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".
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.
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 Draw position Team Pot Method of Date of Finals Last Previous best UEFA Rankings FIFA Rankings November 2007 May 2008 C1 1 Group G runner-up17 November 2007 8th 2004 Winners (1988)1 6 10 C2 2 Group B winner17 November 2007 7th 2004 Winners (1968)3 1 3 C3 3 Group G winner17 October 2007 4th 2000 Quarter-finals (2000) 6 12 12 C4 4 Group B runner-up17 November 2007 7th 2004 Winners (1984, 2000)13 2 7
Notes
The UEFA rankings of November 2007 were used for seeding for the final draw. UEFA unveiled a new ranking system in May 2008 based on results up to November 2007.
Standings
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification 1 3 3 0 0 9 1 +8 9 Advance to knockout stage 2 3 1 1 1 3 4 −1 4 3 3 0 2 1 1 3 −2 2 4 3 0 1 2 1 6 −5 1
Source: UEFA
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
Romania vs France 9 June 2008 (2008-06-09 )
18:00
Romania 0–0 Report
Letzigrund, Zürich
Attendance: 30,585
Referee: Manuel Mejuto González (Spain)
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:
Assistant referees: Fourth official: Reserve assistant referee:
Netherlands vs Italy 9 June 2008 (2008-06-09 )
20:45
Netherlands 3–0 Van Nistelrooy 26' Sneijder 31' Van Bronckhorst 79' Report
Stade de Suisse, Bern
Attendance: 30,777
Referee: Peter Fröjdfeldt (Sweden)
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:
Assistant referees: Fourth official: Reserve assistant referee:
Italy vs Romania 13 June 2008 (2008-06-13 )
18:00
Letzigrund, Zürich
Attendance: 30,585
Referee: Tom Henning Øvrebø (Norway)
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:
Assistant referees: Fourth official: Reserve assistant referee:
Netherlands vs France 13 June 2008 (2008-06-13 )
20:45
Netherlands 4–1 Kuyt 9' Van Persie 59' Robben 72' Sneijder 90+2' Report
Stade de Suisse, Bern
Attendance: 30,777
Referee: Herbert Fandel (Germany)
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:
Assistant referees: Fourth official: Reserve assistant referee:
Netherlands vs Romania 17 June 2008 (2008-06-17 )
20:45
Netherlands 2–0 Huntelaar 54' Van Persie 87' Report
Stade de Suisse, Bern
Attendance: 30,777
Referee: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland)
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:
Assistant referees: Fourth official: Reserve assistant referee:
France vs Italy 17 June 2008 (2008-06-17 )
20:45
France 0–2 Report Pirlo 25' (pen.) De Rossi 62'
Letzigrund, Zürich
Attendance: 30,585
Referee: Ľuboš Micheľ (Slovakia)
GK 23 Grégory Coupet RB 14 François Clerc CB 5 William Gallas CB 3 Eric Abidal ' 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:
Assistant referees: Fourth official: Reserve assistant referee:
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