# UEFA Euro 2008 Group C

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 qualification | Date of qualification | Finals appearance | Last appearance | Previous best performance | UEFA Rankings | UEFA Rankings | FIFA Rankings June 2008 |
| Draw position | Team | Pot | Method of qualification | Date of qualification | Finals appearance | Last appearance | Previous best performance | November 2007 | May 2008 | FIFA Rankings June 2008 |
| C1 | Netherlands | 1 | Group G runner-up | 17 November 2007 | 8th | 2004 | Winners (1988) | 1 | 6 | 10 |
| C2 | Italy | 2 | Group B winner | 17 November 2007 | 7th | 2004 | Winners (1968) | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| C3 | Romania | 3 | Group G winner | 17 October 2007 | 4th | 2000 | Quarter-finals (2000) | 6 | 12 | 12 |
| C4 | France | 4 | Group B runner-up | 17 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 | Netherlands | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | +8 | 9 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Italy | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 4 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 3 | Romania | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 2 | |
| 4 | France | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | −5 | 1 | |
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

| Romania | France |
| 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:
* 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

| Netherlands | Italy |
| 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:
* 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

| Italy | Romania |
| 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:
* 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

| Netherlands | France |
| 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:
* 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

| Netherlands | Romania |
| 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:
* 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

| France | Italy |
| GK | 23 | Grégory Coupet |
| RB | 14 | François Clerc |
| CB | 5 | William Gallas |
| CB | 3 | Eric Abidal | 24' |
| 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:
* Daniele De Rossi (Italy)
* Assistant referees:
* Roman Slyško (Slovakia)
* Martin Balko (Slovakia)
* Fourth official:
* Viktor Kassai (Hungary)
* Reserve assistant referee:
* Henrik Andrén (Sweden)