FOOTBALL Live

Friday June 13, 2008 Finished Stade de Suisse

Logo 4 - Logo 1

Netherlands

  • Kuijt 10’
  • van Persie 60’
  • Robben 72’
  • Sneijder 90’

France

  • Henry 71’
  1. Clinical Dutch trounce France

    Clinical Dutch trounce France

    The Netherlands qualified for the quarter-finals of Euro 2008 with a superb 4-1 victory over France at the Stade de Suisse Wankdorf in Berne. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Netherlands
    • France
    • 90+3' The final whistle goes after another marvellous night for the Netherlands! They march on into the last eight, while France must now beat Italy in their final group game to stand any chance of progressing.
    • 90+2' GOAL! 4-1 Netherlands! Sneijder turns on the edge of the box before firing a beautiful right-footed effort into the top-left corner via the underside of the crossbar!
    • 90' Ribery sees a shot deflected behind for a corner. There will be two minutes of added time.
    • 89' Robben sends a left-footed effort inches wide of the base of the right-hand post from just outside the French box!
    • 88' Van Nistelrooy is penalised for catching Sagnol on the back of the leg.
    • 87' France win a free-kick in a central position, about 25 yards out. And Ribery curls it narrowly over the crossbar!
    • 86' Henry slips the ball to Anelka inside the box, but he's denied by a superb tackle from Joris Mathijsen!
    • 85' Henry puts a shot into the side netting from a very tight angle on the French left.
    • 84' Van Bronckhorst looks for Van Persie with a glorious crossfield pass but Coupet sprints out to deny him!
    • 83' Holland go close! Sneijder guides a pass from deep towards Van Nistelrooy and he deftly nods the ball over Coupet, but the France goalkeeper scrambles back to touch the ball around the post from right on the line!
    • 82' Ribery gets free down the France right and cuts the ball back from the byline, but Makelele slips - John Terry-style - as he shoots, and the Netherlands clear. Henry is then denied what he thought was a corner (it wasn't), and Toulalan is booked for protesting.
    • 81' Sagnol is tackled by Van Nistelrooy on the France right.
    • 80' Bouma gets ahead of Anelka to head clear a cross from the France left.
    • 78' Evra drifts infield from the left before flashing a right-footed effort narrowly wide of the near post! And then the Dutch make their final change, with Aston Villa left-back Wilfred Bouma replacing Van der Vaart.
    • 77' Ribery clips the free-kick into the box and Henry sends a header/shoulderer well over the bar.
    • 76' Van Bronckhorst concedes a free-kick for a trip on Gomis just outside the Dutch area.
    • 75' Substitution for France. Govou is replaced by Nicolas Anelka. Henry is penalised for a trip on former club-mate Van Persie.
    • 73' Toulalan puts a rising shot from distance straight at Van der Sar.
    • 72' GOAL! 3-1 Netherlands! Incredible! Van der Vaart slips a pass to Robben down the inside-left channel and the former Chelsea man delays before rifling a shot into the roof of the net from a tight angle!
    • 71' GOAL! 2-1! Sagnol gets free down the right before sliding in a low cross that Henry deftly guides inside the far post with his left instep!
    • 70' Bouhlarouz looks to have picked up a knock, but he's going to continue for the time being. Sneijder swings a cross into Coupet's arms from deep on the Dutch left.
    • 68' This game is starting to open up a bit now. Can France grab a goal back?
    • 66' Van Persie picks Thuram's pocket before surging down the Dutch left but there's no-one in support and his low cross is fielded by Coupet.
    • 64' Bouhlarouz produces a terrific challenge to deny Ribery inside the Dutch penalty area. 'Bouhla!' Bouhla! Boula-Bouhlarouz!' is the rather catchy song from the Dutch fans.
    • 63' The Dutch fans are drowning out their French counterparts now. Robben weaves infield from the Netherlands right before bending in a shot that Coupet drops to his right to save.
    • 61' Ribery jinks into the Dutch box from the French left before firing in a deflected effort that Van der Sar claws away!
    • 60' France make a pre-planned change, with Bafetimbi Gomis replacing Malouda.
    • 59' GOAL! 2-0 Netherlands! Robben races down the left and crosses for Van Persie to volley the ball home at the back post! Coupet gets a strong hand to the ball, but he can't prevent it trickling over the line! The subs combine to put Holland within sniffing distance of the last eight!
    • 58' Sneijder thumps the free-kick into the wall.
    • 57' Sagnol swings a cross over Van der Sar's crossbar from wide on the right, before Holland win a free-kick within shooting distance at the other end.
    • 56' Robben picks out Real Madrid club-mate Sneijder with a cross from the Dutch left, but he puts his header straight at Coupet.
    • 55' The Netherlands make a bold change, with Arsenal forward Robin van Persie replacing goalscorer Dirk Kuyt. Looks like it'll be the classic Dutch 4-3-3 from here on in.
    • 54' Ribery's half-volleyed cross from the right is shinned behind by Bouhlarouz. Holland are hanging on a bit here!
    • 53' Great chance for France! Henry is put clean through by Malouda's overhead pass but with only the keeper to beat he lifts the ball clean over the crossbar!
    • 52' Gallas gets his head to the subsequent free-kick but can only help the ball out for a goal kick. Van der Sar is then warned about time-wasting as he takes his time taking the kick.
    • 51' Ooijer is booked for holding back Henry in midfield.
    • 49' PENALTY SHOUT FOR FRANCE! Govou's cross-cum-shot from the right finds Henry at the back post, Henry's shot is blocked by Ooijer, and the French players are convinced it struck his hand! But the referee says play on!
    • 48' Van Bronckhorst catches Govou in midfield. Free-kick to France.
    • 47' Henry slips past two defenders on the France left before sliding in a low cross that Van Bronckhorst puts behind for a corner at the back post. Ribery's right-wing corner clears everyone.
    • 46' The second half begins. The Netherlands have made a change at the break, and it's bad news for France. Arjen Robben comes on in place of Orlando Engelaar. Robben will play wide left, with Sneijder pushed forward in support of Van Nistelrooy.
    • 45+1' And the half-time whistle goes. Fairly plain sailing for the Netherlands so far. They lead at the break by a goal to nil.
    • 45' Bouhlarouz is penalised for a foul on Malouda in midfield. Malouda then curls a ball in to Govou from the left, but the ball flicks off his studs and goes behind for a goal kick.
    • 44' Sneijder does well to tackle Ribery deep inside his own half on the Dutch left.
    • 43' Henry receives a pass from Makelele with his back to goal on the edge of the box, turns and bends a right-footer wide of the right-hand upright.
    • 41' Sagnol's cross from the France right is just too high for Henry at the back post.
    • 40' Kuyt just fails to pick out Van Nistelrooy with a pass down the Dutch right flank.
    • 38' Sneijder calls Coupet into action with a low shot from distance that's comfortably fielded.
    • 37' Ribery gets free down the France right and plays a low cross right across the face of goal that only just eludes Henry and Malouda!
    • 35' Here come France again! Ribery dribbles forward down the inside-left channel before forcing Van der Sar into a save with a low right-footed shot across goal!
    • 34' Malouda sends a low drive straight at Van der Sar from distance. And then France come forward again down the left through Evra, who lays the ball off to Govou on the edge of the box and Govou drives a shot straight at Van der Sar!
    • 33' Makelele really caught Van der Vaart there, and the Dutch midfielder has to leave the pitch after receiving treatment.
    • 32' Makelele clashes with Van der Vaart in the centre circle and is booked for catching his opponent with a flailing arm, but the free-kick goes to France!
    • 31' Sneijder nips in to dispossess Ribery on the France right.
    • 30' Bouhlarouz wins a throw-in off Henry deep inside the Dutch half.
    • 29' Kuyt wins a throw-in on the Dutch right. There's no pace in the game at all at the moment.
    • 28' Sneijder goes all the way back to Van der Sar from the halfway line. Cue impatient whistling from the French supporters.
    • 27' Bouhlarouz flashes a shot across the face of goal from just inside the France area on the Holland right. What was he doing there?
    • 26' The Netherlands are quite content to slow things down when they're in possession. They'll be in no hurry to flood forward when France have got men back.
    • 25' Van Bronckhorst gets ahead of Henry on the France right before laying the ball back to Van der Sar.
    • 24' Lovely play from France! Govou exchanges passes with Henry before surging goalwards but he stumbles on the edge of the box and the Netherlands clear.
    • 23' Opening for France! Govou controls Willy Sagnol's right-wing cross before driving in a shot that Van der Sar blocks at his near post!
    • 22' Kuyt is penalised for barging Ribery to the ground.
    • 21' Govou is caught offside on the France right.
    • 20' Chance for Holland! Giovanni van Bronckhorst's long pass is inadvertently flicked on by Lilian Thuram and Kuyt slides in to toe the ball over the crossbar from the edge of the area!
    • 19' France haven't really got into this game yet, and the Netherlands are really starting to hit their passing stride.
    • 18' Some great football from the Netherlands culminates in Van Nistelrooy teeing up Van der Vaart on the edge of the France box, but his right-footed effort is blocked.
    • 17' Jeremy Toulalan does well to dispossess Orlando Engelaar.
    • 16' Wesley Sneijder drives a left-footed effort over the crossbar from about 25 yards.
    • 15' Ribery looks to go it alone through the heart of the Dutch defence but he's stopped in his tracks by Andre Ooijer.
    • 14' More possession for the Dutch. They are a great side to watch when they have the ball.
    • 13' Govou drives in from the French right flank before poking a pass towards Henry but the Barcelona man slips and the ball is fielded by Edwin van der Sar.
    • 12' The Dutch fans are in fine voice now. This must feel like an away game for France.
    • 11' Van Nistelrooy has a shot blocked from just outside the France penalty area.
    • 10' Malouda didn't make the best effort at man-marking there. He was all over Kuyt but didn't seem to have a clue where the ball was.
    • 9' GOAL! 1-0 Netherlands! Kuyt wins a corner off William Gallas on the Dutch right, and when Van der Vaart swings the corner in it's Kuyt who holds off Malouda before powering a header past Gregory Coupet! Great start for the Dutch.
    • 8' Evra snaffles up a crossfield pass towards Kuyt from Rafael van der Vaart.
    • 7' More pass and move from the Dutch. France are sitting quite deep in the game's early stages.
    • 6' The Netherlands enjoy their first real spell of possession, before Evra steps forward from the back to intervene.
    • 5' Malouda swings a cross into the Dutch box from the left and Ribery gets up well but puts his header wide of the right-hand post.
    • 4' Oof! Dirk Kuyt is flattened by a thudding body-check from Makelele, but no yellow card is shown. Makelele is a very lucky boy. The Dutch players are furious!
    • 3' Ruud van Nistelrooy spins on the edge of the French area before sending in a tame shot that's straight at Gregory Coupet.
    • 2' Florent Malouda wins a free-kick on the France left after a foul by Khalid Bouhlarouz. Franck Ribery's inswinging delivery is headed away at the near post.
    • 1' France kick things off in the first half, and they will attack from right to left. And then the referee has to stop the game after just 30 seconds, because an orange ball has appeared on the pitch. Claude Makelele boots it back into the stands, and play resumes.
    • 19:43 There's once again a sea of orange in the Stade de Suisse Wankdorf - scene of Holland's brilliant demolition of Italy - but both anthems receive hearty renditions from the fans.
    • 19:40 So it's a brand new strikeforce for France, but will Henry and Govou succeed where Anelka and Benzema failed? German referee Herbert Fandel leads the teams out onto the pitch, the Netherlands in their striking orange shirts, white shorts and light blue socks, France in all blue. It's a pleasant evening in Berne, the sun having just dipped behind the stadium.
    • 19:30 TEAM NEWS: Netherlands coach Marco van Basten keeps faith with the XI that put Italy to the sword, with Arjen Robben back on the bench after recovering from a groin problem. France make three changes, with Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra, Lyon forward Sidney Govou and Barcelona's Thierry Henry coming in for Eric Abidal, Nicolas Anelka and Karim Benzema.
    • 19:15 Hello and thank-you for joining us for this meeting of Group C heavyweights the Netherlands and France. While the Netherlands kicked off their campaign with that stunning 3-0 victory over world champions Italy, France were held to a disappointing goalless draw by Romania. Italy's 1-1 draw against Romania in the earlier game means a win for the Netherlands will take them into the last eight. Kick-off at the Stade de Suisse Wankdorf in Berne is at 19:45 BST.

  • Team Stats

    Netherlands Stats France
    55% Possession 44%
    16 Shots 25
    9 Shots on target 7
    4 Saves 2
    2 Corners 6
    17 Fouls 17
    0 Offsides 0
    1 Yellow cards 2
    0 Red cards 0
    29 Tackles 14
    362 Accurate passes 284
    38 Bad passes 88

  • Player Stats

    G =
    Goals
    S =
    Shots
    SoT =
    Shot on Target
    F =
    Fouls
    FW =
    Fouls Won
    O =
    Offsides
    A =
    Assists
    AP =
    Accurate Passes
    BP =
    Bad Passes
    T =
    Tackles
    • Netherlands
      G S SoT F FW O A AP BP T
      1 Edwin Van der Sar 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 19 0 0
      2 Andre Ooijer 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 38 0 3
      5 Giovanni van Bronckhorst 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 33 10 1
      21 Khalid Boulahrouz 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 27 1 5
      4 Joris Mathijsen 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 35 3 1
      23 Rafael van der Vaart 0 1 0 2 2 0 1 36 3 2
      8 Orlando Engelaar 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 25 1 0
      17 Nigel de Jong 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 42 5 4
      10 Wesley Sneijder 1 5 3 2 3 0 1 44 6 5
      9 Ruud van Nistelrooy 0 3 2 2 2 0 0 26 4 1
      18 Dirk Kuyt 1 2 1 2 1 0 0 18 1 4
      15 Tim de Cler 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      7 Robin Van Persie 1 1 1 0 2 0 1 9 1 3
      22 Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      14 Wilfred Bouma 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 0
      6 Demy de Zeeuw 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      20 Ibrahim Afellay 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      13 Henk Timmer 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      3 Johnny Heitinga 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      19 Klaas Jan Huntelaar 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      12 Mario Melchiot 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      16 Maarten Stekelenburg 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      11 Arjen Robben 1 3 2 0 2 0 1 7 1 0
    • France
      G S SoT F FW O A AP BP T
      23 Gregory Coupet 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 1 0
      15 Lilian Thuram 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 33 2 0
      13 Patrice Evra 0 2 0 1 2 0 0 31 16 1
      19 Willy Sagnol 0 0 0 2 1 0 1 11 5 3
      5 William Gallas 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 31 13 1
      22 Franck Ribéry 0 5 2 5 2 0 0 40 21 3
      6 Claude Makelele 0 1 0 3 1 0 0 36 7 1
      20 Jérémy Toulalan 0 2 1 2 0 0 0 41 7 3
      7 Florent Malouda 0 1 1 1 4 0 0 18 10 1
      12 Thierry Henry 1 6 1 1 2 0 0 10 6 0
      10 Sidney Govou 0 4 2 1 2 0 0 14 0 1
      14 Francois Clerc 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      3 Eric Abidal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      21 Lassana Diarra 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      11 Samir Nasri 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      2 Jean-Alain Boumsong 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      18 Bafetimbi Gomis 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0
      9 Karim Benzema 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      1 Steve Mandanda 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      17 Sebastien Squillaci 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      8 Nicolas Anelka 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 6 0 0
      16 Sebastien Frey 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      4 Patrick Vieira 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

  • Summary

    • 90+2' GOAL! 4-1 Netherlands! Sneijder turns on the edge of the box before firing a beautiful right-footed effort into the top-left corner via the underside of the crossbar!
    • 89' Robben sends a left-footed effort inches wide of the base of the right-hand post from just outside the French box!
    • 87' France win a free-kick in a central position, about 25 yards out. And Ribery curls it narrowly over the crossbar!
    • 86' Henry slips the ball to Anelka inside the box, but he's denied by a superb tackle from Joris Mathijsen!
    • 84' Van Bronckhorst looks for Van Persie with a glorious crossfield pass but Coupet sprints out to deny him!
    • 83' Holland go close! Sneijder guides a pass from deep towards Van Nistelrooy and he deftly nods the ball over Coupet, but the France goalkeeper scrambles back to touch the ball around the post from right on the line!
    • 77' Ribery clips the free-kick into the box and Henry sends a header/shoulderer well over the bar.
    • 72' GOAL! 3-1 Netherlands! Incredible! Van der Vaart slips a pass to Robben down the inside-left channel and the former Chelsea man delays before rifling a shot into the roof of the net from a tight angle!
    • 71' GOAL! 2-1! Sagnol gets free down the right before sliding in a low cross that Henry deftly guides inside the far post with his left instep!
    • 63' The Dutch fans are drowning out their French counterparts now. Robben weaves infield from the Netherlands right before bending in a shot that Coupet drops to his right to save.
    • 61' Ribery jinks into the Dutch box from the French left before firing in a deflected effort that Van der Sar claws away!
    • 59' GOAL! 2-0 Netherlands! Robben races down the left and crosses for Van Persie to volley the ball home at the back post! Coupet gets a strong hand to the ball, but he can't prevent it trickling over the line! The subs combine to put Holland within sniffing distance of the last eight!
    • 56' Robben picks out Real Madrid club-mate Sneijder with a cross from the Dutch left, but he puts his header straight at Coupet.
    • 53' Great chance for France! Henry is put clean through by Malouda's overhead pass but with only the keeper to beat he lifts the ball clean over the crossbar!
    • 49' PENALTY SHOUT FOR FRANCE! Govou's cross-cum-shot from the right finds Henry at the back post, Henry's shot is blocked by Ooijer, and the French players are convinced it struck his hand! But the referee says play on!
    • 47' Henry slips past two defenders on the France left before sliding in a low cross that Van Bronckhorst puts behind for a corner at the back post. Ribery's right-wing corner clears everyone.
    • 43' Henry receives a pass from Makelele with his back to goal on the edge of the box, turns and bends a right-footer wide of the right-hand upright.
    • 37' Ribery gets free down the France right and plays a low cross right across the face of goal that only just eludes Henry and Malouda!
    • 35' Here come France again! Ribery dribbles forward down the inside-left channel before forcing Van der Sar into a save with a low right-footed shot across goal!
    • 34' Malouda sends a low drive straight at Van der Sar from distance. And then France come forward again down the left through Evra, who lays the ball off to Govou on the edge of the box and Govou drives a shot straight at Van der Sar!
    • 24' Lovely play from France! Govou exchanges passes with Henry before surging goalwards but he stumbles on the edge of the box and the Netherlands clear.
    • 23' Opening for France! Govou controls Willy Sagnol's right-wing cross before driving in a shot that Van der Sar blocks at his near post!
    • 20' Chance for Holland! Giovanni van Bronckhorst's long pass is inadvertently flicked on by Lilian Thuram and Kuyt slides in to toe the ball over the crossbar from the edge of the area!
    • 18' Some great football from the Netherlands culminates in Van Nistelrooy teeing up Van der Vaart on the edge of the France box, but his right-footed effort is blocked.
    • 15' Ribery looks to go it alone through the heart of the Dutch defence but he's stopped in his tracks by Andre Ooijer.
    • 9' GOAL! 1-0 Netherlands! Kuyt wins a corner off William Gallas on the Dutch right, and when Van der Vaart swings the corner in it's Kuyt who holds off Malouda before powering a header past Gregory Coupet! Great start for the Dutch.

Live Team Line-Up

  • Netherlands

    Manager: Marco van Basten

    Captain: Edwin van der Sar

    Starting line-up

    • E. van der Sar
    • K. Bouhlarouz
    • A. Ooijer Yellow Card
    • J. Mathijsen
    • G. van Bronckhorst
    • N. De Jong
    • O. Engelaar Substitution Out (46′)
    • D. Kuijt Goal Substitution Out (56′)
    • R. van der Vaart Substitution Out (79′)
    • W. Sneijder Goal
    • R. van Nistelrooy

    Subs

    • M. Melchiot
    • W. Bouma Substitution In79′
    • J. Heitinga
    • A. Robben Substitution In46′ Goal
    • J. Vennegoor of Hesselink
    • H. Timmer
    • I. Afellay
    • R. van Persie Substitution In56′ Goal
    • M. Stekelenburg
    • K. Huntelaar
    • T. De Cler
    • D. De Zeeuw

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

  • France

    Manager: Raymond Domenech

    Captain: Lilian Thuram

    Starting line-up

    • G. Coupet
    • W. Sagnol
    • L. Thuram
    • W. Gallas
    • P. Evra
    • C. Makelele Yellow Card
    • J. Toulalan Yellow Card
    • S. Govou Substitution Out (75′)
    • F. Ribéry
    • F. Malouda Substitution Out (60′)
    • T. Henry Goal Yellow Card

    Subs

    • N. Anelka Substitution In75′
    • P. Vieira
    • J. Boumsong
    • E. Abidal
    • S. Squillaci
    • S. Frey
    • F. Clerc
    • B. Gomis Substitution In60′
    • S. Mandanda
    • L. Diarra
    • S. Nasri
    • K. Benzema

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None