Counter Strike

Netherlands 3 – 0 Italy

“Much like fan zones, facepaint and comedy hats and wigs, a major tournament can never be complete without a Group of Death.” – Adrian Healey during the intro to this game, casually summing up almost everything I love about soccer.

I thought Ruud van Nistelrooy was offside on the first goal, but apparently the refs made the correct decision. Panucci is still considered part of the play even though he was lying on the ground outside the endline. It’s a shame this happened, not because I feel any sympathy whatsoever for the Italians, but because it’s the only goal ESPN’s terrible studio coverage really looked at again. I understand it’s a controversial goal, but I don’t think I could ever see enough replays of the second and third goals.

Those were two of the most beautiful and well-executed counterattacks you will ever see. What strikes me most about them is that they came from what were really the Azzurri’s two best scoring chances of the night, a corner that seemed destined to be a horrifying own-goal and a dangerous free kick from Pirlo that Edwin Van der Sar saved well. Just absolutely incredible soccer. The middle goal, upon leaving Pirlo’s foot in the corner, was touched by six different Dutch players a total of twelve time (I counted) in going from one goal line to the back of the opposite net. The final goal was only slightly less efficient, needing sixteen touches, again by only six players, to go coast-to-coast. Dirk Kuyt would have had an easy finish if not for a poor first touch, but he made up for it by floating that inch-perfect cross to Giovanni Van Bronckhorst, who had three defenders and Buffon within four yards of him as the service fell right to his head.

It’s hard to pick a Man of the Match between Wesley Sneijder and Van Bronckhorst. Both provided classy finishes, and both were key architects in each other’s goals. GVB, hugging the far post like a left defender should, clears a ball off the line then tears down the sideline, receives the ball in space, and lofts a gorgeous cross-field pass which Kuyt nods down neatly for the Sneijder to finish. Sneijder’s recognition of another streaking run by GVB and through-ball were both, to put it simply, brilliant.

Italy looked dangerous from time to time, but had a lot of trouble consistently creating chances. Expect some changes in the lineup against Romania.