UEFA Euro 2008 Group C

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

Group C of UEFA Euro 2008 was played from 9 to 17 June 2008. All six group matches were played at venues in Switzerland, in Zürich and Berne. The group was 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 had been dubbed the competition's "group of death".[1][2]

The Netherlands became the first team from Group C to qualify for the quarter-finals. 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, by a 4–1 scoreline. 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 Eric 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 next round, 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]

Despite the perceived strength of its teams, Group C was the only group at Euro 2008 from which no side made it past the quarter-finals; Italy went out in a penalty shoot-out to eventual winners Spain and the Netherlands lost against Russia after extra time.

Teams[]

Draw position Team Pot Method of
qualification
Date of
qualification
Finals
appearance
Last
appearance
Previous best
performance
UEFA Rankings FIFA Rankings
June 2008
November 2007[nb 1] May 2008[nb 2]
C1  Netherlands 1 Group G runner-up 17 November 2007 8th 2004 Winners (1988) 1 6 10
C2  Italy 2 Group B winner 17 November 2007 7th 2004 Winners (1968) 3 1 3
C3  Romania 3 Group G winner 17 October 2007 4th 2000 Quarter-finals (2000) 6 12 12
C4  France 4 Group B runner-up 17 November 2007 7th 2004 Winners (1984, 2000) 13 2 7

Notes

  1. ^ The UEFA rankings of November 2007 were used for seeding for the final draw.
  2. ^ UEFA unveiled a new ranking system in May 2008 based on results up to November 2007.

Standings[]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Netherlands 3 3 0 0 9 1 +8 9 Advance to knockout phase
2  Italy 3 1 1 1 3 4 −1 4
3  Romania 3 0 2 1 1 3 −2 2
4  France 3 0 1 2 1 6 −5 1
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers

In the quarter-finals,

  • The winner of Group C, Netherlands, advanced to play the runner-up of Group D, Russia.
  • The runner-up of Group C, Italy, advanced to play the winner of Group D, Spain.

Matches[]

Romania vs France[]

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

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

Assistant referees:[5][6]
Juan Carlos Yuste Jiménez (Spain)
Jesús Calvo Guadamuro (Spain)
Fourth official:
Olegário Benquerença (Portugal)
Reserve assistant referee:
Darren Cann (England)

Netherlands vs Italy[]

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

Man of the Match:
Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands)[7]

Assistant referees:[8][6]
Stefan Wittberg (Sweden)
Henrik Andrén (Sweden)
Fourth official:
Damir Skomina (Slovenia)
Reserve assistant referee:
Mike Mullarkey (England)

Italy vs Romania[]

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

Man of the Match:
Andrea Pirlo (Italy)[9]

Assistant referees:[10][6]
Geir Åge Holen (Norway)
Jan Petter Randen (Norway)
Fourth official:
Ivan Bebek (Croatia)
Reserve assistant referee:
Jesús Calvo Guadamuro (Spain)

Netherlands vs France[]

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

Man of the Match:
Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands)[11]

Assistant referees:[12][6]
Carsten Kadach (Germany)
Volker Wezel (Germany)
Fourth official:
Grzegorz Gilewski (Poland)
Reserve assistant referee:
Juan Carlos Yuste Jiménez (Spain)

Netherlands vs Romania[]

Netherlands 2–0 Romania
Report
Stade de Suisse, Bern
Attendance: 30,777[13]
Netherlands[14]
Romania[14]
GK 16 Maarten Stekelenburg
RB 21 Khalid Boulahrouz downward-facing red arrow 58'
CB 3 John Heitinga (c)
CB 14 Wilfred Bouma
LB 15 Tim de Cler
CM 6 Demy de Zeeuw
CM 8 Orlando Engelaar
RW 20 Ibrahim Afellay
AM 7 Robin van Persie
LW 11 Arjen Robben downward-facing red arrow 61'
CF 19 Klaas-Jan Huntelaar downward-facing red arrow 83'
Substitutions:
DF 12 Mario Melchiot upward-facing green arrow 58'
FW 18 Dirk Kuyt upward-facing green arrow 61'
FW 22 Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink upward-facing green arrow 83'
Manager:
Marco van Basten
NED-ROU 2008-06-17.svg
GK 1 Bogdan Lobonț
RB 2 Cosmin Contra
CB 4 Gabriel Tamaș
CB 14 Sorin Ghionea
LB 3 Răzvan Raț
DM 8 Paul Codrea downward-facing red arrow 72'
CM 11 Răzvan Cociș
CM 5 Cristian Chivu (c) Yellow card 78'
RW 16 Bănel Nicoliță downward-facing red arrow 82'
LW 10 Adrian Mutu
CF 18 Marius Niculae downward-facing red arrow 59'
Substitutions:
FW 21 Daniel Niculae upward-facing green arrow 59'
MF 20 Nicolae Dică upward-facing green arrow 72'
MF 7 Florentin Petre upward-facing green arrow 82'
Manager:
Victor Pițurcă

Man of the Match:
Robin van Persie (Netherlands)[13]

Assistant referees:[14][6]
Matthias Arnet (Switzerland)
Stéphane Cuhat (Switzerland)
Fourth official:
Craig Thomson (Scotland)
Reserve assistant referee:
Stefan Wittberg (Sweden)

France vs Italy[]

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

Man of the Match:
Daniele De Rossi (Italy)[15]

Assistant referees:[16][6]
Roman Slyško (Slovakia)
Martin Balko (Slovakia)
Fourth official:
Viktor Kassai (Hungary)
Reserve assistant referee:
Henrik Andrén (Sweden)

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. ^ a b "Full-time report Romania-France" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 9 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  5. ^ a b c "Team Line-ups – Group C – Romania-France" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 9 June 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Reserve officials – EURO 2008". UEFA. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Full-time report Netherlands-Italy" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 9 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  8. ^ a b c "Team Line-ups – Group C – Netherlands-Italy" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 9 June 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  9. ^ a b "Full-time report Italy-Romania" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 13 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  10. ^ a b c "Team Line-ups – Group C – Italy-Romania" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 13 June 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  11. ^ a b "Full-time Netherlands-France" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 13 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  12. ^ a b c "Team Line-ups – Group C – Netherlands-France" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 13 June 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  13. ^ a b "Full-time report Netherlands-Romania" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 17 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  14. ^ a b c "Team Line-ups – Group C – Netherlands-Romania" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 17 June 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  15. ^ a b "Full-time report France-Italy" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 17 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  16. ^ a b c "Team Line-ups – Group C – France-Italy" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 17 June 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2012.

External links[]

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