Euro 2008 Day Three

[Newshound]

9 June 2008<br>
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NETHERLANDS 3 (Van Nistelrooy 26, Sneijder 31, van Bronckhorst 79)<br>
ITALY 0<br>
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Di Natale got free down the right after Van Bronckhorst was tackled when carrying the ball out of defence, Toni heading for the near post but the Udinese forward overhit his cross. Minutes later Toni missed what was by his standards a great chance, heading wide after good work by Panucci, Camoranesi and Gattuso. The Dutch then quickly took control. Zambrotta got too tight to Kuyt allowing him to turn and slide a pass between Italy's centre backs, RVN lost his balance as he rounded Buffon and, forced wide, his cross was cleared. A mistake by Buffon (and a linesman) gave the Dutch the lead. Buffon should have punched a van der Vaart free kick out for a corner but sent it back into play, taking out Panucci in the process, Mathijsen laid the ball back to Sneijder and his fierce drive was re-directed past Buffon by RVN who was standing miles offside. On the half hour mark Van Bronckhorst hacked the ball off his goal-line when defending a corner and the Dutch launched one of the all time great counter attacks. Sneijder passed to Van der Vaart and he sent Van Bronckhorst clear down the left, Panucci, who should have been covering, was in his own half for the Italy corner, Van Bronckhorst hit a crossfield pass to Kuyt, Zambrotta failed to get tight, allowing Kuyt to head the ball down to Sneijder and he volleyed past Buffon who had strayed yards from his near post. Van Nistelrooy ran between Zambrotta and Materazzi onto a glorious van der Vaart through pass but was denied by Buffon. It's about time he made a save.<br>
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Within seconds of replacing the ineffective Camoranesi, Cassano created an opening for Toni but having ran clear of the defence his normally reliable first touch let him down. Grosso, another second half sub, got in behind the Dutch defence for the second time in as many minutes but his shot was saved and eventually cleared. Del Piero won a free kick as Italy enjoyed their best spell of the match. Pirlo's free kick was brilliantly saved by Van der Sarr and once again Italy were suckered on the break. Van Persie and Sneijder spread the ball out to the right before Sneijder sent the rampaging van Bronckhorst between Gattuso and Pirlo, van Bronckhorst squared to an unmarked Kuyt and his shot was parried, Kuyt chased down the rebound and dropped a cross into the centre circle and Van Bronckhorst headed in a cruel third.<br>
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Donadoni has the options on the bench to get his team out of this mess. Zambrotta you F*CKING SUCK. Gamberini has to start at centre back alongside Chiellini and Grosso instead of the wretched, wretched Zambrotta. Donadoni showed too much faith in the Milan midfield trio. De Rossi and Gattuso had been working fine in the run up to the tournament. Buffon was at fault for the first two goals. The Dutch won't have the element of surprise on corners again but they've got the players to rip holes through any defence.<br>
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Men of the Match : Van Bronckhorst & Kuyt.<br>
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Is Van Bronckhorst going to be this tournaments Zagorakis?<br>
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Attendance : 31,000<br>
Assists : Sneijder, Kuyt, Kuyt<br>
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ROMANIA 0<br>
FRANCE 0<br>
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This match was an absolute shitfest. The only real chance fell late in the first half to Anelka on the one occasion the Romanians switched off in defence. Ribery worked a short corner with Makelele and whipped a low cross into the box, the ball bounced up towards Anelka but he wastefully headed over from 12 yards.<br>
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I was impressed with Romania's centre backs, Goian and Tamas, though that may have been as a consequence of the anaemic French attack.<br>
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Attendance : 30,000<br>
Assists : n/a<br>

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