A Cristiano Ronaldo inspired Portugal secured passage to the last eight of Euro 2012 as runners-up in Group B and sent Holland crashing out.
Paulo Bento’s side will now meet the Czech Republic on Thursday in Warsaw after Ronaldo scored in each half and cap an irresistible personal performance as he finally came to life at the finals. The 27-year-old was the best player on the field and proved too much for the Dutch who now head home after failing to muster a single point from their three games. Bert Van Marjwik’s men were billed as pre-tournament favourites but apart from Rafael Van der Vaart’s early goal they failed to match their opponents and humiliatingly finishing bottom in the ‘group of death’.
It could have been so different for Holland as they started the game with a vibrancy that was absent from their first two group fixtures and it took them only 11 minutes to break the deadlock. Arjen Robben weaved his way up the right wing before teeing up Van der Vaart who steadied himself before effortlessly steering the ball into the bottom left corner from 20-yards.
But despite their wealth of talent in attack it’s been in defence that has proved to be the Dutch’s downfall. Gregory van der Wiel summed up with a lapse in concentration that went unpunished as he passed the ball straight to Helder Postiga but was left breathing a huge sigh of relief as the Portuguese striker shot wide.
Maarten Stekelenburg then kept out a fierce Ronaldo header but he wouldn’t be denied in the 28th minute as the momentum started to swing in Portugal’s direction. Joao Pereira’s delicate through ball was seized upon by the Real Madrid frontman who rewarded his teammates vision with a composed finish past Stekelenburg. Nani then went close to doubling the advantage but couldn’t keep his shot down before Ronaldo went close twice before half time.
The Portugal captain was becoming increasingly influential but almost saw his side fall behind again in the 53rd minute but Wesley Sneijder must have wished anyone but Ron Vlaar was on the end of his cross as the defender’s attempted header sailed well wide. Postiga then had a goal ruled out for offside before Stekelenburg showed sharp reactions to keep out Fabio Coentrao’s effort and then denied Nani with a brilliant point blank range save.
He could do nothing in the 74th minute as Ronaldo put the finishing touches to a blistering Portuguese counter-attack controlling Nani’s long pass, stepping inside and prodding home from close range to cap a scintillating performance. He should have been walking away with the match ball but saw a late strike come back off the post after Van der Vaart was also denied by the woodwork. The final whistle brought an end to the Dutch misery and Portugal celebrated their place in the last eight.
