Ruud choker for Italy - dazzling Dutch run riot after ghost goal

For a seriously upset Italian team, the first major upset of the tournament. They had no right to feel quite so aggrieved, even if they were not alone in thinking that Holland's opening goal should have been disallowed.

But what would have disappointed Roberto Donadoni more was the manner in which his team then responded to that setback. Arrogance led to indiscipline, and a second goal for Holland in less than five minutes. The Italians might be world champions but they did not play like it at the Stade de Suisse last night.

Contentious: Ruud van Nistelrooy wheels away after scoring the opener

Their fans stood there, united as one in blue, and watched the replay on the giant screen high above Gianluigi Buffon's goal, reacting with a mixture of anger and amazement as Ruud van Nistelrooy, seemingly yards offside, redirected Wesley Sneijder's powerfully struck shot past their goalkeeper.

An incredulous Italy complained bitterly. So much so that Luca Toni was booked. They could have no complaints about what then followed. A super goal for Sneijder and one that demonstrated why Real Madrid paid more than £20million for him last summer a she celebrated his 24th birthday in style. The icing on the cake was Holland's third goal 10 minutes from time courtesy of Gio van Bronckhort's header.

Having seen France and Romania grind out a goalless draw, both sides knew that here was an opportunity to take a commanding lead in the so-called group of death. And as a consequence, both sides started with real conviction. Van Nistelrooy threatened inside a minute for Holland, while Antonio Di Natale responded for the Italians.

Unstoppable: Wesley Sneijder scores Holland's second goal - past keeper Gianluigi Buffon and Antonio Di Natale

It made for an open game, and one that suited the opposing play-makers. Andrea Pirlo was quick to impress for Italy, as was Rafael van der Vaart for the Dutch. The first real chance fell to the world champions, Toni squandering what was an excellent ball from Gennaro Gattuso with a header that drifted wide.

But when Dirk Kuyt then sent Van Nistelrooy clear the Real Madrid striker really should have gained some kind of advantage. Buffon was far too quick to dive in, and had it not been for the fact that Van Nistelrooy somehow remained on his feet, his rashness would have almost certainly resulted in a penalty for the Dutch.

As it was, Buffon's defensive colleagues managed to protect their goal in his momentary absence and Van Nistelrooy's stumbling effort was cleared. The Dutch were just about dominating possession, 56 per cent in the opening 20 minutes, the combination of Van der Vaart's invention and the industry of Kuyt and Van Nistelrooy troubling the Italians.

On the rise: Giovanni van Bronckhorst scores Holland's third

The goal that came in the 26th minute owed nothing, however, to hard work. Only outrageous good fortune. Only the failure of the match officials to realise that Van Nistelrooy was so far offside when Sneijder unleashed his long-range shot that he was actually halfway to Austria. Toni was booked for complaining but the Italians could only blame themselves for what followed five minutes later.

A second goal for the Dutch, and a brilliantly executed one at that. It was a super move that began with a goalline clearance from Van Bronckhorst, continued when the former Arsenal midfielder met Sneijder's pass with a terrific long-range diagonal ball and ended when Sneijder then met Kuyt's header with a half-volley that somehow beat Buffon at his near post.

The Italians were stunned and rapidly losing their composure. Di Natale tested Edwin van der Sar with a decent shot but a second booking soon followed for the Azzurri when Gianluca Zambrotta chopped down Kuyt.

In the 80th minute Holland once again punished Italy on the break, a move that began when Van der Sar dived at full stretch to parry a freekick from Pirlo and ended with a header from Van Bronckhorst. Kuyt was the first to test Buffon, but when the giant Italian blocked his shot the Liverpool forward crossed for Van Bronckhorst and Zambrotta proved powerless to stop the ball crossing the line.

Holland had beaten Italy for the first time since 1978 and Van Basten had outwitted his former AC Milan team-mate on the opposing bench. Quite a night for the Dutch. Not so good for the world champions.