Netherlands (Berend Scholten, @UEFAcomBerendS)
The Netherlands players have enjoyed a day off today before they head to Krakow tomorrow afternoon, as last night the Oranje played the last of their three pre-tournament friendlies. After losing 1-2 to Bulgaria and winning 2-0 from Slovakia, Bert van Marwijk's men boosted their confidence by beating Northern Ireland 6-0 in the Amsterdam ArenA, in what the Dutch call their 'uitzwaaiwedstrijd' (send-off match).
The Northern Irish conceded six goals for the first time since 1949, when they lost 9-2 to England, and Robin Van Persie was delighted with the result. "This is a good finish to the weeks of preparation," said the striker, who scored his 28th goal in this, his 65th cap, moving joint eighth on the Oranje all time goal charts. "We ended on a high. That is good for the mood.
"In phases it was really nice, with good combinations and good goals," he added. "But the only thing that really counts is the first match on EURO against Denmark, when we must really show we are ready for it. We should not be getting too serious about [the Northern Ireland] match."
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Rank | Team | W/D/L | Pts |
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Cities & Stadiums
The Top 3 Teams of Previous Tournaments
Year | Winners | Runner-up | Third place |
---|---|---|---|
2008 | Spain | Germany | Russia / Turkey |
2004 | Greece | Portugal | Netherlands / Czech Republic |
2000 | France | Italy | Netherlands / Portugal |
1996 | Germany | Czech Republic | France / England |
1992 | Denmark | Germany | Netherlands / Sweden |
1988 | Netherlands | Soviet Union | Italy / West Germany |
1984 | France | Spain | Denmark / Portugal |
1980 | West Germany | Belgium | Czechoslovakia |
1976 | Czechoslovakia | West Germany | Netherlands |
1972 | West Germany | Soviet Union | Belgium |
1968 | Italy | Yugoslavia | England |
1964 | Spain | Soviet Union | Hungary |
1960 | Soviet Union | Yugoslavia | Czechoslovakia |