[D-Kin]

2008: van Basten worried Sunday 2 December, 2007

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Former Milan legend Marco van Basten concedes Holland aren’t the favourites in Italy’s group, while Romania boss Victor Piturca takes an ironic approach.

“You can say we have a really heavy group,” Dutch Coach van Basten told UEFA.com after his side was drawn against Italy, France and Romania in Euro 2008.

“We have to play against the World Cup Finalists Italy and France. These are the two big countries. They have lots of experience, good players, so we have a really hard group.

“In the last World Cup we had a 'group of death' and I am very curious what they will call this one. We start against Italy, then France and then Romania so it will be a tough group for us.”

Holland were seeded in this morning’s draw, but it doesn’t seem to have done them much good.

The Dutch were eliminated from Euro 2000 by Italy in the semi-final when they were the host nation.

The overall record between these two sides is of seven Azzurri victories, six draws and just two wins for the ‘Oranje.’

Most recently, Marcello Lippi’s Italy tore Holland apart 3-1 in Amsterdam for a pre-2006 World Cup friendly.

“Italy is a real football nation that always gets far in tournaments. The same goes for France in recent years. This will be a very tough job,” concluded van Basten.

If the Azzurri, France and Holland are worried about this ‘Group of Death’, then Romania could be excused for feeling more than a little nervous.

“It is a very nice and easy group, with the world champions, the World Cup runners-up and Holland who we know very well,” joked Coach Piturca.

“We hope it will be an extraordinary experience for us and why shouldn't we be one of the two teams to qualify?”

Romania have not defeated or even scored against the Azzurri since 1989, followed by four consecutive defeats.

That run includes the 2-0 victory in Euro 2000, sealed by Francesco Totti and Pippo Inzaghi. In total Italy have beaten Romania 10 times with two draws and as many defeats.

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