Netherlands  3 Italy  0FABIO CANNAVARO, where are you? If anyone ever had any doubts as to just what a fundamental part the injured Italian captain played in Italy's World Cup triumph two years ago, the answer came in four devastating minutes in the first half of Italy's remarkable, opening game 3-0 loss to The Netherlands in Bern last night.

When Italy conceded two goals in just four minutes to the Dutch, two thoughts immediately sprang to mind. Firstly, the men in blue were clearly missing their charismatic captain, and secondly two such quick goals in a top-level game like this were always likely to wrap up the result.

For much of the next 50 minutes, it was a frustrated but determined Italy who made the running in a desperate attempt to get back into the game. However, for all that they had plenty of possession, the best chances of the second half went to the Dutch who, having weathered the Italian fightback, then hit the killer blow via a third goal, courtesy of Italian defender Gianluca Zambrotta and Holland's Giovanni Van Bronckhurst.

The obvious question now concerns the Dutch. Are they really three goals better than the reigning World champions or were they flattered by that devastating four-minute period?

Speaking after the game, Wesley Sneijder, one of the best players in an impressive Dutch team, was playing it low key: "We've got to think about Friday now, I'm not stopping to celebrate now"

As for Italy, there will doubtless be nationwide recriminations about the controversial goal that started the rot, a 26th-minute tap-in from Ruud Van Nistelrooy. The goal originated with a Rafael Van der Vaart free-kick that goalkeeper Gigi Buffon cleared as far as Sneijder. The Real Madrid man hit a hard low shot that Van Nistelrooy turned into the net from a seemingly offside position.

However, it would seem that the referee may have considered that Van Nistelrooy had been played on by defender Christian Panucci, then lying behind the goalline after colliding with Buffon.

Asked about this opening goal after the game, Italian coach Roberto Donadoni refused to cry foul, saying: "I'm not here to discuss the referee's decisions, He gave it as a goal, so it is a goal and you have to get on with it".

Things soon went from bad to worse for Italy. Inevitably a little unhinged by that goal, they were perhaps in a bit too big of a hurry to get back into the match, being well and truly caught out just four minutes later when The Netherlands put themselves 2-0 up with a superb goal on the counter-attack.

Van Bronckhhurst cleared an Italian corner kick off his line and then raced into space on the left. The ball was then knocked into the path of Van Bronckhhurst who hit a deep cross to Dirk Kuyt at the back post.

The Liverpool man headed back down into the path of Sneijder who struck home by far the best goal of the tournament so far.

Van Bronckhurst wrapped up the points in the 79th minute after a surging run and lay-off for Kuyt who chipped back in for Van Bronckhurst to head home with the aid of Zambrotta's boot.

In the end, an exhausted Italy were well and truly drubbed. Having dominated the game for the best part of an hour and having brought on Fabio Grosso, Alessandro Del Piero and Antonio Cassano in their anxiety to get back into it, the game ended with The Netherlands going perilously close to scoring a fourth goal.

Donadoni now faces a delicate task as he attempts to get his men back into the right mental shape for Friday's game with Romania in Zurich. Furthermore, he will be worried that for all their possession, the Italians forced Van der Sar into very few saves.

Perhaps not only Cannavaro but also another charismatic player, internationally retired Roma talisman, Francesco Totti was missing last night.

Donadoni can console himself with Italy's first 20 minutes in what was an intense quality start to the game. Both sides had early chances with Luca Toni and Antonio Di Natale narrowly failing to find one another in the Dutch area on at least two occasions while Van Nistelrooy, had he chosen to fall over, might well have a penalty as early as the 18th minute.

NETHERLANDS:Van der Sar, Ooijer, Boulahrouz (Heitinga 77), Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst, Kuyt (Afellay 81), De Jong, Van der Vaart, Engelaar, Sneijder, van Nistelrooy (Van Persie 70). Subs Not Used: Timmer, Stekelenburg, De Zeeuw, Robben, Melchiot, Bouma, De Cler, Huntelaar, Vennegoor of Hesselink. Booked: De Jong. Goals: van Nistelrooy 26, Sneijder 31, Van Bronckhorst 80.

ITALY:Buffon, Panucci, Barzagli, Materazzi (Grosso 55), Zambrotta, Ambrosini, Pirlo, Gattuso, Camoranesi (Cassano 75), Toni, Di Natale (Del Piero 64). Subs Not Used: Amelia, De Sanctis, Chiellini, Gamberini, De Rossi, Borriello, Quagliarella, Perrotta, Aquilani. Booked: Toni, Zambrotta, Gattuso.

Referee:Peter Frojdfeldt (Sweden).