Italy progressed through to Sunday's European Championship final after they stole victory from Holland in their own back yard with the assistance of a cruel penalty shoot-out.

The Dutch were criminally eliminated after dominating proceedings in the Amsterdam ArenA, but they only have themselves to blame after suffering the sort of penalty woe that is usually reserved for the English national team.

Frank Rijkaard's side missed two spot-kicks in normal time, as well as three in the penalty shoot-out, to waste a golden opportunity to appear in their first major final since 1988.

Francesco Toldo, Italy’s second choice keeper and a reserve until Gianluca Buffon’s injury prior to Euro 2000, was the hero as he saved Paul Bosvelt’s effort and sent Italy through to the final in Rotterdam.

Luigi Di Biagio, bravely, and substitutes Gianluca Pessotto and Francesco Totti were the men who scored, while Toldo saved from Frank De Boer - for the second time - and saw Jaap Stam's effort fly over the bar, prior to the Bosvelt stop.

The victory brought to an end a miserable sequence of results from the spot - Italy had lost all four of their previous shoot-outs, including the last three World Cups. The Dutch now have to contemplate life without coach Frank Rijkaard who, like Portuguese coach Humberto Coelho, quit in the aftermath of defeat.

Rijkaard said: "I set myself one goal when I started as national coach and that was winning the European championship. I failed and I think now it's time for a new coach."

The Italians may have won the game but they would have won few friends, as they sat back from the first whistle in an attempt to stifle the attacking talents of the Dutch.

That said, they gave a masterclass in defending and at no stage of the contest looked to be man down following Gianluca Zambrotta's 33rd minute dismissal. Dino Zoff’s side may not have indulged in the finer arts of the game, but they must be credited for their tactical organisation and indefatigable spirit.

The individual talents of Mark Iuliano, Alessandro Nesta and, in particular, Paulo Maldini deserve as much recognition as that of their free-flowing opponents who will now be licking their wounds.

In contrast to the nervous opening of the semi-final the evening before, the early stages had an open feel with both sides allowing the other to pass with freedom and move unchallenged in the midfield areas.

It took two minutes for the first goalscoring chance to arrive when Dennis Bergkamp, the catalyst of all things Dutch, lofted the ball towards Toldo’s area. Philip Cocu stretched, but could not flick over the onrushing keeper from 10 yards out.

It was no surprise to see the game take its expected form with the irresistible force having to break down the immovable object, and after 14 minutes Bergkamp dropped short, turned and fooled his marker to unleash a vicious low shot that hit the upright before zipping away to safety.

In one breathtaking moment we were reminded that Bergkamp, at his best, is a match for Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo.

Filippo Inzaghi and Alessandro Del Piero cut a lone furrow at the other end of the pitch and struggled to impose themselves on Jaap Stam and Frank de Boer in the heart of Frank Rijkaard’s defence.

Things were to get worse midway through the half. Zambrotta collected his second yellow card for the most stupid of offences, pulling down Zenden 40 yards from goal and with a number of blue shirts behind him.

Their distress was compounded soon after when the German referee controversially pointed to the spot following Nesta’s gentle tug on Patrick Kluivert. Toldo spectacularly saved De Boer’s effort (pictured, right) and Dino Zoff's side breathed again.

Despite Holland’s numerical advantage, it was Italy who started the second half the livelier of the two sides. Del Piero, playing in a much more advanced role than in the first 45 minutes, managed two speculative efforts on goal from long range.

On the hour, another poor challenge, this time from Mark Iuliano on a turning Edgar Davids, gave Frank Rijkaard’s side a second penalty chance. To the disbelief of the crowd, Kluivert, like De Boer before him, failed to take the opportunity and blasted the ball against the post.

Rijkaard replaced the tiring Zenden with Peter Van Vossen. Zoff replaced the workhorse Albertini with Gianluca Pessotto, but there was to be no change in fortunes as Holland continued to probe in vain.

With ten minutes of normal time remaining, Francesco Totti entered the fray and became Italy’s third striker on the field, setting up Marco Delvecchio for Italy's best chance in the 97th minute, which Edwin van der Sar did well to deflect wide with his foot.