Holland falters against 10-man Italy

AMSTERDAM, JUNE 30. Italy will meet France in the European championship final, after beating co-host the Netherlands in a penalty shootout on Thursday after the teams wound up 0-0 after extra time.

The Italians won the shootout 3-1 to reach Sunday's final in Rotterdam for the first time since 1968. Frank de Boer missed from the spot for the second time in the match and the Dutch missed four in a row, two in normal time.

During a disappointing 120 minutes of action at the Amsterdam arena, Frank de Boer and Patrick Kluivert both missed penalties against 10-man Italy and Dennis Berkgamp also hit the post while Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar made a great save to deny Marco Delvecchio during extra time.

De Boer had a spot kick brilliantly saved by Francesco Toldo in the 38th minute - five minutes after Gianluca Zambrotta had been ejected for his second yellow card.

Kluivert's spot kick in the 62nd minute hit the post with Toldo beaten as the Italians somehow stayed level and the Dutch failed to reach the same level of performance they had in a 6-1 crushing of Yugoslavia in the quarterfinals.

In the shootout Luigi Di Biagio, Gianluca Pessotto and Francesco Totti hit the target for Italy while captain Paolo Maldini missed and Kluivert was the only Dutchman to score.

Frank de Boer and Paul Bosvelt had spot kicks saved and Jaap Stam fired over the bar.

It was an unhappy ending for the Dutch who failed to break down an Italian defence after Zambrotta had been sent off in the first half.

Just before half time Kluivert moved into a shooting chance but pulled his shot across the face of the goal.

With the Italians losing their cool, Toldo and Maldini also were shown the yellow card during the first half by German referee Markus Merk.

Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van de Sar made his first save of the game in the third minute of the second half and didn't even need to Fiore's shot was sailing well wide of the post but the 'keeper flung himself to his right to palm the ball away at the expense of a corner which, fortunately for him, came to nothing.

At the other end, Zenden ended a slick Dutch move with a powerful left footed volley which was straight at Toldo before the Italians handed the host another chance from the penalty spot.

Edgar Davids clearly had Mark Iuliano beaten for speed when the Italian defender stuck out a foot and upended his Juventus teammate just inside the area. This time Kluivert stepped up to take the spot kick and, although Toldo dived the wrong way, he hit the post.

Bergkamp, who had a standout game against the Yugoslavs, was replaced by Clarence Seedorf three minutes before the end of normal time. Just before the end of 90 minutes, Italian substitute Marco Delvecchio broke through for a shot on goal but Frank de Boer's late challenge was enough to take the venom out of the effort and van de Sar saved easily.

After 10 minutes over extra time, van de Sar had to pull off a stunning save when Delvecchio got clear, outpaced two defenders and fired low and hard only for the 'keeper to stick out his left foot and deflect the ball wide of the post.

In the second period of extra time, Marc Overmars sent a stunning pass through go Kluivert whose first time shot rolled past the far post.- AP

Italian goalkeeper Francesco Toldo about to bring off a brilliant save off a penalty taken by Frank de Boer in the semifinals of Euro 2000 football tournament in Amsterdam on Thursday. Italy beat Holland in the penalty shootout to enter the final.

- Reuter

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Sport
Previous : Making them play better
Next     : Will the Italians resist the inspired Zidane ?