Holland despatched France 4-1 in the match of the tournament so far. The result ensures that they will win Group C regardless of the outcome of their meeting with Romania – a scenario that effectively takes Italy’s fate at Euro 2008 out of their own hands.

It was a game that France simply had to win, and the return of Thierry Henry had boosted their morale. Meanwhile, Holland’s opening display against Italy suggested they could be considered the new favourites for the tournament.

The tone was set for the encounter within the first five minutes as French midfielder Claude Makelele delivered a cynical block on Dutch counterpart Dirk Kuyt. Referee Herbert Fandel chose to keep his cards in his pocket, but it was a decision that lit a fire under the Oranje army.

In the 10th minute the Liverpool midfielder got his revenge as he stole in to head past Gregory Coupet from a Giovanni Van Bronckhorst corner. With Florent Malouda pulling and tugging him all over, the blonde bomber did well to free himself in order to net on the occasion of his 40th Dutch cap.

Holland’s confidence was sky-high and Wesley Sneijder lashed in a fierce shot shortly after which swirled just over the French bar. Raymond Domenech’s men appeared shell-shocked and were struggling to find their shape and rhythm, with the fear of a last day winner-takes-all clash against Italy already beginning to form in their minds.

The passing from Marco Van Basten’s side was sublime and in the 18th minute an intricate maze of triangular passing pin-balled their possession to the verge of the box where only a last ditch block from Lilian Thuram prevented Ruud Van Nistelrooy snatching a shot at goal.

Moments later Thuram inadvertently headed in to the path of Kuyt who somehow managed to redirect the ball with a hooked shot that just evaded the frame of the goal. For the first 20 minutes it was an orange onslaught.

Finally, France began to show some life as Sydney Govou wriggled free from his marker and forced Edwin Van Der Sar to react, before minutes later a quick one-two with Henry threatened to set the Lyon striker free before a burly Dutch interception halted the move.

The match took a twist for the surreal on the half hour mark as the increasingly dirty Makelele flashed a flailing arm in to the face of Rafael Van Der Vaart in the centre of the park. He received a yellow card for his effort but somehow also won the resultant free-kick from the man in black.

Small victories can be pivotal in the bigger picture and in the moments following that incident France twice tested the attention of Van Der Sar, a ‘keeper not averse to spilling long-range efforts. Firstly Govou and then Franck Ribery zipped shots along the turf but the Dutch net-minder was wide awake to both – but Les Bleus engine was finally starting to chug in to life.

On 37 minutes Ribery escaped down the flank, latching on to a Govou pass, and his whipped cross just eluded both Henry and Malouda. At the other end Sneijder let loose with another powerful effort from outside the box, which Coupet dealt with. The ‘end-to-end’ philosophy had not been better demonstrated in the tournament.

However, it was a fleeting flurry of fantasy football and as the half petered out the tempo dropped. It seemed that a crucial spell of play was beginning – where a goal for either side could have swung the match pendulum. Alas, no more net-ripplers emerged and the sides headed down the tunnel with Holland 1-0 up.

France were out of the traps much quicker after the interval, Ribery firing across the goal and then Henry seeing his shot during a penalty area skirmish hit Andre Ooijer’s hand. A penalty was claimed but Mr Fandel waved away French appeals – nevertheless the Cockerels had their dander up and for the first time Holland looked flustered.

Shortly after a tussle between Henry and Ooijer saw the Dutchman enter the book. The finger of fate had truly spun towards France and on 54 minutes Henry found himself clean through on goal, but this is not the Thierry of old and he didn’t have the va-va-voom to finish the job – his chipped shot going far too high.

Just before the hour though the Dutch opened their magic box. Van Nistelrooy pirouetted on the ball on the halfway line to set Arjen Robben free, the Real Madrid winger bursting down the flank before crossing for fellow substitute Robin Van Persie whose sweet connection was palmed by Coupet but still agonisingly squirmed over the line for 2-0.

As France pushed on looking for a way back Holland began to look increasingly dangerous on the counter, but in 90 breathtaking seconds of madness the game took a whirlwind turn. At one end Willy Sagnol overlapped beautifully to create space and cross for Henry to redirect the ball with the slightest of touches beyond a helpless Van Der Sar.

But before the French fans had a chance to sit down after their celebrations Robben had zipped away down the wing at the other end. After a brief dilly-dally in the area to consider his way around William Gallas he unleashed an impossible shot from the tightest angle into the roof of the net – the two-goal margin was restored.

The French were shell-shocked and their efforts became more scrappy and desperate. Holland on the other hand continued to excite and entertain whenever play allowed them to. On 83 minutes a long ball forward to Van Nistelrooy allowed the equine attacker to attempt a lobbed header, only an outstretched Coupet arm managed to flick the bouncing ball around the post.

Shortly after Van Bronckhorst fired a cross-field pass for Van Persie, which forced Coupet to race out to clear the ball. It was going to take a second ‘Miracle of Berne’ for Domenech’s boys to salvage anything from the game.

The miracle never came though and in injury time Sneijder struck a brilliant shot beyond Van Der Sar – meaning that the Netherlands have put seven past the two 2006 World Cup Finalists.

The result ensures that Holland win Group C, and they now have an interesting dilemma. Van Basten holds a sword of Damacles over the heads of both France and Italy going in to the final double-header of matches. If they were to take their foot off the gas against Romania, and lose, they would still go through as group winners but importantly they would also eliminate two deadly rivals by aiding Romania’s path in to the quarter-finals.

Could we be about to see Italy fall victim to another Euro stitch-up?
Holland: Van Der Sar; Boulahrouz, Ooijer, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst; De Jong, Engelaar (Robben 46); Kuyt (Van Persie 55), Van Der Vaart (Bouma 78), Sneijder; Van Nistelrooy

France: Coupet; Sagnol, Thuram, Gallas, Evra; Makelele, Toulalan; Govou (Anelka 75), Ribery, Malouda (Gomis 60); Henry

Ref: Fandel (Ger)

Ref From channel4.com

Christian Panucci and a Gigi Buffon penalty save on Adrian Mutu keeps Italy in Euro 2008 by holding Romania 1-1. It’ll all go down to the final game of Group C against France.

Roberto Donadoni made sweeping changes from the side that was thrashed 3-0 by Holland, introducing Fabio Grosso, Simone Perrotta, Daniele De Rossi, Giorgio Chiellini and captain Alessandro Del Piero. This was a must-win game to avoid crashing out in the first round and Romania had a point under their belts after frustrating France in a goalless encounter.

Many Serie A notables were in the Romanian ranks, including Inter’s Cristian Chivu, Fiorentina star Adrian Mutu and Paul Constantin Codrea of Siena. The last time these teams met in a major competition was Italy’s 2-0 victory in the Euro 2000 quarter-finals, followed by three Azzurri wins between qualifiers and friendlies without conceding a goal. Romania’s only triumphs were both 1-0 in a March 1989 friendly and Euro ‘84 qualifier.

Italy were immediately more aggressive and effective, Del Piero’s deflected header turned wide from a couple of yards from Perrotta’s assist. De Rossi was halted at the byeline by a desperate Mutu tackle, then as the move continued Luca Toni couldn’t get enough contact on a blazing Mauro Camoranesi cross from the left.

However, as against Holland, they were left exposed to the counter as Gigi Buffon got down smartly to save Mutu’s angled drive. Toni nodded another Grosso cross over the bar, but Buffon performed another fine intervention on a daisy-cutter of a touched-on free kick from Gabriel Tamas.

Buffon was beaten on 20 minutes by a curling Chivu free kick that took a massive deflection off Christian Panucci’s back to crack against the base of the upright. There was a blow for Romania moments later, as teammates Mirel Radoi and Razvan Rat clashed heads and the former could not continue, making way for Steaua Bucharest companion Nicolae Dica.

Del Piero came flying in and was inches away from getting his head to a sweeping Grosso centre, while Toni’s header skimmed the post from a Camoranesi cross.

Rat unleashed a fierce left-foot strike from 25 metres that swept just wide of the target. Codrea shoved Del Piero over outside the box, but the captain blasted well over.

There was a great chance when Toni knocked down Zambrotta’s cross for Perrotta, but some desperate defending blocked his path from six yards. From the resulting corner, Bogdan Lobont tipped a Chiellini header out from under the crossbar. Another corner and an even better Lobont save on Toni. The siege continued with Toni’s header for Chiellini and the former Fiorentina goalkeeper flying in to punch it off his foot.

Mutu was the first into the book for a very high tackle on Andrea Pirlo. Toni hit the back of the net from a touched-on corner kick in first half stoppages, but it was disallowed for an offside position that replays show was an incorrect decision, as Codrea was clearly keeping him and Del Piero in play.

The second half started in similar fashion, Lobont fingertipping a Pirlo cross off the head of Toni. Codrea anticipated Del Piero as he was lining up the shot from the D on Toni’s assist, though Buffon smothered a Mutu long-range attempt.

Against the run of play, Romania took a shock lead on 55 minutes. Mutu pounced on a disastrous defensive error, Zambrotta’s weak back header, to run alone into the box and smash his finish into the near top corner where Buffon could not reach.

The lead lasted all of 60 seconds before Italy drew level. Chiellini knocked down a De Rossi corner kick for Panucci to tap in from a yard at the back post. It was Italy’s first goal in the competition. Donadoni knew a win was necessary and threw on Antonio Cassano for Perrotta and an all-attack formation, moving Camoranesi into the centre.

It was end to end stuff and Grosso flung himself at Florentin Petre to charge him down when clear on goal. Petre made way for Banel Nicolita, while Pirlo and Chivu were booked for late challenges.

Cassano and Del Piero combined brilliantly down the left and the Juventus man threaded through for Toni, but he was a yard too slow to tap in from seven yards. Del Piero accidentally charged down a shot from teammate De Rossi.

Grosso had to rescue another chaotic situation in his own box, closing down Niculae following a lucky ricochet, then Chiellini headed away a Nicolita strike. Lobont was almost caught out by a dangerous Zambrotta cross-shot, blocking it just before the entire ball crossed the line.

Dorin Goian was booked for time-wasting and will be suspended for the next game.

In a splendid team move, Toni knocked down the ball with his chest for De Rossi’s diving header, bringing another fantastic save out of Lobont on 75 minutes.

Fabio Quagliarella replaced captain Del Piero, handing the armband to Buffon. It was almost an own goal as Cassano’s backheel sent Zambrotta running and Lobont smothered a defensive header.

Moments later Zambrotta again got to the byeline from Cassano and the cross was deflected to flash across an empty net. Panucci’s error handed Nicolita the ball and De Rossi came flying in to clear before he could shoot.

There was further controversy on 80 minutes when the referee pointed to the spot for Panucci’s challenge on Dica. It seemed a harsh decision, but Buffon made it academic as he parried Mutu’s fairly central penalty! It was an instinctive save, the ball riocheting off his hand to strike his leg and go out.

Donadoni’s final substitution was Massimo Ambrosini for Camoranesi. Toni was livid soon after as he fell when trying to get to Cassano’s cross, but the referee was correct in awarding the foul against him.

A dispirited Mutu made way for Cocis in the final minutes and Cassano’s cross-shot landed on the roof of the net following a smart Grosso dummy. A crucial tackle stopped Grosso’s slalom in the box during stoppages and at the other end De Rossi was harshly booked for what seemed to be a well-timed challenge on ex-Milan man Cosmin Contra.
Italy: Buffon; Zambrotta, Panucci, Chiellini, Grosso; Camoranesi (Ambrosini 85), Pirlo, De Rossi, Perrotta (Cassano 56); Del Piero (Quagliarella 77), Toni

Romania: Lobont; Contra, Tamas, Goian, Rat; Radoi (Dica 25), Codrea, Chivu; Mutu (Cocis 88), Petre (Nicolita 60); D Niculae

Ref: Ovrebo (Nor)

Missed penalty: Mutu 81 (R

An injury time penalty, which drew Austria level with Poland, gives the co-hosts a fighting chance of progressing to the quarter-finals.

Poland Coach Leo Beenhakker made a couple of changes to the Polish side that lost 2-0 to Germany on Sunday and they miraculously paid off.

The Dutch tactician bolstered his attack when logic should have told him to reinforce his back line after the Poles’ shambolic defensive display against the Germans.

Southampton striker Marek Saganowski replaced injured former Celtic target man Marek Zurawski while Brazilian born Roger Guerreiro was brought in as a trequartista, having put in a impressed as a substitute on Sunday.

The pair, starved of service for much of the game, contrived to give the Orly an unlikely lead after 31 minutes.

Saganowski brought down a diagonal at the far post, held off a couple of Austrian defenders and pushed the ball across goal to Roger, who evaded Martin Stranzl to put the Poles ahead.

Aside from a single Jacek Krzynowek shot from distance on 19 minutes, it was the Orly’s first real effort on goal.

There was a hint of offside too with replays showing that Roger was ahead of the last defender when the ball was played to him.

The Austrians looked like they were going to run away with the game in the first 20 minutes, breaking forward at every opportunity.

Josef Hickersberger’s high-octane game plan was simply too much for the Poles, who could not cope with the sheer pace and energy of the Austrians.

Poland continued to operate a high defensive line, which appeared to suit Hickersberger’s jet-heeled attackers.

Marek Harnik latched onto a sloppy back pass and burst through the Polish back four after 10 minutes, forcing Artur Boruc into a save.

The Celtic goalkeeper was called into action several times before his teammates conjured a goal, asserting his right to be considered one of the best ‘keepers in the world.

Christoph Leitgeb followed Harnik’s example minutes later and dueled with Boruc alone, but the 28-year-old keeper snuffed out the danger again.

Boruc’s outstanding performance clearly lifted his side and deflated the Austrians who looked crestfallen on being thwarted time and again.

With growing confidence, the Poles began to hold on to the ball better and went into their dressing room at half time with smiles on their faces while the Austrians looked around in disbelief.

Austria’s desperation carried on into the second half. Barely a minute after the restart, captain Andreas Ivanschitz raced through on goal and demanded a penalty after Pawel Golanski appeared to pull him back.

The 24-year-old dived to prove his point, but English referee Howard Webb was unimpressed and ordered him to get up.

Poland promptly countered through Roger who showed wonderful vision to pick out Ebi Smolarek from the left hand side, deep in his own half.

Smolarek, however, fluffed his lines on meeting Austrian goalkeeper Jurgen Macho and the Orly’s chance to double their lead disappeared.

Roger continued to add flair to the Poles, teeing up Jacek Bak at the far post after 62 minutes who forced Macho to a low save.

The former Chelsea and Sunderland stopper was worked again from outside the area, pushed the ball to safety and then began berating his defenders, who had been playing far too deep, telling them to get out of his area.

Not that that helped. The Austrians conceded a free kick on 68 minutes 10 yards outside the box, which Krzynowek used to singe Macho’s hands further.

The 30-year-old, who now plays in Greece for AEK Athens, was equal to it though and tipped it over the bar.

Tired and increasingly downcast, the Austrians kept giving away possession and reverted to a long ball game, which suited the physical Poles who out-muscled their opponents in the air.

All Hickersberger’s side could muster was the odd corner, which either ended up comfortably in Boruc’s hands or on the opposite touch line so poor was the Austrians’ delivery.

Set pieces provided the only threat to Boruc’s goal, but they were all too often hit high and wide. Ivica Vastic’s effort in the 76th minute probably reached Switzerland.

Vastic was finding his range though. Seconds later he swung in a free kick from the right, which Boruc failed to deal with and fumbled for another wasted corner.

Beenhakker reacted to Austria’s tepid resurgence in bullish fashion, replacing Saganowski with another attacker Wojciech Lobodzinski.

Roger was also sacrificed for a forward-thinking Pole after 85 minutes. Rafal Murawski announced his arrival with a fierce dipping free kick, which forced the best out of Macho again.

The Poles kept pushing and spent the remaining minutes in Austria’s final third, earning a couple of corners that were used to run the clock down.

Not to be penned in, the Austrian’s launched one last attack from a free kick placed just inside the Poles’ half.

Hit deep into the box, Sebastian Prodl was hauled down by Mariusz Lewandowski, prompting Howard Webb to award a penalty.

And the 38-year-old Vastic, so useless at corners and the like, proved cold-blooded from the spot, drilling the ball to Boruc’s right.

The draw leaves both teams with a slight chance of making the quarterfinals, but Croatia and Germany remain favourites to progress.

One thing’s for certain - it will not be a waltz.
Austria (probable): Macho; Garics, Prodl, Stranzl, Pogatetz; Aufhauser (Samuel 73), Leitgeb, Ivanschitz (Vastic 64), Korkmaz; Harnik, Linz (Kienast 64)

Poland (probable): Boruc; Wasilewski, Jop (Golanski 45), Bak, Zewlakow; Dudka, Lewandowski, Krzynowek, Guerreiro; Saganowski, Smolarek

Ref: Webb (Eng)

Ref From channel4.com