After beating current World Cup holders Italy 3-0 in their first game, the Dutch were equally emphatic in pasting runners-up France.
The French had Thierry Henry available after injury and he scored a smart goal too with the deftest of touches with less than 20 minutes remaining. That gave the French hope and it reduced the deficit to 1-2 but the Dutch scored within a minute to oput it beyond doubt.
Holland again had those lucky(?) powder blue socks and gave out lessons in counter-attacking and smart movement. France, like Italy, had more and maybe better chances but the Dutch absorbed and hit back with interest.
Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt put the Dutch ahead inside 10 minutes and it stayed that way until almost the hour although Henry missed a couple of prime chances of the type he would have buried eyes closed a year or two. He was made to pay as a blistering three man counter-attack was finshed by Arsenal's Van Persie just 2 minutes after appearing as sub.
When Henry scored, it looked game on again but Robben spectacularly finished from an angle and Sneiders wrapped it up in added time.
The Dutch are through while France, like Italy, may not be in the quarter-finals at all.
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