Euro 2008: Group C - Netherlands and Romania on fire Part two

Hello again and welcome back to Alex Levy's Euro 2008 column;

Tonight in the group of death; it was do or die for everyone involved as the score line in both match left the Netherlands on top of Group C with six points, thus qualifying for the finals.

Also the fight for second place is still on and all scenarios are still envisageable. Italy, Romania and France can still aspire to that no:2 ticket to the finals.

Romania 1 - 1 Italy

In the opening Match up, Romania faced mighty world champion Italy; looking to turn the page on their disastrous Euro 2008 opener against The Netherlands; Italian coach Roberto Donadoni made some key changes bringing in Giorgio Chiellini, Fabio Grosso, Daniele De Rossi, Simone Perrotta and captain Alessandro Del Piero.

The Italians walked into this game knowing a defeat against Romania meant going back to the hotel packing luggages and watching the rest of Euro 2008 at home; one goal that could write a page of history of its own and that goal came on the fifty fifth minutes thanks to Mutu.

However the Italians were not in the mood to leave Switzerland and Austria just yet; one minute later, a corner in hand with Chiellini crossing onto Panucci for the equalizer.

The game came to an epic climax, ten minutes before time a late penalty was awarded in Romania's favour; a golden chance written all over it to send Italy packing and to take second place as well, yet Gianluigi Buffon (the Italian keeper) kept his composure to make one very important save at the most critical moment in the game!

So it was Romania once again stalling another hot favourite. The question is can they produce this sort of performance against the ever awe-inspiring Netherlands? Will the Orange storm blasts through the Dacian kingdom or will Romania take advantage of the given circumstances and stand a chance? Considering the Dutch have now secured both first place and a no:1 ticket to the finals, fielding their key players for a symbolic match up against Romania wouldn't make sense, risking an injury would be even worse!

France 1 - 4 The Netherlands

In the other game this evening, The orange storm has blasted through the Gaelic nation in hot fashion; even before the game the stadium was being invaded by hordes and hordes of Dutch fans, their French counterparts were just nowhere to be seen... It only took ten minutes for the Dutch to find an opening in the French defense. It all started with Kuyt winning a corner off William Gallas, Van Der Vaart took the shot and it was Kuyt for the finishing header home into Coupet's net.

Later on during first half The French went on the counter offensive, finding pace and weakness spots within the Dutch defense, Master Keeper - Van Der Sar was in the house tonight making sure his nets were free of an equalizing goal! So much hard work by the Dutch keeper; yet so many opportunities for the Gaelic warriors who just could not penetrate the fortress Van Der Sar had erected in front of his nets; at the exception of Thierry Henry's goal on 71st minute; The Neds last defense outpost was rock solid!

The First half ended Netherlands 1 - 0 France. However the storm was gathering strong winds and on 59th minutes Robben's cross for Van Persie's Volley found its way through Coupet's buttery hands! Netherlands 2 - 0 France!

The French came back on the assault and eventually found this little glimmer of hope in the form of a goal from Thierry Henry! Netherlands 2 -1  France . At this point a draw was still manageable, only that on the restart the Neds powered through the French defense and hammered the Thor blow with a stunning goal from Robben in a very tight angle as well! only a minute after Henry's goal the score line was Netherlands 3 - 1 France.

The French were still looking to score yet the fatigue, the disgust and most of all the ever opportunistic Dutch were just too much to handle tonight; in the final minutes of the match the last nail was hammered in the French coffin courtesy of a beautiful right footer outside the box from Schneijder, a beauty of a goal only reflecting the performance of the Netherlands tonight. Netherlands 4 - 1 France!

Tonight the Dutch have marched to the last eight. France on the other side will have to pull some sort of miracle or magic spells over Italy, a draw could send both previous favourites home if and that's no big if Romania can somewhat hold the brilliant Neds to a draw!

Analysis

Italy's hopes of qualifying are now hanging by the skin of the teeth; the Azurris will need a win over France to qualify, a draw could potentially send Romania through if they can get a similar result with the Netherlands. France too can qualify and she will have to get her game together against the Azurris if she's serious about Euro 2008.

Italy and France suffered from defensive tactics and lack of offensiveness, their scorelines in the games they played reflect that, yet these two teams rolled into Euro 2008 as hot favourites to win the competition; Now they look more like hot favourites not to even make it out of the qualifying rounds.

If it is anything to go by it the Netherlands are on fire and I would not be surprised to see Dutch Keeper Erwin Van Der Sar nominated for player of the competition; why not? Van Der Sar has been superb in both games taking in only one goal. On many occasions The Dutch keeper was the last line of defense in the face of enemy fire and somehow managed to do at the back what his strikers were doing up front: A fantastic job!

Alex