Goals by Dirk Kuyt, Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder helped the Netherlands reach the last eight as Marco van Basten's team beat France 4-1 in Berne.It was another superb display by the Netherlands, winners of this competition 20 years ago, only four days after their fantastic 3-0 win against Italy.
However, France may have been successful in 1984 and 2000, but they are now in grave danger of failing to make the quarter-finals.
They face Italy next Tuesday with the prospect of both teams, World Cup finalists only two years ago, returning home early.
Van Basten, one of the stars of his country's 1988 success, named an unchanged side, while France coach Raymond Domenech dropped Nicolas Anelka, Karim Benzema and Eric Abidal with Thierry Henry, Patrice Evra and Sidney Govou coming in to replace them.
France started the match well and Franck Ribery headed Florent Malouda's tempting cross wide after good play by Henry.
However, the Dutch took the lead in the tenth minute with a simple goal. Giovanni van Bronckhorst swung in a corner and Kuyt was strong enough to hold off Malouda and power a header past Gregory Coupet.
Six minutes later it was almost 2-0 only for Sneijder to fire a long-range shot over the bar but, as Holland continued to press, Rafael van der Vaart had a shot from the edge of the penalty area blocked after an intricate passing move.
Terrible defending by France midway through the first half allowed Kuyt to scoop an effort over the bar while Edwin van der Sar did not have to make his first save until the 23rd minute when he kept Sidney Govou's effort out with his legs.
France slowly improved and Govou was again denied by van der Sar before the veteran Dutch keeper was forced to save Ribery's shot.
Just before the interval, Henry turned in an instant on the edge of the area, but bent his shot over the crossbar.
France enjoyed their best spell of the match at the start of the second period. Henry created a chance with some great skill but van Bronckhorst hacked the ball off Ribery's boot.
France should have equalised in the 54th minute. Henry was clean through after beating the offside trap but, although the Barcelona man lobbed van der Sar, the ball also sailed over the bar.
It proved to be a costly miss as, five minutes later, it was 2-0. A superb counter-attack by the Dutch ended with Robben whipping in a left-wing cross that van Persie fired towards goal. Coupet got a hand to the ball but could not stop it crossing the line.
France pulled a goal back in the 71st minute when Willy Sagnol surged down the right-hand side and found Henry who flicked the ball home.
However, within 60 seconds the Netherlands had restored their two-goal lead when another break ended with Robben blasting a shot from a tight angle past a startled Coupet.Ruud van Nistelrooy and Robben went close to scoring further goals before Sneijder grabbed the fourth in stoppage time with a superb strike from the edge of the penalty area.
1st goal by Kuyt
2nd goal by Van Persie
3rd goal by T Henry
4th goal by A Robben
5th goal by W. Sneijder
Ruud van Nistelrooy is surprised by the Dutch side's form
1st half
2nd half
Match Stats:
Netherlands - France
Shots (on Goal) 15(12) - 17(8)
Fouls 17 - 17
Corner Kicks 2 - 6
Offsides 0 - 1
Time of Possession 56% - 44%
Yellow Cards 1 (Ooijer 52) - 2 (Makelele 33,Toulalan 82)
Red Cards 0 - 0
Saves 8 - 6
Goals:
Kuyt 10 - Henry 71
Van Persie 59
Robben 72
Sneijder 90
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