Group C: Holland 4 France 1

13 April 2012

Holland reach the quarter-finals in style with a stunning 4-1 victory over France. Goals from Dirk Kuyt, Robin Van Persie, Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder make it seven in two games for the Dutch, who have won the 'group of death' with a game to spare, leaving France bottom and in need of a victory over Italy in their final game to have any hope of making the last eight. Here's all the action as it happened on a memorable night in Berne...

Final score: Holland 4 France 1.

90 GOAL: The Dutch round off a scintillating performance with a stunning fourth, as Sneijder collects the ball 25 yards out and sends a dipping, swerving shot beyond the desperate grasp of Coupet, to make it seven goals in two games for Marco Van Basten's men and ensure they progress to the last eight as winners of Group C.

Goalscoring substitutes Arjen Robben and Robin Van Persie celebrate a vintage Dutch performance

89: Robben is terrorising the French defence at every opportunity, and almost grabs a second with a low left-foot drive that flies just wide.

87: Ribery curls a free-kick over the bar from 25 yards out.

83: De Jong's inch-perfect long pass picks out Van Nistelrooy, whose first-time looping header beats Coupet and is heading for the corner of the net, before the goalkeeper gets back to push the ball clear.

Henry guides the ball into the net to give France a lifeline with 19 minutes remaining

78: Evra cuts in from the left and sends a low right-foot shot just wide of the near post.

76: Ribery clips in a free-kick that Henry heads over the bar. France are getting desperate now.

75: Nicolas Anelka replaces Govou.

72 GOAL: France are back out of it, less than 60 seconds after grabbing a lifeline. There is acres of space for the Dutch to exploit, and it's Robben who wriggles free in the area before whipping in a left-foot shot that rifles into the net beyond Coupet before he can even move. Holland 3 France 1.

71 GOAL: France are back in it, as Sagnol races down the right and sends in an inviting low cross that Henry delicately clips past Van der Sar into the net. Holland 2 France 1.

65: Van Persie breaks free on the left but is lacking support and his square pass into the penalty area is met only by Coupet.

Robin Van Persie makes it 2-0 to Holland

63: Robben cuts in from the right this time and sends in a low shot that Coupet gets down to save.

61: A French substitution, as Gomis comes on for Malouda.

60: Ribery almost drags France back into the game with a fierce drive that Van der Sar is forced to punch clear.

58 GOAL: Less than three minutes after stepping on to the pitch, Van Persie makes it 2-0. A sublime piece of skill from Van Nistelrooy on the halfway-line releases Robben, who skips into the box and crosses for the Arsenal striker to volley in from close range. Coupet gets a touch on the ball but can't prevent it crossing the line. Holland 2 France 0.

55: Another substitution for Holland, as Robin Van Persie replaces the goalscorer Kuyt.

53: Henry wastes what could turn out to be a crucial opportunity, as he races on to Malouda's acrobatic pass but lobs the ball high over the bar as Van der Sar rushes out.

Thierry Henry can't hide his frustration after missing a glorious opportunity to equalise.

51: Ooijer is booked for pulling the shirt of Henry.

49: A controversial moment as Govou's cross shot falls to Henry, whose goalbound effort from eight yards out is blocked by Ooijer as he throws himself in front of the ball. Henry and his team-mates make strenuous appeals for a penalty but referee Fandel waves away the claims.

47: France are clearly fired up as the second half begins, and Ribery almost gets on the end of Henry's cross, only for Van Bronckhorst to get back and clear the danger.

46: Holland make a switch for the second half, as Arjen Robben comes on for Engelaar.

Half-time: Holland 1 France 0.

42: After a quiet start to the game, Henry almost provides a vintage moment with a turn on the edge of the area followed by a fierce shot that flies just wide of the target.

France winger Florent Malouda is challenged by Dutch defender Andre Ooijer.

34: France are beginning to step things up, and Govou goes close after good work from Ribery down the left. Moments later, Ribery ends a mazy run with a low shot from 12 yards out that Van der Sar is once again equal to.

32: Claude Makelele lashes out at Rafael Van der Vaart after being fouled by the Dutchman, who drops to the ground rather theatrically. Makelele receives a free-kick...and a yellow card.

22: France finally awaken, and it takes a fine save from Van der Sar to prevent an equaliser, as Govou squeezes in a snap-shot that the Dutch keeper diverts round the post with his feet.

20: Kuyt almost grabs a second, as a defensive mix-up results in the ball dropping to him 12 yards out, but his reflex effort sails over the bar.

16: Sneijder sends a left-foot shot fizzing over the bar from 20 yards out.

Dirk Kuyt heads in the opening goal of the game

9 GOAL: Holland carry on where they left off against Italy, as Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt opens the scoring - heading home Van Bronckhorst's corner as his marker Malouda loses the flight of the ball completely. Holland 1 France 0.

5: Ribery heads tamely wide after rising to meet a deep cross from the left.

3: Van Nistelrooy spins on the edge of the penalty area but his shot is too week to trouble Coupet.

19:45hrs: The game kicks off with Holland knowing that a win will see them through to the quarter-finals.

TEAMS

Holland: Van der Sar, Boulahrouz, Ooijer, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst, De Jong, Engelaar, Kuyt, Van der Vaart, Sneijder, van Nistelrooy. Subs: Timmer, Stekelenburg, Heitinga, De Zeeuw, Van Persie, Robben, Melchiot, Bouma, De Cler, Huntelaar, Afellay, Vennegoor of Hesselink.

France: Coupet, Sagnol, Thuram, Gallas, Evra, Govou, Toulalan, Makelele, Malouda, Ribery, Henry. Subs: Mandanda, Frey, Boumsong, Abidal, Vieira, Anelka, Benzema, Nasri, Clerc, Squillaci, Gomis, Diarra.

Referee: Herbert Fandel (Germany)

Dutch fans pose before the Euro 2008 Group C match between Holland and France in Berne

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in