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 ofqualification Date ofqualification Finalsappearance Lastappearance Previous bestperformance UEFA Rankings FIFA RankingsJune 2008 November 2007 May 2008 C1 1 Group G runner-up 17 November 2007 8th 2004 Winners (1988) 1 6 10 C2 2 Group B winner 17 November 2007 7th 2004 Winners (1968) 3 1 3 C3 3 Group G winner 17 October 2007 4th 2000 Quarter-finals (2000) 6 12 12 C4 4 Group B runner-up 17 November 2007 7th 2004 Winners (1984, 2000) 13 2 7

Notes

Standings

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

GK 1 Bogdan LobonțRB 2 Cosmin Contra CB 4 Gabriel TamașCB 15Dorin Goian LB 3 Răzvan RațRM 11Răzvan Cociș CM 6 Mirel Rădoi LM 5 Cristian Chivu (c)RF 16Bănel NicolițăCF 21Daniel Niculae LF 10Adrian Mutu Substitutions:MF 8 Paul Codrea FW 18Marius Niculae MF 20Nicolae Dică Manager:Victor Pițurcă GK 23Grégory CoupetRB 19Willy Sagnol CB 15Lilian Thuram (c)CB 5 William GallasLB 3 Eric AbidalCM 20Jérémy ToulalanCM 6 Claude MakéléléRW 22Franck RibéryLW 7 Florent MaloudaCF 8 Nicolas Anelka CF 9 Karim Benzema Substitutions:FW 18Bafétimbi Gomis MF 11Samir Nasri Manager:Raymond Domenech

Man of the Match: Claude Makélélé (France)

Assistant referees: Juan Carlos Yuste Jiménez (Spain) Jesús Calvo Guadamuro (Spain) Fourth official: Olegário Benquerença (Portugal) Reserve assistant referee: Darren Cann (England)

Netherlands vs Italy

GK 1 Edwin van der Sar (c)RB 2 André OoijerCB 21Khalid Boulahrouz CB 4 Joris MathijsenLB 5 Giovanni van BronckhorstCM 17Nigel de Jong CM 8 Orlando EngelaarRW 18Dirk Kuyt AM 23Rafael van der VaartLW 10Wesley SneijderCF 9 Ruud van Nistelrooy Substitutions:FW 7 Robin van Persie DF 3 John Heitinga MF 20Ibrahim Afellay Manager:Marco van Basten GK 1 Gianluigi Buffon (c)RB 2 Christian PanucciCB 6 Andrea BarzagliCB 23Marco Materazzi LB 19Gianluca Zambrotta CM 13Massimo AmbrosiniCM 21Andrea PirloCM 8 Gennaro Gattuso RW 16Mauro Camoranesi LW 11Antonio Di Natale CF 9 Luca Toni Substitutions:DF 3 Fabio Grosso FW 7 Alessandro Del Piero FW 18Antonio Cassano Manager:Roberto Donadoni

Man of the Match: Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands)

Assistant referees: Stefan Wittberg (Sweden) Henrik Andrén (Sweden) Fourth official: Damir Skomina (Slovenia) Reserve assistant referee: Mike Mullarkey (England)

Italy vs Romania

GK 1 Gianluigi BuffonRB 19Gianluca ZambrottaCB 2 Christian PanucciCB 4 Giorgio ChielliniLB 3 Fabio GrossoCM 21Andrea Pirlo CM 10Daniele De Rossi RW 16Mauro Camoranesi AM 20Simone Perrotta LW 7 Alessandro Del Piero (c) CF 9 Luca ToniSubstitutions:FW 18Antonio Cassano FW 15Fabio Quagliarella MF 13Massimo Ambrosini Manager:Roberto Donadoni GK 1 Bogdan LobonțRB 2 Cosmin ContraCB 4 Gabriel TamașCB 15Dorin Goian LB 3 Răzvan RațDM 6 Mirel Rădoi RM 7 Florentin Petre CM 8 Paul CodreaLM 5 Cristian Chivu (c) SS 10Adrian Mutu CF 21Daniel NiculaeSubstitutions:MF 20Nicolae Dică MF 16Bănel Nicoliță MF 11Răzvan Cociș Manager:Victor Pițurcă

Man of the Match: Andrea Pirlo (Italy)

Assistant referees: Geir Åge Holen (Norway) Jan Petter Randen (Norway) Fourth official: Ivan Bebek (Croatia) Reserve assistant referee: Jesús Calvo Guadamuro (Spain)

Netherlands vs France

GK 1 Edwin van der Sar (c)RB 21Khalid BoulahrouzCB 2 André Ooijer CB 4 Joris MathijsenLB 5 Giovanni van BronckhorstCM 17Nigel de JongCM 8 Orlando Engelaar RW 18Dirk Kuyt AM 23Rafael van der Vaart LW 10Wesley SneijderCF 9 Ruud van NistelrooySubstitutions:MF 11Arjen Robben FW 7 Robin van Persie DF 14Wilfred Bouma Manager:Marco van Basten GK 23Grégory CoupetRB 19Willy SagnolCB 15Lilian Thuram (c)CB 5 William GallasLB 13Patrice EvraCM 20Jérémy Toulalan CM 6 Claude Makélélé RW 10Sidney Govou LW 7 Florent Malouda SS 22Franck RibéryCF 12Thierry HenrySubstitutions:FW 18Bafétimbi Gomis FW 8 Nicolas Anelka Manager:Raymond Domenech

Man of the Match: Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands)

Assistant referees: Carsten Kadach (Germany) Volker Wezel (Germany) Fourth official: Grzegorz Gilewski (Poland) Reserve assistant referee: Juan Carlos Yuste Jiménez (Spain)

Netherlands vs Romania

GK 16Maarten StekelenburgRB 21Khalid Boulahrouz CB 3 John Heitinga (c)CB 14Wilfred BoumaLB 15Tim de ClerCM 6 Demy de ZeeuwCM 8 Orlando EngelaarRW 20Ibrahim AfellayAM 7 Robin van PersieLW 11Arjen Robben CF 19Klaas-Jan Huntelaar Substitutions:DF 12Mario Melchiot FW 18Dirk Kuyt FW 22Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink Manager:Marco van Basten GK 1 Bogdan LobonțRB 2 Cosmin ContraCB 4 Gabriel TamașCB 14Sorin GhioneaLB 3 Răzvan RațDM 8 Paul Codrea CM 11Răzvan CocișCM 5 Cristian Chivu (c) RW 16Bănel Nicoliță LW 10Adrian MutuCF 18Marius Niculae Substitutions:FW 21Daniel Niculae MF 20Nicolae Dică MF 7 Florentin Petre Manager:Victor Pițurcă

Man of the Match: Robin van Persie (Netherlands)

Assistant referees: Matthias Arnet (Switzerland) Stéphane Cuhat (Switzerland) Fourth official: Craig Thomson (Scotland) Reserve assistant referee: Stefan Wittberg (Sweden)

France vs Italy

GK 23Grégory CoupetRB 14François ClercCB 5 William GallasCB 3 Eric Abidal LB 13Patrice Evra CM 20Jérémy ToulalanCM 6 Claude MakéléléRW 10Sidney Govou LW 22Franck Ribéry CF 9 Karim BenzemaCF 12Thierry Henry (c) Substitutions:MF 11Samir Nasri DF 2 Jean-Alain Boumsong FW 8 Nicolas Anelka Manager:Raymond Domenech GK 1 Gianluigi Buffon (c)RB 19Gianluca ZambrottaCB 2 Christian PanucciCB 4 Giorgio Chiellini LB 3 Fabio GrossoCM 21Andrea Pirlo CM 10Daniele De RossiCM 8 Gennaro Gattuso AM 20Simone Perrotta CF 9 Luca ToniCF 18Antonio CassanoSubstitutions:MF 13Massimo Ambrosini MF 16Mauro Camoranesi MF 22Alberto Aquilani Manager:Roberto Donadoni

Man of the Match: Daniele De Rossi (Italy)

Assistant referees: Roman Slyško (Slovakia) Martin Balko (Slovakia) Fourth official: Viktor Kassai (Hungary) Reserve assistant referee: Henrik Andrén (Sweden)

See also France at the UEFA European Championship Italy at the UEFA European Championship Netherlands at the UEFA European Championship Romania at the UEFA European Championship

References

External links UEFA Euro 2008 Group C