[GROUP C REPORT CARDS] The Netherlands, 3-0 winner over Italy in its opening game, outdid itself with a 4-1 win over France. Romania moved into second place in Group C and has a shot at reaching the quarterfinals after it held Italy to a 1-1 tie. Soccer America's Mike Woitalla and Paul Kennedy grade the players.

NETHERLANDS-FRANCE (4-1)

After Dirk Kuyt's early goal, Thierry Henry had two chances to even matters. He was unfortunate to not earn a penalty when Andre Ooijer stopped his shot with his hand in the area, but the French star should have done better with only Edwin van der Sar to beat on the second chance. Subs Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder added second-half goals for the efficient Dutchmen, while Henry managed a consolation goal for the struggling Bleus.

Netherlands Player Ratings
GRADE PLAYER (CLUB) GP/G
7 Edwin van der Sar (Man. United) 127/0
5 Andre Ooijer (Blackburn Rovers) 39/2
6 Khalid Boulahrouz (Sevilla) 24/0
6 Joris Mathijsen (Hamburg) 34/2
7 Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord) 80/5
7 Nigel de Jong (Hamburg) 25/0
5 Orlando Engelaar (Twente) 8/0
7 Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool) 40/8
6 Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg) 57/10
8 Wesley Sneijder (Real Madrid) 47/11
7 Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid) 63/32
Subs:
8 Arjen Robben (Real Madrid) 26/8
7 Robin van Persie (Arsenal) 26/8
NR Wilfred Bouma (Aston Villa) 34/2

France Player Ratings
GRADE PLAYER (CLUB) GP/G
3 Gregory Coupet (Lyon) 32/0
4 Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich) 57/0
3 Lilian Thuram (Barcelona) 141/2
4 William Gallas (Arsenal) 63/2
5 Patrice Evra (Man. United) 12/0
6 Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich) 28/4
4 Claude Makelele (Chelsea) 69/0
4 Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon) 14/0
4 Florent Malouda (Chelsea) 40/3
5 Sidney Govou (Lyon) 33/7
6 Thierry Henry (Barcelona) 101/45
Subs:
2 Bafetimbi Gomis (St. Etienne) 3/2
4 Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 50/11

(1=low; 5=average; 10=high)

ITALY-NETHERLANDS (1-1)

Italian goalkeeper Gianluggi Buffon used his hand and leg to save Adrian Mutu's late penalty kick to salvage a 1-1 tie with Romania and keep Italy's hopes of reaching the second round alive. Coach Robert Donadoni, who complained Italy was robbed of Luca Toni's goal on a bad offside call, made five changes from the lineup that fell 3-0 to the Netherlands. Mutu had put Romania ahead after exploiting Gianluca Zambrotta's attempt to head the ball back to his keep. A minute later, Christian Panucci stabbed home Giorgio Chiellini's header.

Italy Player Ratings
GRADE PLAYER (CLUB) GP/G
9 Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus) 84/0
5 Fabio Grosso (Lyon) 33/3
5 Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus) 11/1
6 Christian Panucci (Roma) 55/4
3 Gianluca Zambrotta (Barcelona) 73/2
7 Daniele De Rossi (Roma) 34/4
6 Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan) 48/6
7 Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus) 88/27
6 Simone Perrotta (Roma) 41/2
6 Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus) 37/4
7 Luca Toni (Bayern Munich) 36/15
Subs:
nr Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese) 9/3
nr Massimo Ambrosini (AC Milan) 33/0
nr Antonio Cassano (Sampdoria) 13/3

Romania Player Ratings
GRADE PLAYER (CLUB) GP/G
8 Bogdan Lobont (Dinamo Bucharest) 65/0
6 Razvan Rat (Shakhtar Donetsk) 50/1
4 Dorin Goian (Steaua Bucharest) 21/3
4 Gabriel Tamas (Auxerre) 34/2
5 Cosmin Contra (Getafe) 65/7
7 Cristian Chivu (Inter Milan) 61/3
nr Mirel Radoi (Steaua Bucharest) 45/1
5 Paul Codrea (Siena) 35/1
4 Florentin Petre (CSKA Sofia)
7 Adrian Mutu (Fiorentina) 63//29
4 Daniel Niculae (Inverness) 32/13
Subs
4 Nicolae Dica (Steaua Bucharest) 27/8
4 Banel Nicolita (Steaua Bucharest) 22/1
nr Razvan Cocis (Lok. Moscow) 23/1

(1=low; 5=average; 10=high)