Live blog Russia – Holland

I actually thought Russia played consistently better football; they are a nice side, even losing 4-1 to Spain you could see promise. They haven’t quite sorted out their back 4, especially at corners, and they still miss an obscene number of chances but they have a handy habit of getting behind the full-backs. I was wondering how Holland would fare when they didn’t have a goal lead or a another team throwing caution to the wind and exposing themselves the way Holland and France, and to a lesser extent Romania, did. They just didn’t seem to have much thrust or creativity, I think Robben was a huge miss because he could really have been a bit of an Arshavin for them. Anyway, this Netherlands performance was exactly what I was hoping they wouldn’t produce in this tournament but feared they would, it really took me back to their dismal displays in Germany 06.

Posted from  United Kingdom

“Anyone who expected Holland to win this big game was fooling themselves.”

So half of the world was “fooling themselves”..? Holland was the favorite to win (this tournament even!), let’s be honest, the majority was convinced they’d win, but alas.

“Coming of beating France 4-1 after being outplayed by French midfield”

We saw a different game. The French never really looked like the better side, their midfield wasn’t stronger, but even if it was; just having a better midfield doesn’t automatically mean your team is going to win.

“and only let off by poor quality French finishing.”

Yes, it was poor finishing, but that’s not the sole reason why we’ve won the game. I could say the same. We could’ve humiliated the French even more if we hadn’t squandered our chances, it would’ve been over sooner. I mean pff, lol..

“Holland plays attractive football, but winning big games is another story, a story of consistent focus and defence.”

I thought the games against Italy and France were big games. And consistent focus and defence, lol, ya, that’s what you win games with, don’t score a goal, focus and defend the 0-0! lol..

Posted from  Netherlands

I am proud of Goos, strong powerful man, he can show in his 61 he can discipline and grew up nicest team for every championship!!!!! I love you!!!
Goos is #1

Posted from  Canada

A sad day for Dutch football. Another “we were a great team but didn’t win” moment. Depressing.
As for all you Russian commenters on here – yes, yes, we know you outplayed us today, and ok, you really love Russia and think it’s the best country in the world, but don’t you have your own blog to go celebrate on?

What kind of nonsense is that? You want people to stop cheating on taxes – lover them. Why in world Goos has to pay for somebody else’ health insurance?
Besides – after getting Koreans into semis, Australia into 2nd round and now Russians he HAD the right to be happy. After all this win cemented his name as best coach oh his generation.
Man was hired to resurrect Russian football. He did it with gusto.

Bravo.

Russia isn’t best country in the world…. and not even in Europe…. it just has most exciting football team on continent.
They may as well loose next game to Italians or Spain. Even if they won’t they most certainty will loose to Germans in the finals…..

Even then they will be most entertaining and most promising team on this tournament.

Oley, oley, oley! Russia champion! Our team is very good and shows very intresting, incredble football.

2 mblat

“Russia isn’t best country in the world…. and not even in Europe”
Russia is situated in Euroasia So its the best country in Eurasia… No its the best country in the world I am proud to be citizen of Russia

“They may as well loose next game to Italians or Spain. Even if they won’t they most certainty will loose to Germans in the finals…..”
We will see

to Caleb
“As for all you Russian commenters on here – yes, yes, we know you outplayed us today, and ok, you really love Russia and think it’s the best country in the world, but don’t you have your own blog to go celebrate on?”
http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html
Read article 19 please )))))

We just kicked the holland’s ass!

“Dutch players get lost in their own exuberance, and believe they are too good to be beaten” – not this Dutch team

This game had nothing to do with underestimation or arrogance or anything of the sort. The Russians just played a hell of a game, maybe their best game of the tournament (time will tell). And I agree that Robben was sorely missed + the Russians are probably the physically fittest team of all.

“A sad day for Dutch football. Another “we were a great team but didn’t win” moment. Depressing.”
You have been a worthy adversary.
You should accept defeat with dignity

something wrong with Dutch team, remember the games with Italy, France and Romania. As for the Russia they were perfect, that was the best game during whole russian football. Think, dutch players thought will be esier even than previouse games, they were in shock. Will see in 2010, Nitherlands will be Champion…..

Posted from  Uzbekistan

to Zaytz
“We just kicked the holland’s ass!”

I’m a Russian (and I’m sorry for it because of you) but reading such comments as yours I understand why some people abroad do not like Russians. Smug a**. Our team beat Holland and yes they played excellently (for most of the time) but it’s not a reason to put the other team down. Why not just enjoy our victory without being vulgar? Besides, WHO has lead our guys to it?

Go Russia!
Sorry Marko, you had your moment. It was beautiful, but we are a whole new country now and Dasaev is retired….

Posted from  United States

Todays headlines all over the world…¨¨After all, the Dutch Total Football thing is just a myth¨¨¨
ahahahahahahahaha
hohohohohohohohoh
schooled and humiliated by young inexperienced russian boys
!!ur triumph over Italia and France were UNDESERVED and was a fluke..on counter attacks..

Posted from  Spain

I agree with anonym…Be mo tolerant…Your words underline absence of education…Or your young age…GO GO RUSSIA!!!

To Shy Roman!!!
“by young inexperienced russian boys”-by owners of UEFA CUP and frequent participants of international games…they experienced enough
“ur triumph over Italia and France were UNDESERVED and was a fluke”-4-1 and 3-0 2-0 one after other couldnt be fluke
And now i decided to support Italy in your quaterfinal
Your words r words of hyena…

Russian Federation is the great country. I am proud of it. Goood luck to every body!

Posted from  Germany

I used to play football, so beyond the fact that i am russian, i also enjoy the sport itself. And yesterday, the team in white did something amazing. I was completely overwhelmed. One thing is winning a game by luck/missfortune of another team. Another thing is making orange juice from the “orange machine”. By all “sporting rules” russia should have been smashed in the overtime, because the dutch scored the last goal. But thank you Akinfeev for your terrible mistake in that goal and for letting us watch the overtime….. i think i saw Shneider almost crying after his 57th longrange kick. They just didn´t have any more arguments… Hope Russia will keep on surprising. Cheers

Posted from  Portugal

Zaytz,
Really go and selebrate with your bravery to some other Russian forums.

Posted from  Russian Federation

That was a superb game. The underdogs came ontop AGAIN!!This Euro Cup has been the most exciting thus far.The giant soccer teams have been felled by up and coming countries…
This is what football is all about!

OLE OLE OLE OLE RUSSIA IS THE CHAMPION
yesterday people gone mad in russia, in 2 am everybody was on the streets shouting, celebrating, every driver was signaling, i wish you could see that ))

for some of you lot, dont be sore losers.

Dutch fans were never sore at losing. they have always been better at it then the rest. so if you think you’re a Dutch fan, and your arse have been shaven too heavily, take off your Oranje shirt, man, and quit watching football. you’re a disgrace for your own team.

try to learn something from Van der Sar and Van Basten’s after match commentary. these two weren’t being polite or politically correct. just as Hiddink is not trying to be with his taxes, his place of living, or his excitements.

anyway, the Russians learnt shipbuilding and table manners from the Dutch. now they learn to play football again, from the Dutch. i personally, have learnt alot from the Dutch fan who shook my hand when we were watching it in a Dutch-owned pub in Jakarta. awesome! V Peryod Rossiya!

Posted from  Indonesia

Thank You, Holland for Guus! His a great person and I saw his joy was mixed with some part of sorrow.
Its a pity we came to semi-finals by means of Holland. I would better see this in the final.

Posted from  Russian Federation

To Jan and To All EUROPE:

Thank You for your words and thanks for all Dutch Fans who with dignity accepted own defeat I can understand your grief, but I can’t stop own rejoicing!!!! For the first time for 20 years (since 1988) we go to play-off, and moreover we have made the way to semi-final. This victory was very difficult, the match with Holland was not simple. Dutches are the big good fellows too, but I don’t stop being in surprising, that with Gus we began to play not only in defence, but also in attack with such strong teams! GUS is just our SUN! ) It is very symbolical, that he is Dutch. So for consolation of Dutch it is possible to tell, that you indirectly have enclosed a part of Russia’s victory too

Once again I wish to express the big gratitude to all European fans of football, that they treated our victory so positively and kindly! I agree – it’s NOT PLACE for racism here!! It is very insulting for me to read Russian-speaking forums where our *slavic brothers* (including Ukrainians) assert that our victory is bought…. Can You represent, that favourites of the European championship just *sold yourselves*???… So it is a pity, that our most close neighbours very assiduously were ill not for us at this night, and say that it is a shame for all football, that Russia and Turkey in a semi-final…. If national team of Ukraine has achieved the same successes, I would be sincerely glad for them… Unfortunately, Ukrainians of other opinion… I think this is simply politized opinion.

I FOR SPORTS OUT OF the POLICY!!! NO for nationalism!!! From Russia with love to Europe and to our guys, who made so much for our pleasure!! YAHOO!!!!! Bravo, rebiata!!!!! Molodcy!!!!! OLE OLE OLE!!!!