Netherlands 1-3 Russia - Russians make history in extra time
Netherlands (Ruud van Nistelrooy 86′) 1-3 (AET) Russia (R. Pavlyuchenko 56′, D. Torbinski 112′, A. Arshavin 116′)
St Jakob Park, Basel
Quarterfinals, Euro 2008
Saturday 21 June 2008
Kickoff: 20:45 CET, 14:45 EST
Sometimes justice is not served on the pitch when a team dominates from the first to the final whistle but in Basle Russia got exactly what they deserved after a fine performance that simply blew the Dutch away. Here is the best and the worst of the action in the SOCCERLENS Full Time File…
BEST GOAL
There was much to admire in all three Russian goals but the pick of the bunch had to be Torbinksi’s second in second-half injury-time which effectively saw off Holland’s challenge. Man-of-the-match Arshavin produced an improbable, looping cross from the left and Torbinski ghosted in between two defenders to finish from close range with the outside of his left boot, stunning the massed Dutch throngs.
BEST SAVE
The game was van der Sar’s 128th and final appearance for his country and although he picked the ball from the back of his net three times, the Manchester United goalkeeper was nonetheless in great form. His best stop came in the 30th minute of the first-half as Arshavin cut inside Boulahrouz from the left and unleashed a low, curling right-footed drive but van der Sar was able to get his six foot five frame down in time to tip it around the post.
WORST FOUL
It was a good-tempered encounter on the whole but Boulahrouz did lower the tone in the first half when he allowed his frustration to boil over. The Dutch defender was still aggrieved at a challenge on him from Arshavin and decided to take retribution on Zhirkov with a clumsy lunge at the Russian defender’s left shin that fortunately did not result in any permanent damage.
BIGGEST GAFFE
Slovakian referee Lubos Michel kept a relatively low profile throughout but he did make one major mistake when he failed to award Russia a penalty in extra-time. Zhirkov broke purposefully into the Dutch area and just as he readied himself for a shot, Heitinga stood on his left foot from behind and the opportunity was lost. Michel waved away the claims for a spot kick but mercifully his error was not to deny Russia the victory they so richly deserved.
WORST MISS
He may have scored Holland’s solitary goal but van Nistelrooy could have changed the complexion of the whole game in the first-half if he had been able to get on the end of Sneijder’s inviting free kick. The dead ball curled tantalisingly into the Russian box but van Nistelrooy was unable to make any contact from a mere six yards out and Holland’s best chance of the match was gone.
HERO
Every Russian player distinguished themselves but the undisputed conductor of the orchestra was Arshavin, who was simply superb and at times unplayable. He scored the third, set up the second and gave the Dutch back four an absolutely nightmarish time as he ghosted between them at will. It was an enthralling master class in how to play the second striker’s role and his ability to pick up possession in front of the Netherlands defence and bring in his team-mates was the key to Russia’s dominance and their eventual triumph. Europe’s top clubs will undoubtedly be vying for his signature between now and the close of the transfer window.
ZERO
It wasn’t that Holland played terribly, so it seems churlish to single out one of the men in orange but van der Vaart was certainly a big disappointment. The Hamburg playmaker was anonymous throughout, failing to stem Russia forays forward and contributing little in the attacking third of the pitch.
THE TWO GAFFERS
GUUS HIDDINK
What more can you say about Hiddink? The man who guided Holland to the semi-finals of the 1998 World Cup, South Korea to the last four of the same tournament four years later and also took underdogs Australia to the quarters in 2006 has done it again.
The fact he was able to pick his side up from their 4-1 mauling against Spain in their opening game is impressive enough but the way his side kept pushing forward against Holland, even in extra time, was sensational.
Tactically, he was spot on. Handing Arshavin a roving brief was the big difference between the two sides and the way he kept the Dutch wide men at bay, pushing the full-backs Zhirkov and Anyukov as high up the pitch as possible, was inspired.
10 / 10
MARCO VAN BASTEN
It’s not that van Basten made any tactical blunders but he has to take the bulk of the responsibility for a tepid Dutch display that made a mockery of their fluid, attacking performances earlier in the tournament.
Whereas Holland had looked irrepressible in the group stages, they looked devoid of ideas against the Russians and once it became clear they were not going to be able to forge down the wide channels at will, there appeared to be no Plan B.
The most disappointing aspect of the performance was the abject service received by van Nistelrooy, leaving the Netherlands looking like a toothless tiger in desperate need of ideas and invention.
6/10
Also See:
Portugal v Germany - Live Blog
Portugal v Germany - Match Report
Croatia v Turkey
Spain v Italy
The 2008 Soccerlens Awards: Nominate Your Favourite Football Sites Here
It will not happen. The dutch are just too strong right now and the the Russian defense lack the experience required to stop them. Even if the Russian attack succeeds in posing problems to Holland and take perhaps an early lead it will not be enough. Netherlands have far too many options upfront, there are so many players that can score for them. However, if Italy prevail in the other game which is what I expect to happen the semifinal may be proved to be a lot harder to the dutch than their encounter during the group stage.
Russia will prevail !
As long as the side that plays the most attractive football wins. This wasn’t the case during the previous two quarter final games, so we’ll see what happens.
I’d put my money on the Dutch, however.
finally the good quaterfinals start. This one and the next one should be smashing…
I think that they will be a high scoring games. Both teams play an attractive attack football, but at least Russia are questionable in defense. Put your money on the overs ( check out my blog for tips
)
I also heard that Guus Hidink and Van basten are not the closest of friends…actually they don’t like eachother very much I have heard. I look forward to this match
I don’t see how Netherlands can loose this but Euro2008 first two quarter finals match have seen Portugal and Croatia both favorites going home loosing to Germany and Turkey respectively…
Hope no banana skin for Netherlands!
Read the first comment — It will not happen. Buddy, it’s just happened! Russia rocks and rules! NATO sucks!
3:1 is not just a victory. It is our historical victory! The Victory that will be remembered for decades, maybe centuries. Our superpower is back!
Peter
YOU ARE WRONG !!!
Dutch had been crashed by Dutch tactics.
Go … Russia !
Say goodbye to Holland)
Hey Russian , how’s going pal?
Россия вперед !
It’s well deserved by young Russian team, but Guus is a major driver to get to this point.
Russian old soccer school sucks like Starostin and old these old farts. It was right decision to get Guus as a coach. Thanks Holland for wonderful soccer tactics guru.
holland say goodbye and wave your hand to Euro08.
Go RUSSIA!!!
wow wow wow what a great display by russia. i was thrilled to watch the game. russia totally thrashed the netherlands. congratulations russian fellows and i wish for a Turkey - Russia final in Vienna.
Well played Russia. They played Holland at their own game. And deservedly got through. I always had a feeling Holland were riding too high. Just like Portugal, they were playing a bit too well. If they continued playing the way they did, they would have won. But a team has never dominated a tournament from start to finish. Now I expect Italy to follow this trend, then it will be over, and all you guys wasting money on the team that plays well early can go home. It is about the team that mentally is stronger, not the way they play. Not in International football
lol, look at the first comment. He thnks he knows football. International and Club football are different Ball Parks. In club football a teams form usually determines the outcome of the match, while in international football, anyone can lose if they don’t have the determination. Peter you were wrong, and please, try not to predict another match. I’m sure you preddicted Portugal and Croatia in the previous matches
I predicted portugal / croatia in the first two games as well, but I picked Russia this time. Now for Italy to win and keep up the underdog drama of the tournament.
wow russia.all the teams that i picked were going to quarter then semi.now, football is going to a step forwards..well i hope spain go through, take lessons from past 3 games.i will not change my predicts, germany and spain will in final.too much for turkey and russia, but they could be there too..
I heard Italy were made favourites? shows what I know!
Russia are now Z favorites for the finals, I never saw such a determined team playing and pressing on defense and offense all the time and putting the accent on their stars.. I think this time they will show spain how revenge looks like
“I think this time they will show spain how revenge looks like”
well said.