Dutch Get Unexpected Easy Win Over Italy In Euro 2008

June 9, 2008 8:46 p.m. EST

Bern, Switzerland (AHN) - Netherlands pierced Italy's defense with ease and shut down whatever hopes the Italians had left for an auspicious start at the Euro 2008, taking a clinical 3-0 victory in a Group C match on Monday.

The Dutch weren't given much of a chance to run away with a victory, let alone force the defending World Cup champions to go goal-less in the entire game. The Azzurri defense, led by goalie Gianluigi Buffon, allowed the most conversions in the country's championship history in the last 20 years. Italy's worst loss before Monday was a 2-0 thrashing at the hands of the Soviet Union in the 1988 semifinals.

At the Stade de Suisse in the Swiss capital, the Italians were left searching for answers and yearning for their captain Fabio Cannavaro, who was sidelined because of an ankle injury he suffered during training.

The Dutch, meanwhile, had plenty of opportunities to spare and plenty of shots to launch. Ruud Van Nistelrooy drilled one on the 26th minute, Wesley Sneijder added another five minutes later and Giovanni van Bronckhorst completed the carnage with a conversion in the 79th minute.

Nistelrooy would have had two goals before halftime, but his shot failed to get past Buffon.

The Italian defense was often times beat up on the counterattack or left behind when the Dutch unloaded their charging offense.

Netherlands now finds itself alone atop Group C, getting a break after France and Romania fought to a draw also on Monday. The Dutch now prepare for a crucial match against the French on Friday. The Italians, last in the group, try to rebound against the Romanians on the same playdate.