(Insert superlative here) Oranje!

Holland have just beaten the reigning world champions Italy 3-0 in their opening fixture of Euro 2008. Expect to read a lot about it in the paper tomorrow.

There is a book about Dutch football by David Winner called ‘Brilliant Orange’ and I think that is the right adjective to describe tonight’s game.  Wonderful, outstanding, mesmeric and just downright beautiful all-round.

I have enjoyed Euro 2008 so far but on arriving home with twenty minutes left in the Romania-France game today and hearing it written off as an awfully negative, ugly game I worried for the tournament.  There had been no outstanding game so far and tomorrow’s Group D games do not promise to be spectacular.  The competition needed tonight’s game to be more than special, it needed to grab the continent by the scruff of the neck and shout “Yes Romania, we admire your tactically-astute, defensive football – but this is how it should be done”.

It did that and so much more.

I am caught up in the euphoria of the performance at the moment and don’t wish to comment too much as I’ll be prone to hyperbole.  Having predicted that they would finish bottom of Group C though I’ve never been more pleased to eat a slice of humble pie.  Even though theoretically they still could, if they lose 4-0 in the next two games they will still have made a huge contribution.  Marco Van Basten has crafted a team that, tonight at least, reminded us about the beauty of football and it was perfectly juxtaposed against the afternoon game.

I have previously questioned Dirk Kuyt and commented that he is a worker and little else.  An attacking version of the phrase “Water Carrier” that Eric Cantona used to insult Didier Deschamps contribution to France.  Well tonight you proved me wrong.

I wonder why Van Bronchorst was in the side when players like Urby Emanuelson were waiting in the wings.  Again, questions answered.  It is not inappropriate to say that every player from Van Der Sar to Van Nistelrooy played their part and made almost the perfect game.

In the morning we can raise the questions such as whether or not they are capable of repeating something of that magnitude or if it is possible to get anywhere near those energy levels more than once on the back of a long season.  All of these points are irrelevant and as you rest your head on a pillow this evening the images you dream of should simply be those of Van Der Vaart through balls, Van Bronchorst lung-busting runs, Van Persie killing a 70-yard pass dead on his chest on the touchline under pressure from a defender and of Van Der Sar diving full-stretch to make a save yet within thirty seconds celebrating the third goal and final exclamation point on an amazing night.

It is unlikely we will see a better performance all tournament so savour this moment.  All hail the brilliant orange.