UEFA Euro 2008 Group C

A free kick in the match between Netherlands and Italy on 9 June

Group C of the 2008 UEFA European Championships is one of four groups of competing nations at UEFA Euro 2008. The first of three rounds of matches took place on 9 June, and finished on 17 June. All six group matches were played at venues in Switzerland, in Zürich and Berne. The group is composed of 2006 FIFA World Cup finalists Italy and France, as well as the Netherlands and Romania. At the time of the draw, these countries' respective Elo rankings among European teams were 1st, 2nd, 4th and 8th, and as such the group has been dubbed the competition's "group of death".[1][2] Nevertheless, despite the strength of the four teams, Group C was the only group at Euro 2008 from which no team made it past the quarter-finals; Italy went out in the penalty shoot-out against Spain and the Netherlands lost against Russia.

The Netherlands became the first team to qualify for the quarter-finals from Group C. In their first match, they beat the world champions, Italy, 3–0 in a display of counter-attacking football. Then, in their second game, they also beat the 2006 World Cup runners-up, France, 4–1. This left the French in a difficult position, having already played out a scoreless draw against Romania in the group's opening match. Romania also played out a draw against Italy in their second match, leaving them in second place going into the final round of group matches.

Italy finished as the second quarter-finalists, after they beat France 2–0 in their final game. French defender Éric Abidal was sent off just over a quarter of the way through the game for a foul on Luca Toni in the area; Andrea Pirlo converted the resulting penalty. Daniele De Rossi added the second goal from a deflected free kick just after the hour mark. Because of the Italian win, Romania had to beat the Netherlands to qualify for the quarters, but they were undone by a Klaas-Jan Huntelaar goal just after half-time, before Robin van Persie scored his second of the tournament three minutes from the end.[3]

Teams

Draw position Team Method of
qualification		 Finals
appearance		 Last
appearance		 Previous best
performance		 UEFA Rankings
November 2007[nb 1]		 FIFA Rankings
June 2008
C1  Netherlands Group G runners-up 8th 2004 Winners (1988) 6 10
C2  Italy Group B winners 7th 2004 Winners (1968) 1 3
C3  Romania Group G winners 4th 2000 Quarter-finals (2000) 12 12
C4  France Group B runners-up 7th 2004 Winners (1984, 2000) 2 7
Notes
  1. ↑ The UEFA rankings of November 2007 were used for seeding for the final draw.

Standings

Key to colours in group tables
Team progressed to the quarter-finals
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Netherlands 330091+89
 Italy 311134−14
 Romania 302113−22
 France 301216−51

All times local (UTC+2)

Matches

Romania vs France

9 June 2008 (2008-06-09)
18:00
Romania  0–0  France
Report
Letzigrund, Zürich
Attendance: 30,585[4]
Referee: Manuel Mejuto González (Spain)
Romania[5]
France[5]
GK 1 Bogdan Lobonț
RB 2 Cosmin Contra  40'
CB 4 Gabriel Tamaș
CB 15Dorin Goian  43'
LB 3 Răzvan Raț
RM 11Răzvan Cociș  64'
CM 6 Mirel Rădoi  90+3'
LM 5 Cristian Chivu (c)
RF 16Bănel Nicoliță
CF 21Daniel Niculae  27'
LF 10Adrian Mutu  78'
Substitutions:
MF 8 Paul Codrea  64'
FW 18Marius Niculae  78'
MF 20Nicolae Dică  90+3'
Manager:
Victor Pițurcă
GK 23Grégory Coupet
RB 19Willy Sagnol  51'
CB 15Lilian Thuram (c)
CB 5 William Gallas
LB 3 Éric Abidal
CM 20Jérémy Toulalan
CM 6 Claude Makélélé
RW 22Franck Ribéry
LW 7 Florent Malouda
CF 8 Nicolas Anelka  72'
CF 9 Karim Benzema  78'
Substitutions:
FW 18Bafétimbi Gomis  72'
MF 11Samir Nasri  78'
Manager:
Raymond Domenech

Man of the Match:
Claude Makélélé (France)[4]

Assistant referees:
Juan Carlos Juste Jiménez (Spain)
Jesús Calvo Guadamuro (Spain)
Fourth official:
Olegário Benquerença (Portugal)

Netherlands vs Italy

9 June 2008 (2008-06-09)
20:45
Netherlands  3–0  Italy
Van Nistelrooy  26'
Sneijder  31'
Van Bronckhorst  79'		 Report
Stade de Suisse, Bern
Attendance: 30,777[6]
Referee: Peter Fröjdfeldt (Sweden)
Netherlands[7]
Italy[7]
GK 1 Edwin van der Sar (c)
RB 2 André Ooijer
CB 21Khalid Boulahrouz  77'
CB 4 Joris Mathijsen
LB 5 Giovanni van Bronckhorst
CM 17Nigel de Jong  58'
CM 8 Orlando Engelaar
RW 18Dirk Kuyt  81'
AM 23Rafael van der Vaart
LW 10Wesley Sneijder
CF 9 Ruud van Nistelrooy  70'
Substitutions:
FW 7 Robin van Persie  70'
DF 3 John Heitinga  77'
MF 20Ibrahim Afellay  81'
Manager:
Marco van Basten
GK 1 Gianluigi Buffon (c)
RB 2 Christian Panucci
CB 6 Andrea Barzagli
CB 23Marco Materazzi  54'
LB 19Gianluca Zambrotta  35'
CM 13Massimo Ambrosini
CM 21Andrea Pirlo
CM 8 Gennaro Gattuso  51'
RW 16Mauro Camoranesi  75'
LW 11Antonio Di Natale  64'
CF 9 Luca Toni  27'
Substitutions:
DF 3 Fabio Grosso  54'
FW 7 Alessandro Del Piero  64'
FW 18Antonio Cassano  75'
Manager:
Roberto Donadoni

Man of the Match:
Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands)[6]

Assistant referees:
Stefan Wittberg (Sweden)
Henrik Andrén (Sweden)
Fourth official:
Damir Skomina (Slovenia)

Italy vs Romania

13 June 2008 (2008-06-13)
18:00
Italy  1–1  Romania
Panucci  56' Report Mutu  55'
Letzigrund, Zürich
Attendance: 30,585[8]
Referee: Tom Henning Øvrebø (Norway)
Italy[9]
Romania[9]
GK 1 Gianluigi Buffon
RB 19Gianluca Zambrotta
CB 2 Christian Panucci
CB 4 Giorgio Chiellini
LB 3 Fabio Grosso
CM 21Andrea Pirlo  61'
CM 10Daniele De Rossi  90+2'
RW 16Mauro Camoranesi  85'
AM 20Simone Perrotta  57'
LW 7 Alessandro Del Piero (c)  77'
CF 9 Luca Toni
Substitutions:
FW 18Antonio Cassano  57'
FW 15Fabio Quagliarella  77'
MF 13Massimo Ambrosini  85'
Manager:
Roberto Donadoni
GK 1 Bogdan Lobonț
RB 2 Cosmin Contra
CB 4 Gabriel Tamaș
CB 15Dorin Goian  73'
LB 3 Răzvan Raț
DM 6 Mirel Rădoi  25'
RM 7 Florentin Petre  60'
CM 8 Paul Codrea
LM 5 Cristian Chivu (c)  58'
SS 10Adrian Mutu  43'  88'
CF 21Daniel Niculae
Substitutions:
MF 20Nicolae Dică  25'
MF 16Bănel Nicoliță  60'
MF 11Răzvan Cociș  88'
Manager:
Victor Pițurcă

Man of the Match:
Andrea Pirlo (Italy)[8]

Assistant referees:
Geir Åge Holen (Norway)
Jan Petter Randen (Norway)
Fourth official:
Ivan Bebek (Croatia)

Netherlands vs France

13 June 2008 (2008-06-13)
20:45
Netherlands  4–1  France
Kuyt  9'
Van Persie  59'
Robben  72'
Sneijder  90+2'		 Report Henry  71'
Stade de Suisse, Bern
Attendance: 30,777[10]
Referee: Herbert Fandel (Germany)
Netherlands[11]
France[11]
GK 1 Edwin van der Sar (c)
RB 21Khalid Boulahrouz
CB 2 André Ooijer  51'
CB 4 Joris Mathijsen
LB 5 Giovanni van Bronckhorst
CM 17Nigel de Jong
CM 8 Orlando Engelaar  46'
RW 18Dirk Kuyt  55'
AM 23Rafael van der Vaart  78'
LW 10Wesley Sneijder
CF 9 Ruud van Nistelrooy
Substitutions:
MF 11Arjen Robben  46'
FW 7 Robin van Persie  55'
DF 14Wilfred Bouma  78'
Manager:
Marco van Basten
GK 23Grégory Coupet
RB 19Willy Sagnol
CB 15Lilian Thuram (c)
CB 5 William Gallas
LB 13Patrice Evra
CM 20Jérémy Toulalan  82'
CM 6 Claude Makélélé  32'
RW 10Sidney Govou  75'
LW 7 Florent Malouda  60'
SS 22Franck Ribéry
CF 12Thierry Henry
Substitutions:
FW 18Bafétimbi Gomis  60'
FW 8 Nicolas Anelka  75'
Manager:
Raymond Domenech

Man of the Match:
Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands)[10]

Assistant referees:
Carsten Kadach (Germany)
Volker Wezel (Germany)
Fourth official:
Grzegorz Gilewski (Poland)

Netherlands vs Romania

17 June 2008 (2008-06-17)
20:45
Netherlands  2–0  Romania
Huntelaar  54'
Van Persie  87'		 Report
Netherlands[13]
Romania[13]
GK 16Maarten Stekelenburg
RB 21Khalid Boulahrouz  58'
CB 3 John Heitinga (c)
CB 14Wilfred Bouma
LB 15Tim de Cler
CM 6 Demy de Zeeuw
CM 8 Orlando Engelaar
RW 20Ibrahim Afellay
AM 7 Robin van Persie
LW 11Arjen Robben  61'
CF 19Klaas-Jan Huntelaar  83'
Substitutions:
DF 12Mario Melchiot  58'
FW 18Dirk Kuyt  61'
FW 22Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink  83'
Manager:
Marco van Basten
GK 1 Bogdan Lobonț
RB 2 Cosmin Contra
CB 4 Gabriel Tamaș
CB 14Sorin Ghionea
LB 3 Răzvan Raț
DM 8 Paul Codrea  72'
CM 11Răzvan Cociș
CM 5 Cristian Chivu (c)  78'
RW 16Bănel Nicoliță  82'
LW 10Adrian Mutu
CF 18Marius Niculae  59'
Substitutions:
FW 21Daniel Niculae  59'
MF 20Nicolae Dică  72'
MF 7 Florentin Petre  82'
Manager:
Victor Pițurcă

Man of the Match:
Robin van Persie (Netherlands)[12]

Assistant referees:
Matthias Arnet (Switzerland)
Stéphane Cuhat (Switzerland)
Fourth official:
Craig Thomson (Scotland)

France vs Italy

17 June 2008 (2008-06-17)
20:45
France  0–2  Italy
Report Pirlo  25' (pen.)
De Rossi  62'
Letzigrund, Zürich
Attendance: 30,585[14]
Referee: Ľuboš Micheľ (Slovakia)
France[15]
Italy[15]
GK 23Grégory Coupet
RB 14François Clerc
CB 5 William Gallas
CB 3 Éric Abidal Red card 24'
LB 13Patrice Evra  18'
CM 20Jérémy Toulalan
CM 6 Claude Makélélé
RW 10Sidney Govou  47'  66'
LW 22Franck Ribéry  10'
CF 9 Karim Benzema
CF 12Thierry Henry (c)  85'
Substitutions:
MF 11Samir Nasri  10'  26'
DF 2 Jean-Alain Boumsong  72'  26'
FW 8 Nicolas Anelka  66'
Manager:
Raymond Domenech
GK 1 Gianluigi Buffon (c)
RB 19Gianluca Zambrotta
CB 2 Christian Panucci
CB 4 Giorgio Chiellini  45+4'
LB 3 Fabio Grosso
CM 21Andrea Pirlo  44'  55'
CM 10Daniele De Rossi
CM 8 Gennaro Gattuso  54'  82'
AM 20Simone Perrotta  64'
CF 9 Luca Toni
CF 18Antonio Cassano
Substitutions:
MF 13Massimo Ambrosini  55'
MF 16Mauro Camoranesi  64'
MF 22Alberto Aquilani  82'
Manager:
Roberto Donadoni

Man of the Match:
Daniele De Rossi (Italy)[14]

Assistant referees:
Roman Slyško (Slovakia)
Martin Balko (Slovakia)
Fourth official:
Viktor Kassai (Hungary)

References

  1. ↑ Harrold, Michael (2 December 2007). "Group of Death draws mixed reaction". Euro 2008 official website. Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 5 February 2008. Retrieved 3 March 2008.
  2. ↑ "Italy and France in Euro 2008 'group of death'". ESPN Soccernet. ESPN. 2 December 2007. Retrieved 3 March 2008.
  3. ↑ Chowdhury, Saj (11 June 2008). "France 0–2 Italy & Netherlands 2–0 Romania". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  4. 1 2 "Full-time report Romania-France" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 9 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  5. 1 2 "Team Line-ups – Group C – Romania-France" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 9 June 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  6. 1 2 "Full-time report Netherlands-Italy" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 9 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  7. 1 2 "Team Line-ups – Group C – Netherlands-Italy" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 9 June 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  8. 1 2 "Full-time report Italy-Romania" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 13 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  9. 1 2 "Team Line-ups – Group C – Italy-Romania" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 13 June 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  10. 1 2 "Full-time Netherlands-France" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 13 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  11. 1 2 "Team Line-ups – Group C – Netherlands-France" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 13 June 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  12. 1 2 "Full-time report Netherlands-Romania" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 17 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  13. 1 2 "Team Line-ups – Group C – Netherlands-Romania" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 17 June 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  14. 1 2 "Full-time report France-Italy" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 17 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  15. 1 2 "Team Line-ups – Group C – France-Italy" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 17 June 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
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