Euro 2008, Holland v Italy: follow all the latest action here

13 April 2012

Holland stunned world champions Italy tonight with an outstanding display of total football, which will go down as one of, if not the best match of the tournament.


Former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy gave the Dutch the lead in controversial circumstances after 26 minutes when he scored from close range - but also from an offside position. The ever-present Wesley Sneijder then blasted in a second from Dirk Kuyt's header five minutes later and Giovanni van Bronckhorst headed in their third 12 minutes from time.

Italy looked shell-shocked by half-time as they just couldn't keep in touch with the Dutch whose expansive, free-flowing football was a shear delight to watch.


21:34, Holland 3 Italy 0: FULL TIME

21:30, Holland 3 Italy 0: Van Persie beats the Italian defence, turning them inside out. He shoots from an angle inside the area but it just goes wide of Buffon's near post.

21:24, Holland 3 Italy 0: Afellay blasts a shot from 15 yards out that beats Buffon for pace. It clips the crossbar and goes over.

Total footballer: Holland's Dirk Kuyt and Wesley Sneijder celebrate their famous win

Total footballer: Holland's Dirk Kuyt and Wesley Sneijder celebrate their famous win

21:24, Holland 3 Italy 0: Holland sub: Ibrahim Afellay on, Dirk Kuyt off.

21:21, Holland 3 Italy 0: GOAL for Van Bronckhorst. Brilliant, brilliant football from Holland. Holland break after Van der Sar makes a great save from a Pirlo free-kick - Van Bronckhorst bursts down the left and crosses 20 yards to Kuyt, Gianluigi Buffon palms away his strike then Kuyt chips the rebound back to Van Bronkhorst to head home.

On the rise: Giovanni van Bronckhorst scores Holland's third

On the rise: Giovanni van Bronckhorst scores Holland's third

21:18, Holland 2 Italy 0: Holland sub: Heitinga on, Boulahrouz off.

21:17, Holland 2 Italy 0: What a miss by Toni! Cassano puts in a lofted through-ball and Toni splits the Dutch centre-backs but his touch isn't good enough and the ball loops way over the bar.

No way through: Italy's Gianluca Zambrotta Rafael van der Vaart

No way through: Italy's Gianluca Zambrotta Rafael van der Vaart

21:16, Holland 2 Italy 0: Italy sub: Antonio Cassano on, Camoranesi off.

21:12, Holland 2 Italy 0: Holland sub: Van Persie on, Van Nistelrooy off. There's no let up for the Italians as the predatory Arsenal striker joins the field.

21:06, Holland 2 Italy 0: Del Piero shoots from the left side of the Dutch area but his effort goes straight into Van der Sar's arms.

21:05, Holland 2 Italy 0: Italy sub: Alessandro Del Piero on, Di Natale off.

21:04, Holland 2 Italy 0: Sneijder's dashing around is causing huge problems for the Italian defenders - he's a sort of cross between Arjen Robben and Marc Overmars.

Oh, the pain! Luca Toni reacts to Andre Ooijer

Oh, the pain! Luca Toni reacts to Andre Ooijer

21:00, Holland 2 Italy 0: YELLOW CARD for Holland's De Jong.

20:56, Holland 2 Italy 0: Italy sub: Grosso on, Materazzi off. Holland's Kuyt is playing a lot deeper now, leaving Van Nistelrooy to shoulder the responsibility of being the lone man up front. Dutch passing has become more expansive but they're doing well to keep possession. Italians being pulled out of position.

20:53, Holland 2 Italy 0: YELLOW CARD for Italy's Gattuso.

20:50, Holland 2 Italy 0: Engelaar is playing superbly in the centre for Holland. He breaks from his own half and almost links up with Van Nistelrooy who's side on to goal on the edge of the area, but Materazzi is back and does enough to clear.

At a stretch: Luca Toni gets in a header

At a stretch: Luca Toni gets in a header

20:48, Holland 2 Italy 0: Italy need more thrust from midfield if they're going to get anything from this match, they need to get closer to Toni. But can they revive themselves when Holland are seemingly running away with it?

20:32, Holland 2 Italy 0: HALF-TIME

20:30, Holland 2 Italy 0: Udinese's Di Natale drives a shot at Van der Sar's goal from 35 yards out but it's always rising and hits fans in the stands.

20:27, Holland 2 Italy 0: Van Nistelrooy is put through by Sneijder's brilliant pass to go one-on-one with Buffon but the Italy keeper gets down well to deflect his attempted chip for a corner. That was Van Nistelrooy's chance to put Italy out of their misery. Italy are struggling to keep up with Holland's free-flowing style.

Football focus: Italy's Gennaro Gattuso tries to stop Rafael van der Vaart

Football focus: Italy's Gennaro Gattuso tries to stop Rafael van der Vaart

20:25, Holland 2 Italy 0: Holland's Van der Vaart and Engelaar are doing a great job of keeping the Italians unsettled in midfield. Playing with a lot of confidence.

20:19, Holland 2 Italy 0: YELLOW CARD - Italy's Zambrotta.

20:17, Holland 2 Italy 0: Di Natale fires a shot from inside the Dutch area and it goes through the legs of Boulahrouz before keeper Edwin Van der Sar can gather.


Unstoppable: Wesley Sneijder scores Holland's second goal - past keeper Gianluigi Buffon and Antonio Di Natale

Unstoppable: Wesley Sneijder scores Holland's second goal - past keeper Gianluigi Buffon and Antonio Di Natale

20:15, Holland 2 Italy 0: GOAL - Sneijder doubles Holland's lead. Van Bronckhorst counter-attacks down his left wing and finds Kuyt on the far side who heads it back to Sneijder and he makes no mistake with a cracking volley.

20:10, Holland 1 Italy 0: GOAL - and it's Van Nistelrooy. He's clearly offside yet the linesman keeps his flag down. Van der Vaart put in a sharp free-kick from the right, Buffon palms it away, but only to Sneijder. Sneijder shoots but as his effort zips through the crowed area it finds  the former Manchester United striker lurking on the edge of the 6-yard box who prods it in.

Contentious: Ruud van Nistelrooy wheels away after scoring the opener

Contentious: Ruud van Nistelrooy wheels away after scoring the opener

20:05, Holland 0 Italy 0: Italy, through Panucci, are forcing the play down their right flank but Sneijder cuts out his run and it's a Holland throw.

20:01, Holland 0 Italy 0: Van Nistelrooy is through on goal! He flicks the ball past Italy keeper Buffon and stumbles but doesn't go down. He's forced wide and cuts the ball back. Italy survive.

19:58, Holland 0 Italy 0: Toni connects with Gattuso's cross in the Dutch area but the Bayern Munich striker directs his header wide from 8 yards out.

19:56, Holland 0 Italy 0: Gattuso takes down Van Nistelrooy so it's a free-kick 25-yards out. Sneijder to take but he hits the wall. Ball finds its way over to Holland's right wing and Van der Vaart. Panucci wins it back.

19:53, Holland 0 Italy 0: AC Milan's Andrea Pirlo looks imperious in midfield. He sends a sweeping pass over to Camoranesi but the move fades.

No push over: Italy's Massimo Ambrosini cuts out Khalid Boulahrouz

No push over: Italy's Massimo Ambrosini cuts out Khalid Boulahrouz

19:48, Holland 0 Italy 0: Nice turn by Toni sets up another Italy attack down the right. Toni to Ambrosini who weaves in field and threads the ball through for Toni who's continued his run. Just hit to hard for him. Goal kick.

19:48, Holland 0 Italy 0: Di Natale races down the right wing and puts in a deep cross for Toni, but it's a little heavy and the ball goes for a goal-kick.

19:46, Holland 0 Italy 0: Real Madrid's Ruud Van Nistelrooy is involved straight away, hounding the Italian defence on the left side.

19:45, Holland 0 Italy 0: KICK OFF

Giants of European football Holland and Italy clash in their opening game of this year's European Championships. The Dutch have always fielded exceptionally gifted players, but will their collective skill count for much tonight after years of underachievement? Italy, meanwhile, come off the back of winning the World Cup in 2006.

Going Dutch: A Holland fan on her way to the stadium

Going Dutch: A Holland fan on her way to the stadium

Cheers: An Italian fan before the match

Cheers: An Italian fan before the match


The Teams:

Holland: Van der Sar, Ooijer, Boulahrouz, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst, Kuyt, De Jong, Van der Vaart, Engelaar, Sneijder, van Nistelrooy.

Subs: Timmer, Stekelenburg, Heitinga, De Zeeuw, Van Persie, Robben, Melchiot, Bouma, De Cler, Huntelaar, Afellay, Vennegoor of Hesselink.

Italy: Buffon, Panucci, Barzagli, Materazzi, Zambrotta, Ambrosini, Pirlo, Gattuso, Camoranesi, Toni, Di Natale.

Subs: Amelia, De Sanctis, Grosso, Chiellini, Gamberini, Del Piero, De Rossi, Borriello, Quagliarella, Cassano, Perrotta, Aquilani.

Referee: Peter Frojdfeldt (Sweden)

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