Euro Wrap, June 21st: Russia 3-1 Netherlands

Just like yesterday, all the good stuff was saved for the end of the game.

Despite Ruud van Nistelrooy’s late equalizer Guus Hiddink became the happiest traitor in the world as his Russia team beat his native Netherlands 3-1 in Basel.

Video highlights and match report after the jump.

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

The Dutch rolled into the quarterfinals as one of the teams playing the best football in the tournament, and they were dumped along with the other three group winners at the hands of Russia. It just goes to show it’s not how you begin, it’s how you finish. Ask Turkey.

Russia has cemented its place as a legitimate contender and The Golden Guus has done nothing but add to his magical aura. The Dutch did well to equalize in regular time and looked dangerous on each and every set piece until the final one, but this was Russia’s game. They won and they deserved to win. Now they await the victor of Spain – Italy for their first ever semifinal date as the lone ranger Russia.

The game started off as it would end, with Russia dominating play and creating multiple chances. If not for the stellar goalkeeping of Edwin van der Sar, this game may well have gotten out of hand early. The first half remained scoreless, but it wasn’t for lack of trying on Russia’s part. They created multiple chances which were met by saves from both EVDS and the timber. On the other side Wesley Sneijder had a nice opportunity in the box, but the only chances the Netherlands could count on were balls into the 6 yard box on free kicks, not one of them finding an oranje limb.

Ten minutes into the second half Russia finally put their threats aside and finished the inevitable, with Roman Pavlyuchenko putting a perfect left foot onto the end of a Sergei Semak cross and past a helpless van der Sar. After that the Dutch looked alive, if partly by necessity, and began to turn bark into bite with an equalizer seemingly looming. The goal would come and in dramatic fashion. One of those pesky set pieces finally bit the Russians in the arse and Ruud van Gol headed home the goal which would send it to extras. Can’t pretend to know much about the Russian training regime during this tournament, but let’s just say they’ll probably be spending a lot more time defending those before the semifinal.

Extra time was taken over by one man: Andrei Arshavin. Deadly with the ball at his feet, he was the difference between winning and PKs, as he set up the first goal with a great save on a ball heading towards the end line, lofting a cross waiting for nothing more than a tap from Dmitri Torbinski. A long throw to Arshavin whose shot took a slight deflection off John Heitinga between the legs of van der Sar put the spotlight firmly on the fat lady and Mother Russia into the semifinals.

Russia did not come into this tournament thought of as a contender, but they have to be considered one now. Their football has been brilliant since the return of Arshavin and they feature all but one player from domestic sides – both Italy and Egypt won major hardware with a similar makeup recently. Don’t sleep on the Russians.

….

Bracket Update
Sometimes, loyalty pays off. Elena, from Russia, predicted the Russians to go through to the semis and since they did, she takes over first place in the Euro 2008 Bracket Predictor Contest. Omar is just one point behind, and there are plenty knocking on the door. Needless to say, tomorrow’s Spain vs. Italy fixture is sure to settle things out a bit.

Buy a Russia jersey here

Buy a Netherlands jersey here

Bet on Euro 2008 here