The Netherlands piled on the goals for the second straight match and now have disposed of 2006 World Cup finalists Italy and France with ease in the European Championship.

The Dutch were supposed to struggle to earn a spot in the quarterfinals at this year's tournament, but instead have clinched first place in Group C after only two matches: a 4-1 victory over France on Friday night after a 3-0 win earlier against the world champion Italians.

Dirk Kuyt, Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder scored a goal each for the Dutch in Bern, Switzerland.

"Italy was already so beautiful and this is exactly the same," Sneijder said. "Super. Italy and France are nothing to laugh at."

The Netherlands became the third team to reach the quarterfinals, following the progression of Portugal and Croatia on the previous two days.

"We have had two fantastic wins with this team," coach Marco van Basten said.

Italy again struggled Friday, but stayed alive at Euro 2008 when goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon preserved a 1-1 draw with Romania in Zurich by saving an 81st-minute penalty kick by Adrian Mutu.

"A save is a save — I was lucky," said Buffon, whose team needs to beat France on Tuesday to have any chance of advancing from the tournament's toughest group. "The draw doesn't make things easy for us, but thinking about the fact that we could have been eliminated, we've got to be pleased for this point."

While the Dutch have been powerful on attack, the only goal they have allowed came from Thierry Henry, who scored his record 45th for France in the 71st minute.

Kuyt headed in the opening goal in the ninth minute, and Robben set up Van Persie for the second goal in the 59th. Robben ran down the left and crossed the ball in front of the net for his teammate, who pushed it past goalkeeper Gregory Coupet.

After Henry scored, Robben made it 3-1 in the 72nd and Sneijder finished it off with a curling shot from 20 yards.

"Let's have a party now," Sneijder said. "Not too much because we still need to play the quarterfinals."<

Romania 1, Italy 1

At Zurich, Mutu, who gave Romania the lead in the 55th minute following a defensive mistake by Gianluca Zambrotta, had a chance to send Italy out, but Buffon was able to get a hand on the ball before clearing it with his foot.

"Italy got lucky today," Romania coach Victor Piturca said.

The Italians tied it one minute after Mutu scored his 29th goal in 63 appearances for Romania. Christian Panucci scored from close range after a corner kick was headed toward him by Giorgio Chiellini.

"I was upset the way we allowed a goal. After that, penalties have been lost, are lost, and will be lost in the future," Piturca said. "Buffon is the world's best goalkeeper."