Euro 2012 paper review: 'A black page in the history of Holland'

The Dutch press hits out at their side's first-round exit, while the Portuguese hail the return to form of Cristiano Ronaldo

Jacob Steinberg
guardian.co.uk

Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder contemplate Holland's exit from Euro 2012. Photograph: Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty Images

Farewell then, Holland, slain by the Group of Death. But to be perfectly honest, they won't be missed. Not this time. Not after their worst ever performance at an international performance, not after finishing bottom of their group with three defeats from three games. With that in mind, the Dutch press is in no mood to hold back, the headline in De Telegraaf instantly capturing the mood of desolation: "Oranje, shame on you!" it blasts, getting straight to the point.

It had started so promisingly for Holland against Portugal, Rafael van der Vaart giving them an early lead, but the Portuguese hit back with two goals from an irrepressible Cristiano Ronaldo to send the Dutch packing. "After the goal, the team seemed paralysed for a time," writes Tijmen Lensink. "Without winning a single point, the Dutch team leaves Poland and Ukraine with its tail between its legs." Holland's first group-stage exit at a European Championship since 1980 marks an "inglorious retreat" according to Lensink.

The criticism does not stop there, with the paper tipping the under-fire manager Bert van Marwijk to leave after overseeing an "outright embarrassment". "Never before had the Netherlands taken zero points from the group stage. In other words, Van Marwijk and Co wrote a black page in our football history in Kharkiv." Elsewhere it is suggested that Holland currently have no place in the top echelons in international football, with Nieuwsblog, referencing "the mockery of the European championship, noting that no team has ever destroyed its reputation so quickly and so thoroughly as Holland have managed.

"The Dutch team now knows where it stands," writes Chris Nijnatten in Algemeen Dagblad. "In the pale regions of the margins of the world. The belief was based on an illusion. It was the belief in a disjointed group, full of misunderstanding and full of gossip. It was the belief in strong containers without enthusiasm (Robin van Persie) and without a future (Mark van Bommel)." Although Van Marwijk did what many felt he should, dropping Van Bommel for Van der Vaart, Nijnatten says this merely left a creaky defence exposed. "The block was needed against stronger opponents, in order to protect the vulnerable back line," he says.

Few expect Van Marwijk to stay, yet while his popularity is at an all-time low, much of the focus is placed on the players, another paper pointing out that with so many good players in the side, there was no way Holland should have finished with no points. "Egos have destroyed the team."

While the Dutch lick their wounds, Portugal revel in a famous victory and after a brilliant match-winning display from Ronaldo, Correio da Manhã puts it best: "We have our hero back, the country can now rest". Scorn had been heaped on Ronaldo after a wayward performance in the previous game against Denmark, but against Holland he was exceptional, menacing the Dutch defence throughout and helping himself to two fine goals. "The Portuguese reaction to the Dutch goal was brutal," says the paper. "It was Cristiano Ronaldo's night. He hit the post twice and scored two. We have our hero back. The country can sleep soundly."

"Paulo Bento could not ask for more," writes Publico, before sounding a word of caution over the quarter-final against the Czech Republic. "The leaders of the federation could already book tickets to Warsaw, where a surprising Czech Republic will be waiting for the Portuguese delegation for a remake of the quarter-finals of Euro 96. This time without Karel Poborsky." The memory of the Czech's infamous scoop 16 years ago remains raw.

The other match in Group B was more low key, Germany's win over Denmark sending them through as group winners. Bild tries to ratchet up the excitement with their headline "Boom boom Bender!" in honour of Lars Bender's late winner, but Germany's performance left most underwhelmed. "I thought it would be easier against Denmark," says Franz Beckenbauer. "To be champions, we must improve."

There is praise in Die Zeit for the performance of the Danes despite their exit. "The Danes played namely such as Löw had feared the day before," it writes. "Defiant, stubborn, and without fear. The Danes were vigilant, well-organised and also had a greater presence in midfield." Clearly, then, the feeling in Germany is that they have a way to go if they are to win the tournament.

That provides little consolation for an unfortunate Denmark however, although there is optimism about the way they performed in the toughest of groups. As Christian Thye-Petersen says in Jyllands-Poster, Denmark were a goal away from knocking Germany out. "The crucial question, when disappointment has subsided, is whether the effort gave promise for the future," continues Thye-Petersen. "It did." Focus turns to qualifying for the World Cup in Brazil in 2014 and Thye-Petersen is confident this is a team that can take heart from their showing at Euro 2012.

"Based on what we have seen and experienced with the Danish national football team, I have no doubt that Denmark will qualify for World Cup - yes, I expect it," he says, pointing out that the youngster Christian Eriksen will be more mature, the defence with Daniel Agger is solid and up front Nicklas Bendtner can become even better. Where next for Denmark then? "Next stop – Rio."