Highlights Video Netherlands vs Italy

Netherlands 3 - 0 Italy

Ruud van Nistelrooy (26)
Wesley Sneijder (31)
Giovanni Van Bronckhorst (80)

World champions Italy suffered a calamitous start to their Euro 2008 campaign as they fell to an impressive Holland in their Group C opener in Bern.

The Dutch were lucky to take a 26th-minute lead after Ruud van Nistelrooy turned in Giovanni van Bronckhorst's effort despite being clearly offside.

Wesley Sneijder then celebrated his 24th birthday in style by adding a stunning breakaway second on the half-hour mark.

Italy had numerous chances to reduce the deficit after the restart but Edwin van der Sar came to the rescue, making superb saves from Andrea Pirlo's free-kick and Fabio Grosso's close-range effort.

Van Bronckhorst completed a wonderful evening for Holland by heading past goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon in the 79th minute as the Dutch celebrated their first victory against the Italians since the 1978 World Cup.



Holland-Italy 1st half highlights