further attacking impetus, and he tested Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar just moments after coming on with a curling effort.

He was joined on the pitch by perennial bad-boy Antonio Cassano shortly after, and he nearly unlocked the Dutch defence with a lofted through ball for the quiet Toni.

Toni, not realising how much space he had after the Dutch backline was caught square, blazed the ball over the bar in what was Italy's best chance of the match.

Van der Sar then came to the Netherlands' rescue twice in the space of five minutes to preserve the Dutch lead. Substitute Fabio Grosso found space in behind the Dutch defence, but his shot was saved smartly by van der Sar. Then, Andrea Pirlo hit a delightful free kick that was spectacularly saved by the veteran keeper, and Italy were made to pay as the Dutch once again hit the Italians on the break.

Once again van Bronckhorst raced forward, and after being played in by Sneijder, he cut the ball back to Kuyt. Kuyt had his initial effort saved, but he regained possession, and from out wide, crossed for an unmarked van Bronckhorst, whose goal-bound header couldn’t be kept out by Italian defender Gianluca Zambrotta.

Italy were perhaps undeservedly three goals behind, but it was nearly four moments later, as lively Dutch substitute Ibrahim Afellay blasted a shot from outside the area that skimmed the top of the crossbar.

It clearly wasn’t Italy's night, and the final whistle ended their misery. The result matched Italy's worst ever result in major tournament history, and they will have to regroup quickly before facing Romania on Friday in Zurich.

The Dutch, meanwhile, certainly proved that on their day, they could beat anybody and possibly go all the way at Euro 2008. But they will have to be in similar form if they are to clinch qualification by beating France in Berne on the same day.


Ratings

Netherlands
1 - Van Der Sar (c) - 8 - Couple of outstanding saves.
2 - Ooijer - 7 - Comfortable overall.
4 - Mathijsen - 7 - Didn't put a foot wrong.
5 - Van Bronckhorst - 9 - Outstanding. Had a hand in all three goals.
8 - Engelaar - 7 - Played his role in midfield.
9 - Van Nistelrooy - 7 - Could've scored a hat-trick.
10 - Sneijder - 8 - Along with van der Vaar, pulled the strings in midfield.
17 - De Jong - 7 - Did well.
18 - Kuyt - 7 - Worked tirelessly down the right flank.
21 - Boulahrouz - 8 - Exceeded expectations. Tidy game at right back.
23 - Van der Vaart - 8 - Incisive passing for a solid game.

(SUB) 3 - Heitinga - 6 - Cagey at times.
(SUB) 7 - Van Persie - 7 - Run-out will aid his fitness.
(SUB) 20 - Afellay - 7 - Lively.

Italy
1 - Buffon - 6 - Little he could do about the goals.
2 - Panucci - 6 - Didn't get forward enough.
6 - Barzagli - 5 - Caught square too often.
8 - Gattuso - 6 - Nuggety as usual, didn't offer much in attack though.
9 - Toni - 5 - Quiet, fluffed his only real chance.
11 - Di Natale - 6 - Didn't see much of the ball.
13 - Ambrosini - 6 - Defensively sound.
16 - Camoranesi - 7 - Most lively attacking player of the Starting XI.
19 - Zambrotta - 6 - Average.
21 - Pirlo - 7 - Distribution solid, nearly scored with great free kick.
23 - Materazzi - 6 - Looked slow against nippy Dutch midfielders.

(SUB) 3 - Grosso - 7 - Energetic down left, unlucky not to score.
(SUB) 7 - Del Piero - 7 - Added new dimension to Italian attack.
(SUB) 18 - Cassano - 6 - Nearly set up goal, otherwise quiet.