Despite making no fewer than nine changes to their side, the Dutch maintained their 100% record with an easy win over a Romanian side that simply was not up to it on such a crucial night. The Tricolorii go home, while the Dutch prepare to meet Russia or Sweden

The World Champions of Italy might have so nearly been humbled, and France may also have left with their tails between their legs, but the fairytale of Romania's advancement through the 'Group of Death' concluded before the final chapter was written.

For it was the jubilant Dutch that left with all three points in Bern, Marco van Basten's all-changed line-up doing more than enough to sink their opponents on what was a largely uninspiring occasion.

First Half

Very little occurred to excite the largely Dutch crowd in the stadium in the opening stages. The Netherlands, perhaps finding their feet with an unfamiliar line-up, were content to work through slow buildup. Romania, meanwhile, offered little.

Bit after the quarter hour mark the Tricolorii began to apply a little bit of pressure with their possession, mainly through Adrian Mutu. The striker, though, was to endure a luckless evening from a wide position behind Marius Niculae, hit his first real chance off Wilfred Bouma 20 minutes in.

At the other end, the Holland side sprung into life. First Afellay cut the ball back wonderfully into the box only for Chivu to clear at full stretch as the danger mounted.

The game took on something of an end-to-end quality for a while after that, but neither side looked particularly coherent. The Dutch, though, marginally had the better of it, not least after Huntelaar flicked the ball on to an unmarked Robben 35 minutes in only for the Real Madrid man to drag his shot just wide when he shohld have scored.

Codrea passed up a similarly positive opportunity at the other end, albeit from longer range, as half time approached, and although the Romanians had made them sweat on occasion the Dutch seemed to be on top.

Second Half

Still, the Romanians had everything to play for in the second period and came out with all due enthusiasm. After some pressure in the final third, though, a wasted free-kick was all that the Tricolorii had to show for their efforts.

The Oranje, then, took the initiative once more. Van Persie, getting on the end of a lovely long ball, was let down by a weak shot on the turn, but soon enough it was to be 1-0 to the Oranje.

It was a well-worked team effort, and it came on the break. Romania surrendered the ball, and the Dutch brought it down the right. Afellay crossed it in low, and with Engelaar stepping over it, there was Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to decisively side-foot it into the back of the net.

Romania had to do something, and Daniel Niculae came on for namesake Marius to reply to Melchiot's coming on for Boulahrouz. The Dutch, not to be outdone, then raised the stakes by replacing Robben with Kuyt.

Kuyt was to see plenty of the ball over the next ten minutes, although there were to be relatively few chances. Afellay had the best of it 20 minutes from time after being put through by Van Persie, but a sliding challenge from Tamas did for that.

Romania, despite still having it all to play for, were exhausted and presumably demoralised by news of Italy's 2-0 lead, and it showed as the jubilant Dutch finished strongly. Indeed, they were to find a second goal: atoning for his earlier miss, Robin Van Persie getting on the end of a cross from the right before beating Lobont with a wonderful effort into the roof of the net.

The Tricolorii heads, then, were well and truly down, and the Dutch held theirs high as they take their 100% record to the next round to meet Sweden or Russia. Romania, who started so well and shocked the world champions and France, leave empty-handed.