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....that any team that misses two penalties in regular time and three out of four in the shootout probably deserves to lose. Nonetheless the Dutch carried most of the play to Italy. Italy from the beginning seemed prepared to defend desperately and at times cynically for the entire time and, of course, more so once they had a man sent off. but they did defend well.
I think when it came to the penalty shootout Holland were a dispirited team and knew they were about to lose. They fulfilled their prophecy.
It is a pity the final isn't France - Holland. That would have been a more entertaining game than France - Italy as I am sure the Azzuri will repeat the same tactics against the French.
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