Holland fielded a second string in the Group C final round match of the ongoing Euro 2008 but a quite capable team against Romania and managed to win the game 2-0 on Tuesday, June 17, 2008. Even for the match against France, the coach of the Holland team Marco van Basten had done nine changes to the starting line-up but yet managed to achieve a comprehensive victory. The scoring was opened by Holland’s striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar at the 54th minute, whereas 2-0 was made by Robin van Persie at the 87th minute for the Dutch team.
The football match between Holland and Romania began at a leisurely pace with the latter not wanting to concede early on. This is a strategy that had served them well in their earlier two group matches. But it was the goal of Italy at the 25th minute in the other match against France that forced Romania to do away with such a strategy and strive for a goal. Romania could only qualify for the quarterfinals with a win provided that Italy beat France in the other match. But the greater the Romanian team tried to attack, the more easily Holland explored the space behind the Romania defence.
Holland, the team of Marco van Basten is expert as far as counter-attack is concerned. It was it was Klaas Jan Huntelaar who broke the deadlock, though Robin van Persie acted as constant threat to the Romanian goal in the match. At just three minutes prior time, Robin van Persie eventually made his way to the net after he received a crossfield pass from de Zeeuw and rifled a rising shot past Romanian goalie. The success of Holland severed all hopes of Romania about lingering on in the Euro 2008 and sent Italy to the last eight. Italy defeated 10-men France 2-0 in the other Group C match held in Zurich.
