What a performance by the Dutch... what a BRILLIANT performance!!!
You don't top "the group of death" and score a 3-0 and 4-1 against Italy and France just like that! The offensive power of this rejuvenated team is terrifying with talented players like Sneijder, Van der Vaart, Kuyt, Van Persie, Robben, 5 young and strong players accompanied by the older but still dangerous Ruud Van Nistelrooy. The midfield is also quite good with Engelaar!
What to say about this game... once Kuyt scored i simply knew that Holland would win. I didn't have even 1% of doubt that the victory wouldn't be at the end of the game. After a wonderful performance against the world champion Italy, the Dutch Dynamite does it again with an even greater performance against the finalist of the World Cup! And the Dynamites tonight were named: Kuyt, Van Persie, Robben, Sneijder. Scoring early in the game gives you a great advantage. It relieves the pressure on the team and gives it the chance to wait for the rival to come out and then attack. France tried to do something in the 2nd part of the first half but it ended at 1-0. The second half was going to be much much more entertaining! The Dutch were terribly quick in counter-attacks. When you have players like Robben and Sneijder you can't afford giving them space to show all their skills! They showed how quick and efficient they are in counter-attacking with the 2nd goal by Van Persie (who was out most of the season). Whereas the French, despite having Evra in the starting line-up and Henry in attack, were a disappointment in defence. They reduced the score with Henry but only one minute later Robben scored a simply mag-ni-fi-cent goal from a very tight angle with 2 defenders on him!! France thought it could get a 2-2 when Henry scored, but Robben's goal killed any hope left in the French squad. Ruud Van Nistelrooy could score the 4th goal (and the 2nd for him in this Euro) with a lobbed header but Coupet managed to put the ball out in the last moment. The last minutes of the game showed that it would end at 3-1, with 3 points and the 1st place for Holland (no matter what results will be in the last group games). But Sneijder wanted to give a gift one last time to his fans. The Madridista got the goal, made a 360 degrees turn and sent a beautiful and slightly curved shot that landed right under the bar (it actually touched it a bit)!!!
2 breath-taking goals by Robben and Sneijder (2 Madridistas), a big score against a team that is among the favorites for the final victory and a beautifully earned first place. Holland made of the group of death a peace of cake group!
Also, maybe it's a sign? The 4 scorers of Holland play in the English and Spanish leagues

the 2 strongest leagues of Europe.
The Dutch Dynamite is more than ever the number one favorite for the final victory after such performances against 2 of the world's top football nations. It's not the case of Germany though, and definitely not France! But there's still one game left and we will see who of the 2 eternal rivals deserves to go to the second round, France or Italy.
Romania has now a BIG chance to pass to the second round. Their fate is in their hands since all they need is a victory against Holland, which is already qualified and certain of finishing first. Therefore the coach Van Basten can rest his top players and give a chance to the reserve squad.
Netherlands 4-1 France
Kuyt 9'
Van Persie 59'
Robben 72'
Sneijder 92'
----------
Henry 71'
Romania 1-1 Italy
GROUP C - Standings
1- Holland: 6 points, +6
2- Romania: 2 points, 0
3- France: 1 point, -3
4- Italy: 1 point, -3
EDIT:
Roonaldo i agree, i wouldn't expect Romania to have such a chance to qualify although no one can underestimate a team that won... against Holland (!) and topped the qualifying group. France disappointed me A LOT, Italy too but they played better than France in both games. Can't wait for the clash of the Latin Europeans!
