Euro 2008 Day Seven

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13 June 2008 
 
NETHERLANDS 4 (Kuyt 10, Van Persie 60, Robben 72, Sneijder 92) 
FRANCE 1 (Henry 71) 
 
Makelele should have been booked for a crude hit attack on Kuyt in the fourth minute. Kuyt got his revenge by heading the Dutch into the lead from a corner, taking advantage of ridiculous marking by Malouda, who seemed more interested in some man on man grappling. Kuyt almost punished a terrible mistake by Thuram but Evra bailed out his captain with a great block. Midway through the half the French suddenly sprang to life and wave upon wave of attack followed. Sagnol beat Van Bronckhorst on the right before driving in a centre, Govou recovered from an awful first to force VDS into a brilliant save at his near post. Makelele made sure Van der Vaart couldn't launch another counter attack after the French lost possession, with a right arm to the face earning himself a long overdue yellow card. Malouda juggled Thuram's clearing header away from Van der Vaart and Boulahrouz as they ran to close him down, he threaded a ball to Ribery who played a superb first time centre into the box, Evra cut the ball back to Henry who kicked fresh air and Govou broke into the box and shot straight at VDS. Makelele intercepted a pass deep in his half and drove forward, running through a sliding tackle before passing to Ribery, Ribery ran into the box and checked inside Ooijer and De Jong before striking a weak shot into Van der Sar's grateful arms. On the right flank Govou collected a throw in and held off two defenders before slipping a pass between their legs to Ribery, he flashing a centre across goal which Henry once again failed to meet. Such was France's dominance in midfield Makelele made another run deep into the opposition half before playing a ball into Henry who hit a shot on the turn wide of VDS's right post. To the relief of the Dutch the half time whistle soon followed. 
 
Van Basten switched things around at half time. Substituting Engelaar for Robben and pushing Sneijder in support of RVN. The Dutch playing 4-4-2? That must be a first! The change had little effect as the French continued to dominate. Henry skinned Ooijer on the edge of the box and his deflected cross was kicked off Ribery's feet by Boulahrouz. Following a series of deflections from a free kick Henry lashed at shot at goal, Ooijer turned away and threw himself at the ball volleying it clear with his left hand but the ref waving away French appeals for a penalty. Henry missed France's clearest chance to equalise four minutes later. Malouda's overhead kick sent Henry in on goal but, just as Toni did in the opening match, he lobbed high over the bar. Shocking miss. Van Basten made a last throw of the dice, replacing the tireless Kuyt with Van Persie and switching to his nations classic 4-3-3 tactic. The move reaped instant dividends. Van der Vaart headed on a throw in to Van Nistelrooy who did a 360 degree Bergkamp style pirouette away from Makelele and Toulalan, with a brilliant first Robben took the ball away from Makelele and powered upfield leaving the French trailing in his wake, he put on the breaks, whipped the ball into the box and Van Persie volleyed through Coupet's hands. VDS punched out a deflected Ribery shot and Gomis, who looked terrible, smashed the rebound into the stands. The Dutch defence was finally breeched on 71 minutes. Sagnol ran over RVN as he tried to bring a goal kick under control, played a one-two with Govou and arched a centre to Henry who flicked the ball into the bottom left corner. Any hopes of a comeback were quickly dashed. While the replays were still being shown Sneijder rolled a pass inside Sagnol to Robben, he ran at Thuram and from the most improbable of angles fired a left foot missile into the roof of Coupet's net. Absolutely incredible. Five minutes later Henry made awful contact with a Ribery free kick as the fight, finally began to fade from a brave French side. Coupet's fingertip save denied Van Nistelrooy a second goal. In the last minute Van Nistelrooy held up possession, collecting a pass out of defence but instead of running to the corner flag checked inside Thuram before passed to De Jong, De Jong squared to Van Persie, he passed to Sneijder who with his back to goal turned away from Toulalan and hammered a right foot shot in off the underside of the crossbar. 
 
Once against the Dutch were out-shot (23-16) but once again were stone cold killers in front of goal. The Dutch were battered either side of half time before Van Basten's switch to 4-3-3 gave them relief on the break. The man is showing signs of being as much of a genius on the bench as he was on the pitch. An absolutely breathless game of football, an all time classic. For the last half hour I was on my feet screaming as every goal went in. Are the Netherlands the Brazil of 1970 or the Brazil of 1982? Over the next fortnight we'll find out. 
 
Van Basten is almost certainly gong to rest many of his key players ahead of the quarter-finals which could make France vs Italy one of most epic and, at the same time, anti-climatic games in the history of this tournament. 
 
Attendance : 32,000 
Assists : van der Vaart (ck), Robben, Sagnol, Sneijder, Van Persie 
 
 
ITALY 1 (Panucci 56) 
ROMANIA 1 (Mutu 54) 
 
Constant pressure by the Italians forced the first of many, many chances. Del Piero was crowded out in the box as he brought a Camoranesi pass under control, Perotta cleverly chipped the ball back to him but Goian headed his goalbound header out for a corner. Toni missed an absolute sitter when Camoranesi and Grosso combined down the left, the Juve midfielder providing a superb cross. Panucci gave away possession with an overhit pass and a Romanian midfielder sent Mutu down the left, Chiellini tracked his former Juventus team-mate, forcing him to shoot from a wide angle drawing a brilliant save out of Buffon. Camoranesi brought down a Goian clearance on his chest before finding Grosso in acres of space on the left with a brilliant lofted pass, Grosso brought the ball under control, took a step back and measured a cross to the back post and once again Toni header wide. Buffon got down to parry a Tamas free kick struck from absolutely miles out and minutes later he was beaten all ends up from another Romania free kick when Chivu's drive was deflected onto a post by Panucci and Zambrotta hacked clear. There was an ugly clash of heads when Radoi and Rat challenged for the ball. Radoi was carted off and replaced by playmaker Dica. Toni chested down a Del Piero cross and just as Perrotta was about to pull the trigger Siena's Codrea denied him with a last ditch tackle. Italy won three consecutive corners, Lobont tipped over from Chiellini, made a miraculous save to push a Toni header against a post then bravely dived at the feet of Chiellini as he attacked a Toni header. In first half injury time Italy were hosed on another offside call. Camoranesi played a short corner to Zambrotta, the Romanian defence pushed up, Del Piero was standing in a (passive) offside position as Toni headed into the net but the goal was disallowed. The President of the FIGA (Italian FA) Giancarlo Abete was furious after the match: 
 
"I think UEFA at the highest level wanted to confirm Ruud Van Nistelrooy's goal was valid, so they won't have a problem confirming that the errors today were indeed mistakes. It would be very strange to do otherwise." 
 
Good luck on that one. Just as chances dried up in the second half the wretched Zambrotta decided to give a helping hand to the Romanians. Zambrotta underhit a backpass, Mutu ran in on the blindside and slammed the ball into the roof of the net. Italy got a quick equaliser. Chiellini headed down a Del Piero corner and Panucci, standing between four Romanians, ran past them to poke the ball into the net. Del Grosso (twice) and De Rossi made last ditch tackles in the box. In the 80th minute to everyone's amazement the ref awarded a penalty to Romania. Replays showed Panucci had wrestled Niculae to the ground. A nervy Mutu stepped up and drilled his penalty down the middle, Buffon got a strong right hand to the ball then immediately kicked clear as the Italian fans erupted in celebration. Late on in their desperation Grosso and Toni went to ground looking for penalties. 
 
Donadoni got his tactics right on this one but was let down by Toni's treacherous finishing. De Rossi, Chiellini and Grosso were fantastic as was Buffon who made up for a poor display against the Dutch. Why oh why didn't Donadoni play this formation in the first match? Toni should get no more than 45 minutes against the French. Borriello deserves a chance. 
 
Attendance : 30,000 
Assists : n/a, Chiellini 

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