France and Italy have both failed to beat the Romanians and lost heavily to the Netherlands, which leaves Euro 2008's Group of Death more delicately poised than anyone would have imagined going into the final round of games tomorrow evening.

Domenech's men must win and hope other results go their way in order to qualify, while Italy may be able to progress with a score draw if results go their way. However, if the Romanians fail to win against the Netherlands, then if Italy-France produces a winner, they will progress to the quarterfinals.

There are several finer details surrounding each scenario, but the bottom line, according to the ever-controversial Domenech, is that the Netherlands will make it easy for Romania to progress to the last eight by fielding a weakened team, given that they have already secured first place in the group.

"Our game against Italy will not be decisive. It's the other match that matters," insisted the French boss.

"My opinion is Holland will make wholesale changes for the game on Tuesday night and it is already written that Romania will qualify with them from the group."

like i said before... we will do everything to win. we are not happy with the 6 points...

But being smart and thinking of the future, Holland will want to lose to knock both Italy and France out which leaves Spain and Romania as your potential opponent if you win the first match of the knockout stage. And those odds are better than a Spain or France/Italy matchup.

I hope they don't field their reserves like Portugal did. Holland have good reserve players i know, good enough to win, but so do Portgual, and look how bad they played.

I want to see Holland entertain again, but if they play a bunch of muppets, i'll have to watch Italy and France.

It's sure that Holland is going for the win in their poule match against Romania.

Van Basten and many leading players (as well as J. Cruijff) said so in interviews! You'll see that the subs will try their best to play good and we have the players for it as well.

Don't forget we lost against Romania in the qualification, while kicking the asses of France and Italy...

flashback...

Our spirit is this... if you want to win, you'll have to beat everybody... even twice!

Beast

Isn't that slightly contradictory? Saying their reserves will be good enough to win but at the same time labelling them as muppets?


I'm not sure personally how lightly the Dutch will take this game they may consider Romania to pose less of a threat in the latter stages than the likes of Italy and France, but lets not forget Romania took four points off the dutch in qualifying so anything can happen. I think the Dutch may also seethe Spanish as their biggest threat in the competition so it may perhaps be in their best interests to help a bigger team through who have a better chance of overcoming the Spanish but still being a team that the Dutch have already beaten?

I think it's not done as a trainer to speak like this. Maybe he read this from the stars or something, but I think it's pretty weak to tell this kind of stuff beforehand.

As far as I've read in interviews etc, all people involved plan to win the game against Romania, although we don't know what their true intentions are. But what's the point in telling beforehand that we Dutch would lose the game intentionally?

Yes.

It's not really cheating is it, i think its clever by Holland if they are to field a weakened team. Holland could play second place in theie group again later in the semi's. Ok they did beat both Italy and France quite comfortably in the group stages, but you can't predict anything for what might happen in the semi's if they were to get past Spain. I think they are quite entitled to put out a weak team to give Romania an advantage for qualifying.

Domenech is an idiot, we put ourselves in the [beep!] by losing and drawing so he is trying to deflect some of the attention on Holland. Mind games basically.

Absolutely agree

That's their problem. They should of won the last two games.

Thanks to the officials we (Italy) failed to do that

Exactly, but also a poor show from Domenech.

I don't understand why he still has the job. The guy struggles to impress on most fronts and when things are going well it's mostly because he can't field a team without a World-class player included.

A decent tactician and player selector would have France playing near to their potential, and they'd be a strong force.

In saying all that, I do believe that the players should take a big part of the blame - those who get the games - and they should pull together to make things work.

sure...italy was the best team in the poule....


and even if holland win...romania can go to the next round

if italy and france have a draw...and holland win with (i think) 1-0 then romania is going to the next round with 2 goals more.

so its not all about the match holland-romania

Indeed, good point. He's just using Holland's methods as a scape goat, to try and cover up for his team's poor performances so far.

I too will echo what has already been said, Domenech had his chance to take care of business and he and his side couldn't produce, so to now make HIS short comings appear to be the fault of the Dutch and what happens in the game against Romania is laughable. I have lost all respect for the man........

France and Italy only have themselves to blame for failing to beat Romania...nobody else

Even if Holland do play their B team in todays game they will still have some good players on show

Van Persie and Robben didn't start the first 2 games so they will be hoping to begin in the line up...

Monsieur Dommench does not have a clue what he is doing and his team selections have proved it.

Who's to blame for that? domenech himself , it's too late to cry now he let it get to tis position.
I predicted France to win this whole comp. But i blame the coach and the lack of intensity by the team in the group stages. I knew this might be their biggest downfall as they are notorious for not getting up for games unless it's do or die. I France wouldn't have taken the romania game so lightly they wouldn't have to worry right now.

I don't blame Holland one bit for resting players ,they have already Beaten france so it's not like they are avoiding them Domenech had his chance .Holland put their shift in and now they are reaping the benefits.

van Basten said....in the dutch team....ther is no B-team
i think domenech must buy some chocolates and flowers for van Basten to thank him (when we win)