It was supposed to be vice versa. The Netherlands should have been in trouble by now and France hoping to qualify for the quarterfinals with a game to spare.

Instead, a stunning 3-0 win by the Dutch over Italy and a miserly scoreless draw by Les Bleus against outsider Romania has totally turned the tables in Group C.

Even worse, instead of the usually quarrelsome Dutch, it is France which has a team dispute ahead of its most important game in two years.

Veteran defender William Gallas questioned the tactics of coach Raymond Domenech, instead arguing France needs to "play fast, move more. There is something that didn't work."

It was the last thing Domenech needed, questions from within his own team, while he still is pondering how to counter the sparkling Dutch.

"I'm hesitating about four positions," he said.

Hardly the talk of a confident coach who led his team to the final of the World Cup two years ago. Especially with the veteran players eager to discuss with him how to play.

The Dutch had this discussion early this spring, switching from the traditional 4-3-3 to the experimental 4-2-3-1 which paid huge dividends against Italy.

It made coach Marco van Basten look like a genius.

Despite the euphoria moments after the Italy game, soon one feeling united all: Nothing has been achieved yet.

"Don't think we have become favorites after one game," Van Basten said.

Yet, the Dutch lead the championship's toughest group with three points, ahead of France and Romania with one each and Italy with none. Italy plays Romania just ahead of the France Netherlands clash.