Italy hadn't allowed an opponent to score 3 goals since August 2007 in a friendly against Hungary. In the last meeting between the two teams in 2005, Italy prevailed 3-1 in Amsterdam. I don't think anybody would have predicted the Dutch to score 3 goals against--let alone beat--Italy, who were favored by many to win the tournament at its start. It's especially surprising given that throughout its international soccer history, Italy has a reputation as a defensive juggernaut whose strategy is to score a goal and then construct a 30-foot stone wall at the midfield line to prevent opposing players from approaching the goal, resulting in some of the most boring 1-0 games you'd ever hope to see. Or sleep through the second half of.
Nevertheless, Ruud van Nistelrooy opened the scoring in the 26th minute on a controversial goal (which, upon review, was declared legitimate by everybody who knows what they're talking about--i.e. not Julie Foudy), and the Orange Crush never looked back.
Van der Sar looked like Superman as he made several world-class saves that allowed the Dutch side to keep their momentum, the most spectacular of which began the couterattack which resulted in the deal-sealing goal in the 79th.
It was obvious that Italy missed their injured captain, pretty-boy central defender Fabio Cannavaro. Manager Roberto Donadoni said before the match that there would be no drop off in quality of play in Cannavaro's absence, and fill-in Andrea Barzagli promptly made a liar of him, deciding to pay homage to host nation Switzerland by anchoring a defense that, like the country's signature cheese, stank and was full of holes. The back line allowed 3 goals for the first time ever in a Euro Championship.
There's your goals, Foudy. Feel free to shut your horse-toothed mouth.
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