Grounded Dutch focus on France
June 13, 2008 at 11:57 pm | In Netherlands | Leave a CommentTags: France, Marco van Basten, Netherlands
The Netherlands and France may have played just one game so far in UEFA EURO 2008™ Group C, yet the moods in the respective camps could hardly have been more contrasting ahead of Friday’s meeting at the Stade de Suisse in Berne. While Netherlands coach Marco van Basten was doing his utmost to calm expectations following the superb 3-0 victory over Italy on Monday, his opposite number Raymond Domenech attempted to reassure French fans that the Les Bleus were ready to improve on their subdued goalless draw against Romania.
UEFA supports Dutch goal decision
June 12, 2008 at 4:31 pm | In Italy, Netherlands | Leave a CommentTags: Italy, Netherlands
UEFA has emphasised that the goal scored by Netherlands striker Ruud van Nistelrooy in last night’s UEFA EURO 2008™ match against Italy in Berne was valid, and that referee Peter Fröjdfeldt acted correctly in awarding it.
Not offside
UEFA General Secretary David Taylor was reacting to claims from some quarters that Van Nistelrooy was standing in an offside position when he scored the first of the Netherlands’ goals in their 3-0 win. “I would like to take the opportunity to explain and emphasise that the goal was correctly awarded by the referee team,” he said. “I think there’s a lack of understanding among the general football public, and I think it’s understandable because this was an unusual situation. The player was not offside, because, in addition to the Italian goalkeeper, there was another Italian player in front of the goalscorer. Even though that other Italian player at the time had actually fallen off the pitch, his position was still relevant for the purposes of the offside law.”
Toni predicts Italian renaissance
June 12, 2008 at 4:25 pm | In Italy | Leave a CommentTags: Italy, Netherlands, Romania
Italy’s Luca Toni is confident the Azzurri will bounce back from their opening humbling by the Netherlands when they face Romania in their second Group C fixture on Friday. “We usually play our best in do-or-die games – now we’ll have to do it again,” said the FC Bayern München striker.
‘Very disappointed’
It was 30 years since Italy had lost to the Dutch, and never by a 3-0 scoreline. Toni headed a 12th-minute chance wide, after which the Oranje took control and triumphed thanks to goals from Ruud van Nistelrooy, Wesley Sneijder and Giovanni van Bronckhorst. “We were very disappointed after the game but we looked into each others’ eyes and all of us know perfectly what there is at stake in our next game against Romania,” said the 31-year-old.
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