Orange-boom could take the Dutch all the way to final

Many were tipping the current Spanish side to be the perennial underachievers to shrug off such an unwanted tag and make the biggest impact on this year's European Championships. Instead it's quickly becoming clear that it's the laid back Dutch side under the helm of Euro-great Marco Van Basten who are really brighten up the tournament - in more ways than one.

Their first match was billed as the first real test of what was deemed the group of death as they took on World Cup holders Italy but in a truly awesome encounter the Dutch managed to turn on the magic and for 90 minutes proved that the so-called 'total football' of the 70's and 80's was not lost on this group of players.

Although their opener controversial - yet legal - there was no doubting over the course of the game that Holland were the better team, showing swagger and strength not just up-front but also in defence. Yes it is true that the Italian's had there chances but the sheer pace of the Dutch break-aways which led to two of their goals just couldn't be stopped by the ageing legs of the Italian squad - the average age of which is the oldest in the history of the competition.

Van Nistelrooy, Sneijder and Van Bronckhorst took their goals well but it wasn't just the big names which performed on the night. Players such as Boulahrouz and Ooijer who have been criticised over their apparent quality - or lack of it - came through as heroes on the night and for once a Dutch side appeared to be playing in unison after so many tournaments when off the pitch antics have grabbed the headlines over the football.

The real test it seemed then was when the Dutch took on the French, another side with age firmly against them but so often a banana skin waiting to trip up an under-prepared side.

This wasn't the case with the Dutch who, after handing out Italy's biggest ever defeat in a major tournament final's produced an equally - if not more spectacular - impressive display as they ran out 4-1 winners thanks to strikes from Kuyt, Van Persie, Robben and the on form Sneijder but let's be honest, who isn't on form for the Netherlands at the moment?

It may seem that I am focusing on the positives a little too much here so okay here goes with the negatives:

Henry's goal.

That's it though, there really is nothing more so far that can be said against the Dutch and looking for negatives would be nigh-on impossible if not a little unfair after two performances like this and that is why so much money will be now bet on Holland to go all the way.

Even when they did concede against France it took them merely one minute to ease back into a two-goal lead with Robben racing down the other end and scoring one of the goals of the tournament from an incredibly acute angle with Henry still milking the French applause.

As already mentioned the Dutch performances so far this year have been truly incredible and even their own players find it a little bewildering. Van Nistelrooy told the BBC,

"We are still trying to get our heads round this.

"We couldn't expect this as we didn't have the best of form before the tournament started.

"Now it seems everything is falling into place, confidence is there and it lifts the team and makes a lot of difference I think" With Robben adding,

"They are great results but we have to stay down to earth. We have one more game in the group but then if we lose we are out and then this is all for nothing."

They are both right, there is just one more game left in the group and that is against a stubborn Romanian side who are not out of a shot of reaching the knock-out stages of the tournament and after the way the group of death has gone so far it would be a wise man who would be betting against them getting a result against the Dutch and sending both Italy and France home early.

Written by John Ford - A Freelance Football Journalist