Italy and Holland through to quarterfinals
Italy beat ten-man France 2-0 in Zurich while the Dutch downed Romania by the same score in two Group C games at Euro 2008 on Tuesday.
The results sent Italy through to the quarterfinals and sent France home at the first hurdle.
Pirlo put Italy in front at Zurich’s Letzigrund Stadium with a penalty in the 25th minute after Abidal was sent off for a foul on Luca Toni. De Rossi made it 2-0 with a deflected free kick in the 62nd.
Italy will next face Group D winner Spain on Sunday in Vienna.
Goals by Huntelaar and van Persie secured Holland’s victory in Bern against Romania.
The Dutch won Group C with a maximum nine points and Italy finished second with four. Romania exited with two points and France finished last with just one.
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