Holland and Romania in final??

A Dutch supporter, his face painted in the colors of the national flag, sticks his tongue out as he waits for the start of the group C match between the Netherlands and Italy in Bern, Switzerland, Monday, June 9, 2008, at the Euro 2008 European Soccer Championships in Austria and Switzerland. (Dusan Vranic, AP)

Dutch romp into quarterfinals: A three-goal second half lifted the Netherlands to a 4-1 rout of France on Friday in Bern, Switzerland, and a place in the European Championship's quarterfinals.

Briefs | Soccer: Netherlands routs France at Euro 2008 Soccer Dutch romp into quarterfinals: A three-goal second half lifted the Netherlands to a 4-1 rout of France on Friday in Bern, Switzerland...

The Dutch romped past both 2006 World Cup finalists in Group C, beating Italy 3-0 before outclassing the French. The only goal the 1988 Euro champions have conceded came from Thierry Henry, who scored his record 45th goal for France in the 71st minute.

In the day's other game, Romania tied Italy 1-1 in Zurich. ( Dutch)

But Romania has strategy:

Even though Adrian Mutu missed a late penalty in a 1-1 draw that would have eliminated Italy, the Romanians have much to be excited about. If France and Italy draw in Zurich on Tuesday night, then a point in Bern would be enough for the Eastern European nation to reach the quarterfinals, where a likely showdown with Spain would beckon. (Evil Genius)

BERN, Switzerland – It should be no surprise that a man with the nickname “Satan” held no fear of Euro 2008’s Group of Death.

Romania coach Victor Piturca is a strange and mysterious character. That much is beyond dispute.

What some of Europe’s toughest football nations are now discovering is that he is also an astute tactician capable of devising a master plan to frustrate supposedly superior opponents.

But more on that later. You want to know about Satan, right?

The devilish nickname comes from the 52-year-old’s propensity to dress entirely in black, and he has embraced the moniker wholeheartedly as evidenced by his car’s license plate number (you guessed it, 666). Piturca admits the persona gives him an identity and profile he may otherwise have lacked.

“It is what people call me,” he said of his nickname. “I can’t do anything about it and it doesn’t bother me. It gives people something to talk about.

“I suppose as names go, it is quite a remarkable one.”

By Martin Rogers, Yahoo! Sports

The Evil Genius behind Romania's EURO Run