In the biggest match of Euro 2008 so far, the Netherlands comfortably defeated the reigning world champions Italy 3-0 in Group A on Monday. Two goals, one apiece from Ruud van Nistelrooy and Wesley Sneijder, in the first half geared the Dutch on their way and then a Giovanni van Bronckhorst strike 10 minutes from time sealed their first win over the Italians in 30 years.

First Half

The most anticipated match of Euro 2008 so far started with a brisk enough pace as Italy unusually decided to come out of their blocks and test the susceptible Dutch backline. Azzurri striker Luca Toni couldn’t connect his head with a cross from the right as early as the third minute of the match and three minutes later Roberto Donadoni’s men created another half chance. Then in the 12th minute Bayern Munich striker Luca Toni saw his free header off a pin-point cross from the right barge wide off the mark. Italy piled the pressure on the Netherlands in the first 15 or so minutes of the match but the Orange then began to claw their way back into the contest.

Real Madrid star Wesley Sneijder, celebrating his 24th birthday on the day, couldn’t get his free-kick past the Italian wall but was very much demonstrating his ball distribution ability. Dutch targetman Ruud van Nistelrooy received a great through ball from Dirk Kuyt and rounded Italian custodian Gianluigi Buffon and although there was a whisper of suspicion that his trailing leg was caught back by Buffon, the 31-year old decided to stay on his feet.

The Dutch were by this time getting on top of the Italians and their pressure on the Azzurri defence made vulnerable by the absence of Captain Inspiration Fabio Cannavaro paid off in controversial fashion in the 26th minute. After the Italians had marginally cleared the danger from a corner, a long hopeful ball was drilled in from the left which was tapped in by Van Nistelrooy although it was clear that the former Manchester United striker was a couple of yards offside.

The Italians must have felt aggrieved by that wrong judgment by the match officials and a couple of minutes later they had even more reasons to be frustrated after Luca Toni was pulled down inside the Dutch penalty area by Joris Mathijsen but referee waved play on. A couple of minutes later Marco van Basten’s well organized and well disciplined Dutch side extended their lead when they ventured on a classic counter attack after an Italian corner. Giovanni van Bronckhorst gifted a diagonal looping ball from the left to Dirk Kuyt on the right who nodded the ball to the eagerly anticipating Wesley Sneijder who scored from an extremely acute angle with great precision, squeezing the ball past Buffon’s near post.

Italy though didn’t crumble down and if anything, that second goal from the Netherlands spurred them on to a new level of urgency. Italy pressed on, as they passed the ball quickly to the front and played with pace. Antonio di Natale hit straight at Edwin van der Sar just after the second goal and then blasted the ball over the crossbar just before half-time. The Dutch though could have secured all three points by then had van Nistelrooy not missed a virtual one-on-one with Gianluigi Buffon, haplessly watching his shot being saved by the Juventus goalkeeper.

Second Half

The second half was an extension of the first as both sides came out flying out of their respective blocks and the end-to-end stuff resumed. Italy for obvious reasons had the more urgency to advance to their rivals’ territory and so they did, defender Gianluca Zambrotta dribbling past along the left only to hit the ball wide off the mark. The Italians created another chance on the hour mark but Luca Toni’s meek effort on goal wasn’t enough to ruffle the Dutch feathers on that occasion.

Roberto Donadoni then decided to play the Alessandro del Piero card and threw the Juventus striker in the 64th minute and the veteran Italian international striker almost replied with immediate effect as he conjured up a good shot at van der Sar just one minute after his introduction. He then blasted the ball over the cross bar a few minutes later.

The Dutch wrapped up the match and the vital 3 points 10 minutes before time when they scored on a counter-attack again. Andrea Pirlo’s free-kick was sensationally saved with one hand by Edwin van der Sar and in the resulting Orange avalanche on the Italian goal, Giovanni van Brockhorst scored his side’s third goal of the match although the last touch came off Zambrotta.

The Italians lost their morale after they had conceded the embarrassing third goal and the Netherlands finished the match strongly and could even have added a couple of goals to their tally had second half substitute Robin van Persie been a bit more precise. The win for the Netherlands takes them to the pole position of Group C after the opening round of matches on Monday. Italy are bottom of the group while Romania and France, who shared a dull 0-0 draw earlier in the day, are joint second.