Holland were every bit as professional as coach Marco van Basten promised they would be as they outclassed Romania to send Victor Piturca's side home and hand Italy a Euro 2008 lifeline.

Second-half strikes from Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Robin van Persie at Bern's Stade de Suisse Wankdorf earned the Oranje - already assured of a quarter-final berth and top spot in Group C - their third win of the tournament.

Defeat for the Dutch would have seen both 2006 World Cup finalists Italy and France eliminated, but even a much-changed Holland line-up were simply too good for Romania.

Piturca's side offered little in attack, failing to seriously test Ajax goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg despite knowing victory would have seen them advance to the last eight.

Instead it was the Azzurri who clinched second place in the 'Group of Death' thanks to their 2-0 triumph over France in Zurich.

Van Basten made nine changes from the team which thumped Les Bleus 4-1 last time out, with only Orlando Engelaar and Khalid Boulahrouz retained.

Van Basten had to wait until the second half to see his side deservedly open the scoring.

Ibrahim Afellay played in the cross from the right, Engelaar's dummy had the Romanian defence all at sea and Huntelaar timed his run to perfection to slot past Lobont in the 55th minute.

Much of the remainder of the match took place in the Romania half, despite the fact the game was of little consequence to the Dutch.

Then, in the 88th minute, man of the match Van Persie set Italian hearts at rest by controlling the ball on his chest, shaking off the attentions of Cosmin Contra and blasting a left-footed sizzler past Lobont.

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