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UEFA Euro 2008 Group C

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 Bern. 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]

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

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 edit

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 edit

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 edit

All times Central European Summer Time (UTC+2)

Romania vs France edit

Romania  0–0  France
Report
Attendance: 30,585[4]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Romania[5]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
France[5]
GK 1 Bogdan Lobonț
RB 2 Cosmin Contra   40'
CB 4 Gabriel Tamaș
CB 15 Dorin Goian   43'
LB 3 Răzvan Raț
RM 11 Răzvan Cociș   64'
CM 6 Mirel Rădoi   90+3'
LM 5 Cristian Chivu (c)
RF 16 Bănel Nicoliță
CF 21 Daniel Niculae   27'
LF 10 Adrian Mutu   78'
Substitutions:
MF 8 Paul Codrea   64'
FW 18 Marius Niculae   78'
MF 20 Nicolae Dică   90+3'
Manager:
Victor Pițurcă
 
GK 23 Grégory Coupet
RB 19 Willy Sagnol   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   72'
CF 9 Karim Benzema   78'
Substitutions:
FW 18 Bafétimbi Gomis   72'
MF 11 Samir Nasri   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 edit

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

Italy  1–1  Romania
 Report
Attendance: 30,585[9]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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   61'
CM 10 Daniele De Rossi   90+2'
RW 16 Mauro Camoranesi   85'
AM 20 Simone Perrotta   57'
LW 7 Alessandro Del Piero (c)   77'
CF 9 Luca Toni
Substitutions:
FW 18 Antonio Cassano   57'
FW 15 Fabio Quagliarella   77'
MF 13 Massimo Ambrosini   85'
Manager:
Roberto Donadoni
 
GK 1 Bogdan Lobonț
RB 2 Cosmin Contra
CB 4 Gabriel Tamaș
CB 15 Dorin Goian   73'
LB 3 Răzvan Raț
DM 6 Mirel Rădoi   25'
RM 7 Florentin Petre   60'
CM 8 Paul Codrea
LM 5 Cristian Chivu (c)   58'
SS 10 Adrian Mutu   43'   88'
CF 21 Daniel Niculae
Substitutions:
MF 20 Nicolae Dică   25'
MF 16 Bănel Nicoliță   60'
MF 11 Răzvan Cociș   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 edit

Netherlands  4–1  France
 Report
Attendance: 30,777[11]
 
 
 
 
 
 
Netherlands[12]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
France[12]
GK 1 Edwin van der Sar (c)
RB 21 Khalid Boulahrouz
CB 2 André Ooijer   51'
CB 4 Joris Mathijsen
LB 5 Giovanni van Bronckhorst
CM 17 Nigel de Jong
CM 8 Orlando Engelaar   46'
RW 18 Dirk Kuyt   55'
AM 23 Rafael van der Vaart   78'
LW 10 Wesley Sneijder
CF 9 Ruud van Nistelrooy
Substitutions:
MF 11 Arjen Robben   46'
FW 7 Robin van Persie   55'
DF 14 Wilfred Bouma   78'
Manager:
Marco van Basten
 
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   82'
CM 6 Claude Makélélé   32'
RW 10 Sidney Govou   75'
LW 7 Florent Malouda   60'
SS 22 Franck Ribéry
CF 12 Thierry Henry
Substitutions:
FW 18 Bafétimbi Gomis   60'
FW 8 Nicolas Anelka   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 edit

Netherlands  2–0  Romania
 Report
Attendance: 30,777[13]
 
 
 
 
 
 
Netherlands[14]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Romania[14]
GK 16 Maarten Stekelenburg
RB 21 Khalid Boulahrouz   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   61'
CF 19 Klaas-Jan Huntelaar   83'
Substitutions:
DF 12 Mario Melchiot   58'
FW 18 Dirk Kuyt   61'
FW 22 Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink   83'
Manager:
Marco van Basten
 
GK 1 Bogdan Lobonț
RB 2 Cosmin Contra
CB 4 Gabriel Tamaș
CB 14 Sorin Ghionea
LB 3 Răzvan Raț
DM 8 Paul Codrea   72'
CM 11 Răzvan Cociș
CM 5 Cristian Chivu (c)   78'
RW 16 Bănel Nicoliță   82'
LW 10 Adrian Mutu
CF 18 Marius Niculae   59'
Substitutions:
FW 21 Daniel Niculae   59'
MF 20 Nicolae Dică   72'
MF 7 Florentin Petre   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 edit

See also: France–Italy football rivalry
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   24'
LB 13 Patrice Evra   18'
CM 20 Jérémy Toulalan
CM 6 Claude Makélélé
RW 10 Sidney Govou   47'   66'
LW 22 Franck Ribéry   10'
CF 9 Karim Benzema
CF 12 Thierry Henry (c)   85'
Substitutions:
MF 11 Samir Nasri   10'   26'
DF 2 Jean-Alain Boumsong   72'   26'
FW 8 Nicolas Anelka   66'
Manager:
Raymond Domenech
 
GK 1 Gianluigi Buffon (c)
RB 19 Gianluca Zambrotta
CB 2 Christian Panucci
CB 4 Giorgio Chiellini   45+4'
LB 3 Fabio Grosso
CM 21 Andrea Pirlo   44'   55'
CM 10 Daniele De Rossi
CM 8 Gennaro Gattuso   54'   82'
AM 20 Simone Perrotta   64'
CF 9 Luca Toni
CF 18 Antonio Cassano
Substitutions:
MF 13 Massimo Ambrosini   55'
MF 16 Mauro Camoranesi   64'
MF 22 Alberto Aquilani   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)

See also edit

References edit

  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. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. 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 edit

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