Qualification in group C at the European football championships, the "group of death", will go down to the wire after the Netherland beat France 4:1 and Romania drew 1:1 with Italy.

The Dutch made it two wins out of two over the finalists of the last World Cup, vanquishing France to establish themselves as one of the favourites to win the tournament.

After beating world champions Italy 3:0 earlier in the week, the Netherlands put in a repeat performance against World Cup beaten finalists France on June 13.

The Dutch were off to a flying start, Dirk Kuyt opening the score with a powerful header in the ninth minute.

Against a French team that featured several of the players that won the European title in 2000, perhaps a few too many, the Netherlands looked completely in control. So much that Dutch manager Marco van Basten, who is looking to become the first person to win the tournament as both player and coach, took off Orlando Engelaar for Arjen Robben at half-time to add more bite in attack.

But it was France who started the second half brighter and had penalty shout turned down, rightfully, when the ball inadvertently struck the hand of Andre Ooijer in the Dutch penalty area.

Robin van Persie replaced goalscorer Kuyt in the 55th minute and made an immediate impact, extending the Dutch lead three minutes later.

France continued to attack, looking to get back into the game and their efforts finally paid off in the 71st minute when Thierry Henry pulled one goal back. However, their hopes proved short-lived, with Robben scoring on the next attack for the Netherlands.

Wesley Sneijder in added time scored with a well-taken volley to cap another great performance by the Dutch and set the final score.

In the earlier game, Romania, rated as the rank outsider in the "group of death", drew against Italy, but Adrian Mutu will rue the penalty he missed, which could have all but assured his team qualification for the knockout stages.

Having drawn 0:0 in the tournament's only goalless game so far, Romania could have been excused for banking on its tight defence once more, but it started the game with a more positive approach.

Both teams had their chances in the first half, but the first half ended goalless, even though Luca Toni had a goal wrongly disallowed for offside shortly before the break.

Romania took the lead in the 55th minute through Mutu, who seized the chance offered by Gianluca Zambrotta's poor pass to put the ball past Gianluigi Buffon. But its lead lasted less than a minute, Christian Panucci equalising from a corner kick.

Romania had a chance to take all three points in the 80th minute, when Norwegian referee pointed to spot for a Panucci foul on Banel Nicolita, but Buffon saved Mutu's penalty.

Still, with two points from two games and playing against the Netherlands, who have already secured qualification, Romania could yet deliver an upset. They certainly know how to play the Netherlands, having taken four points off the Dutch in the qualifying group for the tournament. The game is scheduled for June 17 and will be played at the same time with the Italy versus France game, which will pit the two teams that played out the last World Cup final.