Netherlands against Italy

Pirlo's corner is met by Christian Panucci but he puts his header over the bar under pressure from Mathijsen.

In truth Italy haven't played that badly! Apart from being completely undressed by two devastating counter-attacks, they've been relatively solid elsewhere and have created chances going forward. But it just isn't their night.

The Dutch fans are delirious!

Afellay announces his arrival with a dipping and swerving shot from the right that clips the bar! Amazing stuff!

Another sparkling goal from Holland. What a swift break, what a fluid and precise interchange of passes and what a good finish!

Kuyt is off and Ibrahim Afellay is on as we all catch our breath.

What a slice of action! What a game! Anothe brilliant counter from Holland. VDS saves superbly from Pirlo's free kick, Holland break with Van Bronckhorst - he slips in Kuyt whose shot is saved, he collects, crosses and Giovanni Van Bronckhorst's header makes the game safe!

GOAL! Gio Van Bronckhorst!!

Another great chance for Italy! Grosso gets in on the left after outwitting Kuyt but VDS saves his shot, then a combination of Heitinga and Ooijer hack it clear.

Johnny Heitinga is on for Boulahrouz.

Great chance for Luca Toni! Cassano's pass finds him clean through, the big man took it down then tried a lob-cum-shot over VDS and got it horribly wrong. Great chance!

The controversial Antonio Cassano is coming on for Italy - Camoronesi makes way.

Engelaar's ball is dummied by Van Persie and Van der Vaart scampers clean through but the flag is up, quite wrongly in my opinion.

Del Piero hasn't quite got the legs to catch Pirlo's pass over the top. That's age knocking on yer door Alex.

Robin Van Persie replaces Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Del Piero! He cuts inside of Boulahrouz and tries another curler but this one is a fraction too high. VDS never moved.

Rafael Van der Vaart is the latest name to be added to soccernet's list entitled: 'Rubbish free kicks in Euro 2008'.

A great leg from Andre Ooijer as Grosso stuck in yet another decent cross. Holland look tired in this spell..

Italy win a corner after a deflected Grosso crosso. Sorry.

Kuyt wastes possession after a good break down the right as Engelaar released Boulahrouz.

Del Piero works a shooting chance and tries to curl it beyond VDS from the edge of the box. The lanky keeper was equal to it.

Cometh the hour cometh the man, Alessandro Del Piero is on, for Di Natale.

Pirlo's free kick appeared as if it was a shot on goal as his colleagues in the middle rushed to get back onside. Strange, but not good strange.

Italy win a free kick on the left flank and the big guns head forward..

A session of ping pong in the final third comes to an end as Van der Vaart tries to slip Sneijder in with a cushioned volley.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are entering a key phase in the game. The next 15 minutes will be vital..

Panucci punts a long ball up to Luca Toni who takes it beautifully and swivels before trying a half volley. It dribbles through to VDS.

Nigel De Jong is the first Dutch name in the book after holding back Ambrosini.

On reflection, my previous entry should have read: A rubbish crosso from Grosso. Or maybe not.

A little surge from Italy here; they hold possession on the edge of the box for a while before Grosso marks his entrance with an overhit cross.

It looks like Grosso will go to right back and Panucci will switch to centre back.

Italian change. Materazzi is coming off and Fabio Grosso is coming on.

Great work from Zambrotta who gets the better of Kuyt on the byline, he turns inside and flashes a shot-cum-cross past Van der Sar but wide.

Ooijer met the corner but couldn't get enough power or direction on it to trouble Buffon.

Materazzi stumbles under pressure from Kuyt and gives away a corner.

The Dutch are thoroughly enjoying themselves at the minute. Plenty of one touch stuff, flicks here and there and the Italians are losing their rag. Gattuso is booked for dissent.

van Nistelrooy goes down on the edge of the box but the ref waves play on. It looked a little dodgy that.

Pirlo takes the corner, Panucci heads wide at the near post.

Italy are immediately looking more determined and Ambrosini wins a corner

We're off for the second period.

Well, what a half for Holland! Fair enough the first was fortunate but the second was sublime. Italy have been bright themselves but capitulated for a five minute spell. It should be a belting second half. See you in 15 mins...

Di Natale lets fly with a shot that was always rising, but it still forces VDS to edge to his right nervously. One minute added on...

Marco Van Basten is struggling to contain a cheesy grin on the sidelines. He must be doing cartwheels on the inside.

You'd back old camel chops to score in that situation nine times out of ten but he never really looked that confident. Will the Dutch live to rue that miss?

It should have been three! Van Nistelrooy was put clean through by a wonderful slide rule pass from Van der Vaart but Buffon has kept Italy in it thanks to a save with his legs.

As I say that Camoranesi tries a reverse pass that was a little to clever for his forwards. Not the time to be overplaying really.

The Italians look stunned, and all of a sudden their sheen of invicibility and confidence has been shattered. They're struggling to string passes together now.

Another wobbling at the back for Italy, this time from Barzagli - he heads straight to Sneijder but at least gets up again to block the shot. Oh for Cannavaro eh?

Italy haven't lost their opening game in a major tournament for 14 years we are told, but they are staring down the barrel of one right here right now.

Well, Italy, World champions, two down in half an hour. What a turn up eh?!

Zambrotta has been carded aftrer bring down Van der Vaart. Materazzi sold his team-mate short with a dreadful pass and should take a fair amount of the blame I'd say.

That second Dutch goal was an absolute peach. One minute Van Bronckhorst is clearing off his own line, then he's charging down the left after being released by Van der Vaart before picking out Kuyt who knocks down for Sneijder to hook home from a tight angle. Brilliant!

At the other end Van der Sar has made a good save from Di Natale after a Toni cross. Game on people, GAME ON!

What a slice of action! The Italian corner was cleared off the line by Van Bronckhorst, who then broke clear down the left. He crossed for Kuyt to nod down for Sneijder to tuck past Buffon. Wonderful goal!

GOAL! Sneijder scores a beauty!

Super ball from Pirlo inside Boulahrouz but Zambrotta's touch is heavy and he can only fire it into the Dutch left back and win a corner.

It may have been an almighty rick from the officials but at least the 'Group of Death' is off and running with a goal eh?

Luca Toni was booked for arguing with the referee about the goal, then went down in the box dramatically after a little tug from Ooijer. Nothing doing with the ref.

Well, the linesman has made a big mistake there. I can only assume he didn't think van Nistelrooy touched it because he was about two yards offside. Terrible decision.

Van der Vaart's free kick was deep, Buffon went to punch and as Van Bronckhorst fired it back in the Real Madrid striker van Nistelrooy pokes home from close range, but looked MASSIVELY offside.

GOAL! van Nistelrooy!

Van der Vaart wins a free kick and another chance for Holland to get good ball in the mixer.

Of course they can, De Jong whips in a beauty and Materazzi nearly flicks-on into his own net. Corner. Cleared.

Now the Dutch have a free kick in similar territory. Can they do any better?

It was awful, in keeping with the vast majority of free kicks taken so far in this tournament.

Ambrosini wins a free kick and Italy have a chance to whip in a wicked cross.

Italy try to build through Pirlo but in the end he lumps a ball into the box in the direction of nobody allowing Ooijer to clear.

If this game were to finish now we'd still have had more excitement and goal-mouth action than in the entire France Romania game. yes, it really was that bad.

Having slagged van Nistelrooy off for not going down when clipped the replay has showed that although Buffon got close there was minimal contact, if any. So, credit to the striker for not going down, and in fact, shame on him for even thinking about it.

Great chance for Holland! Kuyt slips van Nistelrooy through, he goes round Buffon and gets a little tap - but chooses not to go down - before crossing back into the mixer where Barzagli clears.

Di Natale has been heavily involved so far and shows excellent technique there to hook the ball over his shoulder for Zambrotta, but the latter's cross is rubbish, quite frankly.

Eventually Holland get the ball to van Nistelrooy but his shot on the turn is weak.

A passage of possession from Holland but Italy are sitting resolutely in their own half. Toni is up on his own and they mould back into a five man midfield when they are defending.

Good move from Italy. The 35-year-old Panucci breaks down the right, cuts inside to Di Natale who crosses for Luca Toni to nod well wide when he should have done better.

Sneijder's low shot evaded the wall but hit his own player Ooijer! Then Van der Vaart has a pop which is saved low down by Buffon.

Gattuso has been penalised for fouling van Nistelrooy, 25 yards out and central. Sneijder is sizing it up.

But back come Holland with some cute football. The towering Engelaar twisting and turning out of trouble and getting a rousing cheer for his work.

Italy look very fluid so far - some crisp passing and lovely touches...

Another smashing combination from Italy. Gattuso flicks to Cameronesi but his ball into the area is laid off to no-one in particular by Di Natale.

A first sight of goal for van Nistelrooy but his shot is blocked smartly by Materazzi.

Lovely cameo from Camoranesi, his superb turn frees Toni and then Camoranesi tried to release the onrushing Pirlo but fractionally overhit the pass. Super stuff.

A flurry of action as Sneijder plays a lovely one-two with Van Bronckhorst before Di Natale turns Ooijer before squaring a ball right across the six yard box that Toni couldn't reach. A promising start.

A couple of neat touches from the Dutch already. What a joy it always is to see their fans clad in bright orange too. They light up any stadium them lads.

Here we go....

Italy look as formidable as ever, with experienced heads everywhere. Any side with the likes of Gattuso, Pirlo, Zambrotta and Pannucci inspire confidemce in the younger players like Toni and Di Natale. To be honest, if they get it right, they should win this tournament. First things first though, get out of the 'Group of Death'.

Holland certainly aren't the force they were. The names of Boulahrouz, Mathijsen and Kuyt in their starting XI convey that, but they still have the potential to go far. They'll be far better equipped to do that if Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie return from injury quick smart. Coach Marco van Basten has taken some stick for his style of play - from Johan Cryuff no less, but they can still be fluid and devastating when they get it right. Let's hope it is tonight.

Right, let's have a cracker of a match this evening please. So far the tournament has provided a few half decent clashes; the Germany Poland game being one, maybe Portugal Turkey as well, but one gets the feeling the competition needs a humdinger to propel it into life. So, I'm predicting a 9-7 win for the Netherlands.

And the reigning world champions, Italy: Buffon, Panucci, Barzagli, Materazzi, Zambrotta, Ambrosini, Pirlo, Gattuso, Camoranesi, Toni and Di Natale. Subs from: Amelia, De Sanctis, Grosso, Chiellini, Gamberini, Del Piero, De Rossi, Borriello, Quagliarella, Cassano, Perrotta and Aquilani.

Let's start with the teams. Holland: Van der Sar, Ooijer, Boulahrouz, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst, Kuyt, De Jong, Van der Vaart, Engelaar, Sneijder and van Nistelrooy. Subs from: Timmer, Stekelenburg, Heitinga, De Zeeuw, Van Persie, Robben, Melchiot, Bouma, De Cler, Huntelaar, Afellay and Vennegoor of Hesselink.

Welcome to live coverage of what should be the match of the tournament so far as Holland take on World champions Italy in today's second 'Group of Death' clash. Let's face it, the game can't be worse than France's. Can it?

Rafael Van der Vaart is the latest name to be added to soccernet's list entitled: 'Rubbish free kicks in Euro 2008'.

A great leg from Andre Ooijer as Grosso stuck in yet another decent cross. Holland look tired in this spell..

Italy win a corner after a deflected Grosso crosso. Sorry.

Kuyt wastes possession after a good break down the right as Engelaar released Boulahrouz.

Del Piero works a shooting chance and tries to curl it beyond VDS from the edge of the box. The lanky keeper was equal to it.

Cometh the hour cometh the man, Alessandro Del Piero is on, for Di Natale.

Pirlo's free kick appeared as if it was a shot on goal as his colleagues in the middle rushed to get back onside. Strange, but not good strange.

Italy win a free kick on the left flank and the big guns head forward..

A session of ping pong in the final third comes to an end as Van der Vaart tries to slip Sneijder in with a cushioned volley.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are entering a key phase in the game. The next 15 minutes will be vital..

Panucci punts a long ball up to Luca Toni who takes it beautifully and swivels before trying a half volley. It dribbles through to VDS.

Nigel De Jong is the first Dutch name in the book after holding back Ambrosini.

On reflection, my previous entry should have read: A rubbish crosso from Grosso. Or maybe not.

A little surge from Italy here; they hold possession on the edge of the box for a while before Grosso marks his entrance with an overhit cross.

It looks like Grosso will go to right back and Panucci will switch to centre back.

Italian change. Materazzi is coming off and Fabio Grosso is coming on.

Great work from Zambrotta who gets the better of Kuyt on the byline, he turns inside and flashes a shot-cum-cross past Van der Sar but wide.

Ooijer met the corner but couldn't get enough power or direction on it to trouble Buffon.

Materazzi stumbles under pressure from Kuyt and gives away a corner.

The Dutch are thoroughly enjoying themselves at the minute. Plenty of one touch stuff, flicks here and there and the Italians are losing their rag. Gattuso is booked for dissent.

van Nistelrooy goes down on the edge of the box but the ref waves play on. It looked a little dodgy that.

Pirlo takes the corner, Panucci heads wide at the near post.

Italy are immediately looking more determined and Ambrosini wins a corner

We're off for the second period.

Well, what a half for Holland! Fair enough the first was fortunate but the second was sublime. Italy have been bright themselves but capitulated for a five minute spell. It should be a belting second half. See you in 15 mins...

Di Natale lets fly with a shot that was always rising, but it still forces VDS to edge to his right nervously. One minute added on...

Marco Van Basten is struggling to contain a cheesy grin on the sidelines. He must be doing cartwheels on the inside.

You'd back old camel chops to score in that situation nine times out of ten but he never really looked that confident. Will the Dutch live to rue that miss?

It should have been three! Van Nistelrooy was put clean through by a wonderful slide rule pass from Van der Vaart but Buffon has kept Italy in it thanks to a save with his legs.

As I say that Camoranesi tries a reverse pass that was a little to clever for his forwards. Not the time to be overplaying really.

The Italians look stunned, and all of a sudden their sheen of invicibility and confidence has been shattered. They're struggling to string passes together now.

Another wobbling at the back for Italy, this time from Barzagli - he heads straight to Sneijder but at least gets up again to block the shot. Oh for Cannavaro eh?

Italy haven't lost their opening game in a major tournament for 14 years we are told, but they are staring down the barrel of one right here right now.

Well, Italy, World champions, two down in half an hour. What a turn up eh?!

Zambrotta has been carded aftrer bring down Van der Vaart. Materazzi sold his team-mate short with a dreadful pass and should take a fair amount of the blame I'd say.

That second Dutch goal was an absolute peach. One minute Van Bronckhorst is clearing off his own line, then he's charging down the left after being released by Van der Vaart before picking out Kuyt who knocks down for Sneijder to hook home from a tight angle. Brilliant!

At the other end Van der Sar has made a good save from Di Natale after a Toni cross. Game on people, GAME ON!

What a slice of action! The Italian corner was cleared off the line by Van Bronckhorst, who then broke clear down the left. He crossed for Kuyt to nod down for Sneijder to tuck past Buffon. Wonderful goal!

GOAL! Sneijder scores a beauty!

Super ball from Pirlo inside Boulahrouz but Zambrotta's touch is heavy and he can only fire it into the Dutch left back and win a corner.

It may have been an almighty rick from the officials but at least the 'Group of Death' is off and running with a goal eh?

Luca Toni was booked for arguing with the referee about the goal, then went down in the box dramatically after a little tug from Ooijer. Nothing doing with the ref.

Well, the linesman has made a big mistake there. I can only assume he didn't think van Nistelrooy touched it because he was about two yards offside. Terrible decision.

Van der Vaart's free kick was deep, Buffon went to punch and as Van Bronckhorst fired it back in the Real Madrid striker van Nistelrooy pokes home from close range, but looked MASSIVELY offside.

GOAL! van Nistelrooy!

Van der Vaart wins a free kick and another chance for Holland to get good ball in the mixer.

Of course they can, De Jong whips in a beauty and Materazzi nearly flicks-on into his own net. Corner. Cleared.

Now the Dutch have a free kick in similar territory. Can they do any better?

It was awful, in keeping with the vast majority of free kicks taken so far in this tournament.

Ambrosini wins a free kick and Italy have a chance to whip in a wicked cross.

Italy try to build through Pirlo but in the end he lumps a ball into the box in the direction of nobody allowing Ooijer to clear.

If this game were to finish now we'd still have had more excitement and goal-mouth action than in the entire France Romania game. yes, it really was that bad.

Having slagged van Nistelrooy off for not going down when clipped the replay has showed that although Buffon got close there was minimal contact, if any. So, credit to the striker for not going down, and in fact, shame on him for even thinking about it.

Great chance for Holland! Kuyt slips van Nistelrooy through, he goes round Buffon and gets a little tap - but chooses not to go down - before crossing back into the mixer where Barzagli clears.

Di Natale has been heavily involved so far and shows excellent technique there to hook the ball over his shoulder for Zambrotta, but the latter's cross is rubbish, quite frankly.

Eventually Holland get the ball to van Nistelrooy but his shot on the turn is weak.

A passage of possession from Holland but Italy are sitting resolutely in their own half. Toni is up on his own and they mould back into a five man midfield when they are defending.

Good move from Italy. The 35-year-old Panucci breaks down the right, cuts inside to Di Natale who crosses for Luca Toni to nod well wide when he should have done better.

Sneijder's low shot evaded the wall but hit his own player Ooijer! Then Van der Vaart has a pop which is saved low down by Buffon.

Gattuso has been penalised for fouling van Nistelrooy, 25 yards out and central. Sneijder is sizing it up.

But back come Holland with some cute football. The towering Engelaar twisting and turning out of trouble and getting a rousing cheer for his work.

Italy look very fluid so far - some crisp passing and lovely touches...

Another smashing combination from Italy. Gattuso flicks to Cameronesi but his ball into the area is laid off to no-one in particular by Di Natale.

A first sight of goal for van Nistelrooy but his shot is blocked smartly by Materazzi.

Lovely cameo from Camoranesi, his superb turn frees Toni and then Camoranesi tried to release the onrushing Pirlo but fractionally overhit the pass. Super stuff.

A flurry of action as Sneijder plays a lovely one-two with Van Bronckhorst before Di Natale turns Ooijer before squaring a ball right across the six yard box that Toni couldn't reach. A promising start.

A couple of neat touches from the Dutch already. What a joy it always is to see their fans clad in bright orange too. They light up any stadium them lads.

Here we go....

Italy look as formidable as ever, with experienced heads everywhere. Any side with the likes of Gattuso, Pirlo, Zambrotta and Pannucci inspire confidemce in the younger players like Toni and Di Natale. To be honest, if they get it right, they should win this tournament. First things first though, get out of the 'Group of Death'.

Holland certainly aren't the force they were. The names of Boulahrouz, Mathijsen and Kuyt in their starting XI convey that, but they still have the potential to go far. They'll be far better equipped to do that if Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie return from injury quick smart. Coach Marco van Basten has taken some stick for his style of play - from Johan Cryuff no less, but they can still be fluid and devastating when they get it right. Let's hope it is tonight.

Right, let's have a cracker of a match this evening please. So far the tournament has provided a few half decent clashes; the Germany Poland game being one, maybe Portugal Turkey as well, but one gets the feeling the competition needs a humdinger to propel it into life. So, I'm predicting a 9-7 win for the Netherlands.

And the reigning world champions, Italy: Buffon, Panucci, Barzagli, Materazzi, Zambrotta, Ambrosini, Pirlo, Gattuso, Camoranesi, Toni and Di Natale. Subs from: Amelia, De Sanctis, Grosso, Chiellini, Gamberini, Del Piero, De Rossi, Borriello, Quagliarella, Cassano, Perrotta and Aquilani.

Let's start with the teams. Holland: Van der Sar, Ooijer, Boulahrouz, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst, Kuyt, De Jong, Van der Vaart, Engelaar, Sneijder and van Nistelrooy. Subs from: Timmer, Stekelenburg, Heitinga, De Zeeuw, Van Persie, Robben, Melchiot, Bouma, De Cler, Huntelaar, Afellay and Vennegoor of Hesselink.

Welcome to live coverage of what should be the match of the tournament so far as Holland take on World champions Italy in today's second 'Group of Death' clash. Let's face it, the game can't be worse than France's. Can it?