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Holland Stun France to Lead the Group of Death |
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Written by Administrator
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Saturday, 14 June 2008 |
Holland have started their Euro 2008 campaign in surprisingly remarkable style. Following on from their demolishion of Italy in their first match, they now lead the group and have qualified for the quarter-finals after crushing France 4-1 in their latest Euro 2008 encounter.
Friday the 13th it may have been but not for the Dutch team, although France may well remember the old supersitions following the encounter in which they were dazzled by the brilliance of the Dutch goalscoring team.
Before the FIFA Euro 2008 competition started, few would have expected anything else but for Italy and France to qualify for the next round, but Holland have defeated both teams and Romania drawn both theirs. This leaves the favourite two, Italy being the current World Champions and France having held the accolade before them, trailing the Group, known as the group of death.
The four Dutch goals came from Dirk Kuyt, Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder with the only French consolation goal coming from Thierry Henry. Although the French, certainly in the first half, had control of possession and the general run of the game, they just couldn't get anything past the remarkable Dutch keeper Van der Sar who made some fantastic saves.
Following the game, Holland's Captain Van Basten said, "I didn't expect it to go as well as this. It may look easy but that is down to the quality and intelligence of the players. You have seen the skill and how good they are. There is a great hunger and team spirit."
With the Dutch team winning th egroup comfortably, it will be a question of what tactics they use against Romania when they meet them of Tuesday, that may seal the fate of the World and ex-World Champions. Should the Dutch decide to rest their star players and Romania beat them, they this will help seal the fate of the other teams and put them out of the competition early. Romania will certainly be playing for all they are worth and looking to make it through to the next round with a win and should the Dutch effectively let them, they it will be a bitter blow for Italy and France who certainly wouldn't have expected to be leaving so soon.
Van Basten has promised, however, that they will be taking the game seriously and even although they may rest their A-class players like Van Nistelrooy they still have top quality in the shape of Klaas Jan Huntelaar to take his place.
So it looks like Tuesday's match is set to be a belter and with the skills Holland are showing along with the fate of Italy and France, it's just going to be too good to miss. |
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