Holland 3 - 0 Italy. Euro 2008.

Netherlands v Italy Euro 2008 9 June 08 Bern. Overcast.
WATCHSOCCER prediction: Holland 2 - 0 Italy.
WATCHSOCCER prediction to win Euro 2008: Holland.


First half.
Robben out for Holland and Cannavaro out for Italia mean there are question marks over their substitutes. Additionally, Clarence Seedorf refused to play for Dutch boss Van Basten indicating there is the usual discord in the Nederland camp. The Italian Azzurri will be under scrutiny given their status as current World Champions.
We are told the Dutch national anthem (called "William of Nassau") is "one of the oldest in the world".
There's more excitement in the first three minutes of this match than in the whole of the Romania – France game earlier today as the Italians go close after Van Nistelrooy almost gets the ball alone in front of the Italian goal.
19' Sneijder shoots over, left-footed after Van Nistelrooy skips past Buffon to create danger in the Italian box.
Goal. 1-0. 26th minute. Holland score. Van Nistelrooy looks to be a good 5 yards offside as he deflects a driven low shot into the Italian goal.
Goal. 2-0. 31st minute. Sneijder scores on a brilliant counter-attack by Holland after Van Bronckhorst clears Pirlo's corner off the Dutch line.
33rd minute. Di Natale shoots and Van Der Sar saves.
44th minute. Di Natale shoots with power just over the bar.

Second half

Despite the introduction of Del Piero, whose free-kick was nicely saved one-handed by Van Der Sar, it is the Dutchman with the Italian first name, Giovanni Van Bronckhorst who finds himself in front of the Italian goal to head home 3 – 0.
88' Van Persie wriggles free in the box past three(!) defenders to smash the ball just wide of Buffon's left hand post.
Holland have completely outplayed Italy in this match. Nevertheless, Italy can take some positives from this defeat: Toni has found himself with time and space in front of the Dutch goal on a number of occasions, and Del Piero was his usual dangerous self once he was introduced in the second half. The Italian midfield of the Milan trio of Gattuso, Ambrosini and Pirlo though were completely outclassed in this game, and the defence clearly missed Cannavaro. Donadoni made a serious error of not changing his team at half-time.
Holland 3 – 0 Italy. Full time score.
WATCHSOCCER Man of the Match: Giovanni Van Bronckhorst.