Bern: The Netherlands' second-string players played their part on Tuesday, beating Romania 2-0 and keeping Italy alive at the European Championship.
Netherlands coach Marco van Basten rested nine regular starters from the team's previous two games, but not even the absence of star striker Ruud van Nistelrooy made a difference to the Dutch, who put on a solid performance and erased any doubts about how they would approach Tuesday's match in Bern.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, replacing Nistelrooy in the lineup, scored the first goal in the 54th with a quickly taken shot from inside the area after a cross from Ibrahim Afellay, and Robin van Persie, in for Dirk Kuyt, sealed victory in the 87th with a characteristic left-footed shot from 12 yards.
French and Italian fans had feared that the Netherlands' weakened team could have given Romania a better chance to go through. Italy beat France 2-0 in Zurich.
Only regulars Khalid Boulahrouz, a defender, and midfielder Orlando Engelaar were back for Tuesday's match.
The Dutch had nothing to lose because they had already clinched first place in Group C and a spot in the quarter-finals.
Romania needed a win to advance, but could have gone through on a draw or even a loss depending on the France-Italy result.
"No Romanian would think that the Dutch wouldn't want to win today, that's impossible," Romania coach Victor Piturca said. "It was a serious match."
The Netherlands outshot Romania 16-11 and had 61 per cent of ball possession.
Van Basten said he was happy for Italy coach and friend Roberto Donadoni, but reaffirmed that he was not looking to win Tuesday's match as a favour, and that they did not speak before the match.
"I know him very well and he is a friend of mine," the Dutchman said.
"But we all know that in a situation like this its not good to have contact with each other because I think there are too many interests between the two counties. But I'm happy that he has gone through. Happy for him, happy for Italy."
Wingers Arjen Robben and van Persie, who both came on to score against Italy, started at Stade de Suisse and created several dangerous opportunities.
Van Persie came close to scoring with headers in the 19th and 26th, and in the 49th his right-footed shot from inside the penalty area was brilliantly saved by Romania goalkeeper Bogdan Lobont.
Robben had one of the game's best chances in the 36th, when he beat Lobont to a ball inside the area but his shot past the goalkeeper went just wide.
Coach van Basten substituted Robben in the 61st for Kuyt.
The Netherlands controlled possession from the start, but the Romanians threatened with long-rage shots, mostly by Adrian Mutu.
Huntelaar had another scoring chance in the 33rd, when his shot from just inside the area went over the crossbar.
The pass was set up by Boulahrouz, one of the two remaining starters.
Engelaar, the other regular starter, controlled the midfield and threatened with a couple of shots from the outside of the area.
Van Basten substituted Boulahrouz with Mario Melchiot in the 58th, and Huntelaar for Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink in the 83rd.
It was the Netherlands' seventh victory in the last 11 matches against Romania.
The Netherlands will play the quarter-finals against either Russian or Sweden, who are fighting for second place in Group D, which was won by Spain.
The Dutch are participating in the final phase of the European tournament for the sixth consecutive time.
It won the 1988 Euro title, when Van Basten was in the squad, and reached the semi-finals in 1992, 2000 and 2004.
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