Euro 2008 QF3 LiveBlog: Netherlands vs Russia

QUARTER-FINAL 3	June 21st, 2045 CET, Basel (Switzerland)
Netherlands 1 VS Russia 3 van Nistelrooy 86′   Pavlyuchenko 56′, Torbinski 113′, Arshavin ‘116

FULLTIME

122′ Dutch trying to mount any type of chellenge, not going well. Russia is simply better. Whether it be the magic of Guus or the players, they deserve to be in this semifinal.

120′ Russia working the clock here……Arshavin’s arguing to the last minute. Love this kid.

Two minutes of time.

119′ Dutch free kick…..just wide by van der Vaart.

118′ Akinfeev grabs the free kick. Another counter from Russia, Arshavin’s offside. What a performance by him today.

Sychev with a shot over the bar…..poor touch and Russia wins a throw…..taGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL ARSHAVIN

It’s all over. Mother Russia is coming, and they’re good. They are very, very good.

115′ Marco van Basten looks quite jittery….Russian’s celebrating…still 5 mins left

114′ Dutch will have to put everything forward once again here….Russians win a free kick in the box.
Pavlyuchenko off for the blazing Sychev.

112′ Missed a Dutch chance there….Pavlyucheno with a cross into the box but Zyryanov was offside. Dutch coming back but closed down by Mother Russia…..Asrhavin… GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL Torbinski!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brilliant run by Torbinski after Arshavin saves a sure goalkick and Dmirti with the tap.

111′ Torbinski with a late challeneg on van der Vaart - yellow card.

Yet another fantastic chance for Russia…Arshavin’s ball is too strong in the six yard box with EVDS out of the picture and Pavlyuchenko puts it well high.

109′ Anyukov fouled by Afellay…I’ve just figured out who Zhirkov looks like: Norm MacDonald.

108′ Pavlyuchenko is just dying for a ball at the back post…stifled….very slow. Both teams seem gassed.

107′ Zhirkov goes down in the box. Looked like a penalty….

106′ Ball too strong for van Persie….Russian goalkick….maybe they shouldjust find Arshavin and see if he can turn in a moment of magic.

KICKOFF….again

ABC shows a hot Dutch lass and then a bunch of shirtless, out of shape Russian men. That’s just not fair.

WHISTLE - 15 mins left to avoid PK’s.

105′ Game has slowed to the pace of a coma here. 30 seconds til halftime extra time. Looks like that’s the goal.

104′ Zhirkov gets a yellow for a rugby tackle. Looks a bit tired and/or frustrated. Nice knee in RvP’s ass though.

102′ Afellay with a professional foul from behind….Zhirkov takes the pass….Bilyaletdinov fouls De Jong near the Dutch area.

Believe Guus still has a sub left.

100′ Arshavin wins a foul. He’s taking over this game in extra time. Get your checkbooks out, Western Europe….free kick….Kolodin’s hammer coming…..just over the corner of the bar…if that was a bit left it’s a goal.

99′ Arshavin with a mazy, stellar run through the Dutch D and a great look to Torbinski but he can’t put it past EVDS. Poor finishing on such a brilliant run.

98′ Bilyaletdinov with a nice run into the Dutch third…couldn’t find another white shirt…Afellay with a shot wide.

97′ Russian counter…Pavlyu…..shot off the bar! beat EVDS and it pounds the woodwork. Fantastic chance there.

96′ Arshavin with one defender to beat….that always looks like a goal but it’s played over the bar for a goal kick.

94′ Russian fouled but they play advantage….ball headed out for a Russia corner…Zhirkov flubs the cross….goalkick.

93′ Pavlyuchenko on the ground, no foul. Zhirkov fouled….free kick….Arshavin with some brilliant footwork, shot saved by EVDS. Ruud attempts a shot. Nothin’ doin’.

91′ Dutch counter…Sneijder’s shot is weakly hit into Igor’s arms.

KICKOFF

Fulltime, to extras we go.

91′ Kolodin is OFF! But he’s not…what’s going on here.

Nevermind, the ball was out of play. Wow. What an escape for Kolodin. Smart move though checking with his linesman to see if the ball was out.

And there was no foul anyway. Well done by the ref.

90′ Anyukov wins a free kick….2 minutes extra time.

89′ Sneijder with a boot concedes a free kick.

87′ Russia comes right back down the other end.

Finally, one of those free kicks into the box finds a body part, this one Ruud’s head, and it’s 1-1. Russian set piece defending has been shaky to say the very least.

86′ Pavlyuchenko with a hand ball…free kick...GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL RUUUUUUUUUUUD. Game on ladies & gents.

85′ Sneijder with yet another shot from distance, this one deflected for a corner…..another shot from Sneijder is headed out for a corner…..corner too high and it’s a Russian throw.

84′ Russians tackling well in the final third here….clear it all the way down to the other end.

83′ Corner cleared out…..Arshavin fouls Heitinga. Back come the Dutch.

Sneijder with another sledgehammer just wide. He’s been their best chance lately Russia may want to put a little bit of extra effort for #2 here……Torbinski’s sitter is foiled by van Brockhorst. Wow what a chance.

81′ Sneijder hammers a ball from distance just high. Saenko comes off, on will be Torbinski.

80′ van Brockhorst, whose name hasn’t been called much, if at all, today has the ball swiped in the Russian box.

78′ Semak crosses a ball which turns into a dangerous shot, but it ends up a goalkick.

77′ Arshavin on the ball again…Russia taking their time….win a corner.

76′ ABC focuses on the hottest Dutch girl in the crowd for a few seconds. Thumbs up, ABC.

Pavlyuchenko nearly swiped #2 at the other end. EDVS monumental regardless of outcome today.

75′ Dutch back on the attack…Russia waiting for that one counter…Sneijder takes a shot well wide.

74′ Zyryanov has been critical in midfield today, as usual.

73′ Dangerous Russian counter thwarted….Oranje are dancing a fine line here….

71′ Kolodin concedes a foul at the edge of the box. Yellow card, he’s out for the next game if they have one.

Sneijder……this is as good as free kicks get…….oh van Persie….too high. Robin has not been good whatsoever since coming on. That was a prime chance and he should’ve done much better. At least forced a save.

70′ Corner is harmless…Russia with some great work there and Anyokov has his fshot, from a brilliant Pavlyuchenko ball, saved…..Zhirkov’s dribbling clears him space for a ball through the 6 yard box is too strong.

2-0 looking more than possible right now.

68′ Gorgeous work by Zyryanov in the box to a awaiting Pavlyuchenko but his final pass is cleared out by De Jong.

Semshov off for Bilyaletdinov (all-name team captain)

67′ Heitinga is receiving some attention. Not good for the Netherlands here. (This is why making all 3 subs by the hour mark is not usually a brilliant idea.) Heitinga comes back on though.

66′ Hand ball by Ruud in the Russian box, no call. Sneijder wins a tricky ball….Oranje on the attack but the Russian midfield is tough to crack.

65′ Corner Holland….headed wide.

63′ Russian corner cleared out but Russia with possession….Pavlyuchenko’s attempt at a one timer flubs and it’s out for a goal kick.

MvB has used all his subs and Guus has 3 left. Guus 1 - Marco 0

62′ Afellay on for Engelaar. No Robben today, van Basten has used his 3rd sub.

61′ van der Vaart with a cheeky little chip from outside the box, saved cleanly by Akinfeev.

60′ van der Vaart with a yellow for a foul on Saenko, who is bleeding. Zero yellows in the first half, 3 in the first 15 here in the second.

Guus Hiddink raved about the changes Pavlyuchenko has made in his game over the last few months and was he ever right. An entirely different player this tournament.

58′ Anyukov down, took a shot.

57′ Dutch on the attack now….van Persie looks for a free kick, none give….Russian counter….Saenko just wide of the post.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL PAVLYUCHENKO. Brilliant cross and he taps it in with a technical left foot. 1-0 and that was inevitable.

56′ Arshavin….What a shot! Just wide of van der Sar. Nearly skimmed the post. Some brilliant free kicks from Russia here.

55′ Another elbow from the Dutch….yellow for van Persie and another dangerous free kick for Mother Russia.

54′ MvB going to use his second, Heitinga on for Boulahrouz. Standing O for Khalid. Well played.

53′ van Persie concedes a free kick with a push on Zhirkov in the back.

52′ Russia began the first half by working the right side, the second on the left. Long switch to Saenko too strong, out for a Dutch throw. Another solid start for Mother Russia.

51′ Boulahrouz gets the first yellow of the day for a foul on Arshavin. Late tackle….free kick Zyryanov……plays it short…..Arshavin goes down in the box, no penalty given.

50′ Semak looks like he took Ruud’s elbow to the face. Ouch. Solid shot there.

49′ van der Vaart’s free kick runs through the box waiting for a touch yet again. Russia may want to do something about this set piece defense. If that’s what you want to call it.

48′ Nice win by Russia in the midfield….the pass to Semshov into the box is a bit strong. Goal kick.

47′ Dutch start off with a chance and now have a front line that reads: Sneijder, van der Vaart, van Persie. Yikes.

Yeah, Dirk’s out.

Van Persie on for, ummm, not sure who yet. Kuyt?

SECOND HALF KICKOFF

The Dutch looked more dangerous towards the end of the half, but mostly due to Russian mistakes. The difference here has been Edwin van der Sar, who has saved two, maybe even three, goals already. This is not the same Russia that faced Spain and they look the better side here.

46′ Kolodin puts it out for a Dutch throw down by the flag…last chance here….nothing….HALFTIME

1 minute added.

45′ Free kick Netherlands in Russia’s half…quick pass….Boulahrouz’s cross is headed out by Ignashevich in the back…Pavlychenko puts the ball out for a throw.

44′ Criminal pass by Kolodin, van der Vaart’s shot from the top of the box punched out by Akinfeev.

42′ Mother Russia down the other end….Saenko taken off the ball…wanted a foul, none given….Russia back in possession…Zyryanov’s nice idea over the top too far and it’s out for a goalkick which the Dutch put back into Russia’s end quickly. Ruud foul. Free kick MR.

40′ Dutch getting their share of free kicks now….RvdV….over the top, just a bit too strong for De Jong. Goalkick.

37′ Great turn by RvN on the last attempt. Semshov puts a shot wide, goal kick. Dutch win a free kick in a dangerous spot…actually a bit farther out that I thought….Sneijder’s ball deflected into the arms of Akinfeev.

35′ Zhirkov makes a nice run into the box but the ball is knocked out for a corner. Incoming…..through the box. Shot back in cleared out….Engelaar running the ball out….Russians get back…..Ruud fires one and Akinfeev saves it well, rebound cleared.

34′ I vote we stop the game and just let Kolodin release WMD’s from distance for the next hour.

33′ van der Sar looking brilliant here.

32′ Holy shit what a hammer from Kolodin. Absolute MISSILE from deep. EDVS saves it for another corner…..KOLODIN. Just high! Good god what a cannon he’s got.

31′ What a move by Arshavin, the goal only just saved by EDVS on the counter. Great ball, great save.

30′ Dutch looking a bit more lively now.

28′ Arshavin dribbles around everybody and eventually wins nothing but a Dutch throw in. A little more boring than we expected. Kolodin fouls Ruud and the Dutch have a free kick…..bounced in the 6 yard box by Ruud is a split second late and it goes out for a goal kick. That was a fantastic chance there.

26′ Dutch corner….Engelaar’s shot on the rebound is right of the goal.

25′ Slower play now. Dutch trying to work the ball up the pitch but it hasn’t been going well for them.

23′ Zhirkov on the ball wins yet another Russian free kick. Has Holland even had one yet? Zyryanov over the ball…..ball bounds out and the deflected ball back into the box saved easily by EVDS.

21′ Arshavin has a shot blocked but Zyryanov wins the ball back for Mother Russia. Saenko wins a another Russian free kick. Ball into the box just a bit too strong for Arshavin.

19′ Dutch working some nice passes here finally….Sneijder in front of goal is blocked well by Ignashevich. Great bounce there for the Dutch.

18′ Boulahrouz takes a knock, walked off and he looks like he’ll come back on.

16′ Nearly a dear mistake by Russia there, gifting the ball to Ruud with space in the center of the pitch. Shot blocked, however.

15′ Another Arshavin won free kick……Zhirkov……this one much worse than the last. Well over the bar.

14′ Dutch working possession in Russia’s half. Russia’s defense very impressive here….Pavlyuchenko on the left….crosses into Engelaar who puts it out for a throw.

12′ Zyryanov is so calm on the ball. Russian break….pushed back to EVDS by De Jong.

11′ Russia really enjoying that right hand flank. Cross is worked out for a Russian throw.

10′ Dutch with some possession here, no quick breaks yet. Ball over the top by Engleaar to RvN is saved well by Akinfeev, who has quietly been very good this tournament.

8′ Oh my. Pavlyuchenko heads a clear header over the bar. The Dutch look like they’ve met their match in terms of style. Sometimes, that’s what it’s all about.

7′ Russian corner bounds out for another after a tough Dutch deflection…nada…out for a goalkick. Russia looking very good here.

6′ Arshavin wins a free kick again, dangerous spot on the left…..Zhirkov…..great free kick and van der Sar saved. Ballsy, powerful attempt. Helluva save required.

5′ Throw in to Russia, nothing too exciting thus far. Scratch that….Pavlyuchenko is gifted a ball and his pass into the box is cleared out,

3′ Long cross sent in, Kuyt heads it about 10 yards right of the net.

2′ Sneijder wins the ball in the corner and has it stolen in a dangerous area, but it’s worked out for a goalkick.

1′ Arshavin wins an early foul. Not much to start the game here.

KICKOFF

Anthem’s are being played. Make sure you pay attention to the first few minutes of the game when the Dutch fans will be chanting Khalid Boulahrouz’s name and singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone”.

If we were to bet on the minute the first goal is scored, what would it be? I’ve got the 11th.

Another puzzle for ya:

Lineups release, no real surprises that I can tell:

Netherlands

* 01 Van der Sar

* 21 Boulahrouz
* 02 Ooijer
* 04 Mathijsen

* 05 Van Bronckhorst
* 17 De Jong
* 08 Engelaar
* 18 Kuyt
* 23 Van der Vaart
* 10 Sneijder
* 09 van Nistelrooy

Substitutes

* 13 Timmer,
* 16 Stekelenburg,
* 03 Heitinga,
* 06 De Zeeuw,
* 07 Van Persie,
* 11 Robben,
* 12 Melchiot,
* 14 Bouma,
* 15 De Cler,
* 19 Huntelaar,
* 20 Afellay,
* 22 Vennegoor of Hesselink

Russia

* 01 Akinfeev
* 22 Aniukov
* 04 Ignashevich
* 08 Kolodin
* 18 Zhirkov
* 11 Semak
* 17 Zyryanov
* 20 Semshov
* 09 Saenko
* 10 Arshavin
* 19 Pavluchenko

Substitutes

* 12 Gabulov,
* 16 Malafeev,
* 02 Berezutsky,
* 03 Yanbaev,
* 05 Berezutsky,
* 06 Adamov,
* 07 Torbinsky,
* 13 Ivanov,
* 14 Shirokov,
* 15 Bilyaletdinov,
* 21 Sychev,
* 23 Bystrov

A little puzzle for you. See if you can figure out what player name is hidden in these images:

Here we go, one hour away (2045 is the start) from The Neutrals Game, as we’ll call it. If your team has been knocked out or is awaiting the semi-final on the other side of town (Germany, Turkey), then sit back and enjoy this one.