Germany top ‘Group of Death’ as disappointing Dutch exit Euro 2012

Paul Gittings, CNN
Updated 5:31 PM EDT, Sun June 17, 2012
Spain's soccer team celebrates with the Euro 2012 trophy on a double-decker bus during the victory parade in Madrid on Monday. Spain defeated Italy 4-0 in the final match on Sunday. Euro 2012, bringing together 16 of Europe's best national soccer teams, began June 8 in Poland and Ukraine. Look back at the action and atmosphere.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Spain's soccer team celebrates with the Euro 2012 trophy on a double-decker bus during the victory parade in Madrid on Monday. Spain defeated Italy 4-0 in the final match on Sunday. Euro 2012, bringing together 16 of Europe's best national soccer teams, began June 8 in Poland and Ukraine. Look back at the action and atmosphere.
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Supporters of Spain's national soccer team are hosed down before the team's victory parade in Madrid on Monday.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Supporters of Spain's national soccer team are hosed down before the team's victory parade in Madrid on Monday.
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Spain's team arrives at Cibeles Square on top of a double-decker bus Monday after parading through Madrid.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Spain's team arrives at Cibeles Square on top of a double-decker bus Monday after parading through Madrid.
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Juan Mata, left, and Santi Cazorla of Spain hoist the Euro 2012 trophy during Monday's celebrations.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Juan Mata, left, and Santi Cazorla of Spain hoist the Euro 2012 trophy during Monday's celebrations.
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Fans celebrate in Cibeles Square during the victory parade. Organizers had the crowd cooled off with hoses.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Fans celebrate in Cibeles Square during the victory parade. Organizers had the crowd cooled off with hoses.
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Spain fans gather in Madrid to congratulate their team on Monday.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Spain fans gather in Madrid to congratulate their team on Monday.
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Captain Iker Casillas of Spain lifts the trophy after the team defeated Italy 4-0 in the Euro 2012 final on Sunday, July 1, in Kiev, Ukraine.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Captain Iker Casillas of Spain lifts the trophy after the team defeated Italy 4-0 in the Euro 2012 final on Sunday, July 1, in Kiev, Ukraine.
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Cesc Fabregas of Spain jumps on his teammates as they celebrate after Fernando Torres scored his team's third goal against Italy.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Cesc Fabregas of Spain jumps on his teammates as they celebrate after Fernando Torres scored his team's third goal against Italy.
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Italy's Mario Balotelli reacts to Spain's fourth and final goal in Sunday's match.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Italy's Mario Balotelli reacts to Spain's fourth and final goal in Sunday's match.
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Spain celebrates after defeating Italy on Sunday. It was the team's third successive major international trophy.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Spain celebrates after defeating Italy on Sunday. It was the team's third successive major international trophy.
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Fernando Torres of Spain celebrates scoring his team's third goal against Italy.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Fernando Torres of Spain celebrates scoring his team's third goal against Italy.
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Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon looks on during Sunday's match against Spain.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon looks on during Sunday's match against Spain.
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Spain's Fernando Torres nudges the ball toward the goal past Italy's Gianluigi Buffon.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Spain's Fernando Torres nudges the ball toward the goal past Italy's Gianluigi Buffon.
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Gianluigi Buffon of Italy looks back at the ball as Spain's Fernando Torres scores.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Gianluigi Buffon of Italy looks back at the ball as Spain's Fernando Torres scores.
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Cesc Fabregas of Spain runs with the ball past Leonardo Bonucci of Italy.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Cesc Fabregas of Spain runs with the ball past Leonardo Bonucci of Italy.
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Goalkeeper Iker Casillas of Spain celebrates after his team's third goal against Italy.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Goalkeeper Iker Casillas of Spain celebrates after his team's third goal against Italy.
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Fernando Torres of Spain speaks with his daughter, Nora, after Sunday's match against Italy.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Fernando Torres of Spain speaks with his daughter, Nora, after Sunday's match against Italy.
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Jordi Alba of Spain celebrates after scoring his team's second goal as Leonardo Bonucci of Italy kicks the ball in frustration.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Jordi Alba of Spain celebrates after scoring his team's second goal as Leonardo Bonucci of Italy kicks the ball in frustration.
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Spain's Sergio Ramos of Spain reacts next to Mario Balotelli of Italy during the match on Sunday.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Spain's Sergio Ramos of Spain reacts next to Mario Balotelli of Italy during the match on Sunday.
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Daniele De Rossi of Italy falls to the ground Sunday after battling David Silva of Spain for the ball.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Daniele De Rossi of Italy falls to the ground Sunday after battling David Silva of Spain for the ball.
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Iker Casillas of Spain, center, stretches for the ball in front of teammate Sergio Ramos, right, as Mario Balotelli of Italy attempts a goal on Sunday.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Iker Casillas of Spain, center, stretches for the ball in front of teammate Sergio Ramos, right, as Mario Balotelli of Italy attempts a goal on Sunday.
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Ignazio Abate of Italy, left, shows his dejection after Spain scored a second goal.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Ignazio Abate of Italy, left, shows his dejection after Spain scored a second goal.
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Federico Balzaretti, left, and Leonardo Bonucci of Italy challenge Spain's David Silva during Sunday's final match.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Federico Balzaretti, left, and Leonardo Bonucci of Italy challenge Spain's David Silva during Sunday's final match.
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David Silva of Spain celebrates after scoring the opening goal in the Euro 2012 final match against Italy on Sunday.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
David Silva of Spain celebrates after scoring the opening goal in the Euro 2012 final match against Italy on Sunday.
Spain's Sergio Ramos slides in to tackle Mario Balotelli of Italy.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Spain's Sergio Ramos slides in to tackle Mario Balotelli of Italy.
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Ignazio Abate of Italy, center, grabs the shirt of Spain's Andres Iniesta.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Ignazio Abate of Italy, center, grabs the shirt of Spain's Andres Iniesta.
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David Silva of Spain, right, celebrates with teammate Alvaro Arbeloa after scoring the opening goal against Italy.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
David Silva of Spain, right, celebrates with teammate Alvaro Arbeloa after scoring the opening goal against Italy.
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Antonio Cassano of Italy battles for the ball during the final match against Spain.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Antonio Cassano of Italy battles for the ball during the final match against Spain.
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Fans enjoy the atmosphere ahead of the Euro 2012 final between Spain and Italy.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Fans enjoy the atmosphere ahead of the Euro 2012 final between Spain and Italy.
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Italy's Mario Balotelli of Italy warms up ahead of Sunday's match againt Spain.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Italy's Mario Balotelli of Italy warms up ahead of Sunday's match againt Spain.
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Italy fans cheer ahead of the match against Spain.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Italy fans cheer ahead of the match against Spain.
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A fan rallies before the Italy-Spain final.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
A fan rallies before the Italy-Spain final.
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The national flags of the competing nations are carried around the pitch during the closing ceremony before the Euro 2012 final in Kiev.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
The national flags of the competing nations are carried around the pitch during the closing ceremony before the Euro 2012 final in Kiev.
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Spain fans gear up for the match against Italy on Sunday.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Spain fans gear up for the match against Italy on Sunday.
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The Italian team celebates their victory over Germany at the end of the Euro 2012 football championships semifinal match on Thursday, June 28, at the National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
The Italian team celebates their victory over Germany at the end of the Euro 2012 football championships semifinal match on Thursday, June 28, at the National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland.
AFP/Getty Images
German defender Mats Hummels, center, heads the ball by Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, in red.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
German defender Mats Hummels, center, heads the ball by Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, in red.
AFP/Getty Images
Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon fails to stop a penalty.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon fails to stop a penalty.
AFP/Getty Images
Italian forward Antonio Di Natale vies with German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Italian forward Antonio Di Natale vies with German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer
AFP/Getty Images
German forward Miroslav Klose lands on the ground while vying with Italian defender Federico Balzaretti.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
German forward Miroslav Klose lands on the ground while vying with Italian defender Federico Balzaretti.
AFP/Getty Images
German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer grabs the ball.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer grabs the ball.
AFP/Getty Images
Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini heads the ball.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini heads the ball.
AFP/Getty Images
Sami Khedira of Germany, in white, battles for the ball with Riccardo Montolivo of Italy.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Sami Khedira of Germany, in white, battles for the ball with Riccardo Montolivo of Italy.
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Mario Balotelli, right, of Italy battles for the ball with Mats Hummels of Germany.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Mario Balotelli, right, of Italy battles for the ball with Mats Hummels of Germany.
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Mario Balotelli of Italy celebrates after scoring his team's second goal.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Mario Balotelli of Italy celebrates after scoring his team's second goal.
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Italian forward Mario Balotelli shoots to score his second goal of the match.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Italian forward Mario Balotelli shoots to score his second goal of the match.
AFP/Getty Images
Italian midfielder Daniele De Rossi and German midfielder Mesut Ozil try to get control of the ball.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Italian midfielder Daniele De Rossi and German midfielder Mesut Ozil try to get control of the ball.
AFP/Getty Images
German midfielder Ilkay Guendogan vies with Italian defender Andrea Barzagli.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
German midfielder Ilkay Guendogan vies with Italian defender Andrea Barzagli.
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Claudio Marchisio of Italy and Bastian Schweinsteiger of Germany battle for the ball.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Claudio Marchisio of Italy and Bastian Schweinsteiger of Germany battle for the ball.
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Italian forward Mario Balotelli, in blue, heads the ball into the goal, scoring the first goal in the match.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Italian forward Mario Balotelli, in blue, heads the ball into the goal, scoring the first goal in the match.
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Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini slides under German midfielder Sami Khedira.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini slides under German midfielder Sami Khedira.
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Italian midfielder Daniele De Rossi goes airborne past German forward Lukas Podolski on Thursday.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Italian midfielder Daniele De Rossi goes airborne past German forward Lukas Podolski on Thursday.
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The Spanish national team celebrates its win in the Euro 2012 semifinal match against Portugal at Donbass Arena in Donetsk, Ukraine, on Wednesday, June 27.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
The Spanish national team celebrates its win in the Euro 2012 semifinal match against Portugal at Donbass Arena in Donetsk, Ukraine, on Wednesday, June 27.
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Cesc Fabregas of Spain scores the winning penalty.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Cesc Fabregas of Spain scores the winning penalty.
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Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas jumps for the ball during the semifinal match.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas jumps for the ball during the semifinal match.
AFP/Getty Images
Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo lies on the ground as Spanish defender Alvaro Arbeloa tries to help.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo lies on the ground as Spanish defender Alvaro Arbeloa tries to help.
AFP/Getty Images
Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas is tackled by Portuguese defender Joao Pereira.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas is tackled by Portuguese defender Joao Pereira.
AFP/Getty Images
Portuguese midfielder Joao Moutinho, right, vies with Spanish midfielder Andres Iniesta.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Portuguese midfielder Joao Moutinho, right, vies with Spanish midfielder Andres Iniesta.
AFP/Getty Images
Portuguese goalkeeper Rui Patricio stops a shot during the penalty shootout.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Portuguese goalkeeper Rui Patricio stops a shot during the penalty shootout.
AFP/Getty Images
Portuguese midfielder Joao Moutinho reacts after he fails to score a penalty shot against Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Portuguese midfielder Joao Moutinho reacts after he fails to score a penalty shot against Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
AFP/Getty Images
Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas stops a penalty kicked by Portuguese midfielder Joao Moutinho.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas stops a penalty kicked by Portuguese midfielder Joao Moutinho.
AFP/Getty Images
Portuguese coach Paulo Bento talks to his players.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Portuguese coach Paulo Bento talks to his players.
AFP/Getty Images
Alvaro Negredo of Spain and Bruno Alves of Portugal slam into each other.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Alvaro Negredo of Spain and Bruno Alves of Portugal slam into each other.
Bruno Alves of Portugal and Alvaro Negredo of Spain challenge for the ball.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Bruno Alves of Portugal and Alvaro Negredo of Spain challenge for the ball.
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Portuguese midfielder Raul Meireles heads the ball.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Portuguese midfielder Raul Meireles heads the ball.
AFP/Getty Images
Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal jumps for a high ball in front of Jordi Alba of Spain.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal jumps for a high ball in front of Jordi Alba of Spain.
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A Portugal fan shows his support.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
A Portugal fan shows his support.
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A sea of Spain fans show their colors.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
A sea of Spain fans show their colors.
AFP/Getty Images
Spanish midfielder David Silva, in red, vies with Portuguese defender Fabio Coentrao, left and Portuguese defender Bruno Alves.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Spanish midfielder David Silva, in red, vies with Portuguese defender Fabio Coentrao, left and Portuguese defender Bruno Alves.
AFP/Getty Images
Spanish midfielder Andres Iniesta, left, falls while vying with Portuguese defender Joao Pereira.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Spanish midfielder Andres Iniesta, left, falls while vying with Portuguese defender Joao Pereira.
AFP/Getty Images
Andres Iniesta of Spain shoots past Pepe and Joao Pereira of Portugal.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Andres Iniesta of Spain shoots past Pepe and Joao Pereira of Portugal.
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Sergio Ramos of Spain challenges Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Sergio Ramos of Spain challenges Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal
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Italy's national team celebrates after winning the penalty shootout in the quarterfinal match against England on Sunday, June 24, in Kiev, Ukraine.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Italy's national team celebrates after winning the penalty shootout in the quarterfinal match against England on Sunday, June 24, in Kiev, Ukraine.
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Joe Hart of England reacts during the match against Italy.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Joe Hart of England reacts during the match against Italy.
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Wayne Rooney of England attempts an overhead kick on Sunday against Italy.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Wayne Rooney of England attempts an overhead kick on Sunday against Italy.
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England's Wayne Rooney maneuvers against Italy.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
England's Wayne Rooney maneuvers against Italy.
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The English players line up during the penalty shootout against Italy.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
The English players line up during the penalty shootout against Italy.
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Daniele De Rossi of Italy reacts after a missed goal during the quarterfinal match.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Daniele De Rossi of Italy reacts after a missed goal during the quarterfinal match.
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Scott Parker of England and Andrea Pirlo of Italy compete for the ball Sunday.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Scott Parker of England and Andrea Pirlo of Italy compete for the ball Sunday.
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Joleon Lescott of England and Mario Balotelli of Italy share a moment during a break in the match.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Joleon Lescott of England and Mario Balotelli of Italy share a moment during a break in the match.
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Mario Balotelli of Italy strikes the ball as Joleon Lescott of England looks on.
Euro 2012: The best photos —
Mario Balotelli of Italy strikes the ball as Joleon Lescott of England looks on.
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