Struggling Italians; Flying Dutchmen…

Another very good performance by the Netherlands saw them clinch the so-called ‘Group of Death’ as they overcame an improved French team that still seems to lack any consistent attacking threat…The Dutch showed lengthy signs of a return to their “total football” style and in Van Nistelroy they have one of the tournament’s best players. He was excellent throughout, constantly providing an outlet option for his defenders and midfielders with his superb first touch and control, not to mention his marvelous move and touch that led to the Dutch 3rd goal… The ESPN commentators harped on about the Dutch team’s defensive frailties but apart from a couple of lapses they looked fairly solid to me against the likes of Henry and Riberry and are clearly the best all round team we have seen so far…

In the earlier game, the Italians were much improved but ultimately they could well have lost and been eliminated. They had many half-chances but ultimately have Buffon’s wonderful penalty save to thank for their point and survival in the competition. They now face France in a potential winner-takes-all game – a repeat of the 2006 World Cup final – yet the Romanians, with a keeper in great form, would go through with a win against the Netherlands regardless of what happens in the Italy/France match. Thus in the group’s final games, it may suit the Dutch to loose to Romania and therefore eliminate both Italy and France……However, I expect the Dutch to “do the right thing” and still win whilst I expect the Italians to finally get into their stride and knock out the French..

There was more talk of the refs’ performances during the postgame analysis of bothy matches today and yet overall I thought they did well. The French may claim they should have had a penalty but the ball was blasted at the Dutch defender and his hand was not outstretched, thus he gained no advantage…In the earlier game the ref was correct to give a penalty when Panucchi wrestled the Romanian forward to the ground with an arm around his neck, although this is not always given. The one mistake that was made came when Toni was denied a perfectly good goal as a result of an incorrect, but very difficult to spot, offside call. The Italians have thus had two very unfortunate calls go against them (Van Nistelroy’s offside goal in their first game was the other one) and surely their luck will change and I expect them to reach the quarterfinals…

Tomorrow I like the Spanish to edge the Swedes and Russia to beat Greece…but what do I know?…