Johnny Hetinga's early goal set Marco Van Basten's side on their way, with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar doubling their advantage before half-time.

And substitute Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink rounded off a good night's work for the Dutch late on.

The home side started brightly enough and could have taken the lead as early as the first minute.

Mladen Petric tried to slot the ball under goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar in the penalty area but was foiled by the big stopper's foot.

But Holland hit back with a real sucker punch after nine minutes.

It was a set-piece that was Croatia's undoing - Rafael van der Vaart's free-kick was met by the head of Hetinga, who nodded low past goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa for an early lead.

The visitors stamped their authority on the game for the rest of the half and Mario Melchiot had already seen a goalbound effort parried by Pletikosa when the Oranje went 2-0 up in the 36th minute.

This time it was Tim de Cler who was the provider, with his cross from the left of the area converted from 12 yards by Huntelaar.

Croatia coach Slaven Bilic responded at half time, hauling off Dario Simic and Niko Kranjcar, replacing them with Danijel Pranjic and Ivica Olic.

Still they could not provide much of an attacking threat, though they did manage to restrict the visitors in a lacklustre second half.

Although they never looked like getting back into the game, they seemed set to keep it at 2-0, until they conceded again in the 89th minute.

Again it was a cross into the area, this time from substitute Ibrahim Afellay, which was duly finished by Vennegoor of Hesselink.