Group of Death brings Tournament to life

Whisper it quietly, but we witnessed something resembling “Total Football’ yesterday in Berne.

Holland produced a display that harkened back to the Golden Age and left Italy needing a mini-renaissance if they’re to make the quarter-finals.

It could have been worse for the Azzurri. A French victory against Romania, the group’s supposed whipping-boys, would have left Roberto Donadoni’s men playing catch-up. Instead, Romania held firm and the group remains finely poised before next week’s showdown between Italy and France.

One European heavyweight is bound to leave Group C empty-handed and each had injury worries going into their first games. Italy are without their captain, Fabio Cannavaro, for the entire tournament, Thierry Henry was absent for France, while Holland were missing Arjen Robben and Ryan Babel, with Robin van Persie still on his way back to full fitness.

It was the Dutch who coped best. In the style of days gone by, the Oranje swarmed on the break to glorious effect. The former Ajax double-act of Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart worked in perfect harmony and were given freedom to probe the makeshift Italian defence by Orlando Engelaar, a revelation in the holding role.

Without their captain, Italy sorely lacked organization at the back. Once renowned for its Catenaccio (“door-bolt”) defensive system, the Italian defence was full of holes that were gleefully filled by Ruud van Nistelrooy. Holland’s poacher-in-chief was left completely unmarked for his goal – a defensive lapse that Cannavaro’s presence would surely have prevented.

The second Dutch goal would have given him more problems. It was a masterful counter-attack, brutal in its directness but exquisite in its execution. Sneijders’s finish was sheer perfection, worthy of the Dutch masters of yesteryear.

Giovanni van Bronkhorst’s goal, the third of the night, could only have been a product of the Dutch philosophy. Who else would counter-attack with such appetite when leading 2-0? Who else would finish a sweeping move in seconds with a towering header from their left-back? Not Italy, that’s for sure.

When the Italians did threaten, a combination of Edwin van der Sar’s athleticism and Luca Toni’s wastefulness conspired against them. Van der Sar’s performance should be no surprise; the Dutch captain has enjoyed one of his finest campaigns for some time. Toni’s squandering is harder to fathom. He scored 24 goals for Bayern in the Bundesliga this season yet failed to convert a handful of chances, the sort he gobbles up with relish for the German champions.

Goals were similarly in short supply at the Letzigrund in Zurich. The match finished in the tournament’s first scoreless draw and, to be honest, neither side came close.

Romania played for the draw and frustrated France by dropping plenty of men behind the ball and stifling play. Cunning was required but instead the French were reduced to potshots from 25 yards. Imagination, usually provided by Henry and, once upon a time, Zinedine Zidane, was conspicuous by its absence.

Still, better things were expected of Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema. Both have been in blistering form for their clubs but were nullified by the defensive barricade set before them.

Nicolas Anelka partnered Benzema in the French attack and he too showed little sign of breaching the Romanian defenses. No surprise there really. “Le Sulk” has a distinctly below-average goal-scoring record for France and his efforts yesterday ranged from optimistic to downright selfish. David Trezeguet was left at home despite a far superior international record - Les Bleus may miss him more as the tournament progresses.

The French and Italians are notorious slow starters but both need to quickly breathe new life into their play if they hope to survive group C. Never before has Italy conceded three goals in European Championship play. Now the task is to prevent further embarrassment. Donadoni’s future with the Azzurri will depend on it. Against France next Tuesday, they would do well to follow Romania’s lead.

Check out the article here as well.