Euro 2000 Group D - Holland 3 France 2

With nothing to play for France and Euro 2000 co hosts Holland produced a super show in Amsterdam to complete the group stages and set up the real thrills of knockout football to come.

The 3-2 win for the Dutch will now see Frank Rijkaard's team play in front of its own Dutch fans for the rest of the tournament and on this game's evidence the Dutch side are growing into serious contenders for the title.

Holland improved greatly on their two previous performances at the Euro finals but they were playing a French team from which coach Roger Lemerre had left many established stars.

They were being rested before the weekend's excitement but both teams produced a vigorous spectacle of hard tackling and running laced with perfect technique and fine goals.

An absorbing midfield battle saw Edgar Davids wage a non-stop tackling exhibition against his French opponents and the Juventus star set the tempo for his side.

They trailed 2-1 to the World Cup holders at half time but were soon back on terms with a super finish.

Defender Frank De Boer scored his second goal of Euro 2000 by swinging a free kick from thirty metres away from Bernard Lama in the French goal and into the net by hitting across the ball with his left foot.

On 58 minutes Boudewijn Zenden latched onto a long ball down field from goalkeeper Sander Westerveld which went over Frank Leboeuf's head and the Barcelona star swept the chance into the net with his right foot to score the winning goal.

David Trezeguet fluffed the best chance to bring France level in the 75th minute when he was put clear on the left had side of the penalty area but his shot caught and stopped in between Westerveld's legs.

Christophe Dugarry put France into the lead in the 7th minute when he was unmarked to head in a Jean Micoud corner.

Patrick Kluivert wrecked the French off side trap in the 15th minute with a well timed run past Leboeuf.

The striker carried the ball into the left edge of the area and cut inside again past Leboeuf before hitting a shot across Lama and into the far corner for a great and expert finish.

Dennis Bergkamp hit a volley into the ground and against the cross bar in the 21st minute and Jean Micoud tried to score from a free kick at the half way line that had Westerveld back peddling to tip the ball over from underneath the bar for an outrageous attempt by the new Parma AC signing which won a corner.

Micoud too the corner and Jaap Stam headed clear only as far as Sylvain Wiltord. The Bordeaux striker drove a shot back at goal and Trezeguet flicked it past Westerveld into the net with a slight touch which Holland claimed was off side to no avail.