The post-match chatter was inevitably going to center around the contentious non-call on the Ruud Van Nistelrooy marker that got the ball rolling for the Dutch en route to their 3-0 stomping of the Azzurri. I’m not going to go into great detail about the call because a) Holland were deserved winners, and b) there were two additional goals which were beautifully orchestrated and without controversy. The talk should perhaps surround Buffon’s failure to adequately deal with the ball on his goal-line. The linesman and head referee were unquestionably left in a sticky wicket and couldn’t win either way. I personally believe the goal should have been adjudged off-side for the simple reason that its possible the Italian player was genuinely hurt and couldn’t re-enter the field of play. There remains the chance that players could feign injuries off of the pitch to place opponents in an off-side position, but the possibility that a player is legitimately hurt off the pitch is too real to implement a rule stipulating that a player off the field is a part of play. This situation is one which has surfaced on a few occasions this calendar year, and illuminates a gray area in the rulebook which must be remedied as soon as possible. Perhaps next time the implications will be more meaningful; as it stands its a mind-field for officiating crews.

Right from the off, it was clear that Holland entered the game with a little more urgency about them. The Italians weren’t pedestrians, but Holland seemed the more likely from the get-go. Holland was creative offensively and speculated in the early minutes before accumulating with two goals in close succession, the second of which was a piece of magic. The half-volley conversion from Sneijder, after intelligent offensive play, was nothing short of classic.

The second half of play belonged to the Azzurri, but certainly exhibited the strength of an underestimated Holland back-line. The Italians were not connecting as per usual, with Pirlo and the like struggling to adequately service their big man up front in Toni. Pirlo’s midfield was out-worked and overpowered by a formidable Dutch midfield engined by De Jong and Engelaar. In the second half, the Italians were asking more questions of the oft-criticized Dutch defense, but they proved to be better than advertised. As the Italians found more space on the flanks, they generated more opportunity, but Toni was uncharacteristic in a break-away miscue. Edwin Van der Saar, meanwhile, continued about his incredible campaign, earning Man of the Match honours thanks in large part to a superb save off a Pirlo free-kick.

While Italy tried to mount the comeback, Holland played counter-attack football to a tee. Substitute Robin Van Persie hit the crossbar with an inventive chip that had a struggling Buffon beat. Van Bronckhorst was a major dilemma for Italy all match long and broke through with a heading finish between a scattered Italy defense and past an unsure Buffon.

On the run of play, the scoreline was perhaps a bit uncomplimentary towards the Italians. However, an Italian comeback never seemed likely, with little opportunity generated up front and a lack of finish when the chances did arrive. The Italian back-line looked lost without Cannavaro at the heart of defense, a situation which must be resolved if the Azzurri have any hope of advancing in the tournament’s Group of Death. They sit last in the Group after one match played, but of equal worry is the fact that they sit -3 in goals differential, a potential killer in such a competitive group.

The Dutch, meanwhile, could not have scripted a better start. A 3-0 win over the World Cup winners perhaps exceeded the Dutch supporters’ wildest expectations headed into the competition. The Dutch will gain considerable confidence having beaten a country they’ve failed to conquer in 30 years. The Oranje, with creativity up front, diligence in midfield and a stingier-than-expected defense back-stopped by keeper-of- the-year Van der Saar, appear poised to make noise after a dream start in Group C.

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