Have you ever seen a better series of quarterfinal games before?
After thrilling wins by Germany and Turkey, today’s highly-anticipated match-up between the Netherlands and Russia (2:45pm, ABC) could be the most entertaining one from an offensive soccer standpoint. You have two teams who pass well and attack in waves squaring off and somehow I don’t think we’re going to see a 1-0 defensive struggle.
In one corner you have Dutch attackers like Wesley Sneijder, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rafael Van Der Vaart and in the other corner you have the Russian duo of Andrei Arshavin and Roman Pavlyuchenko, all of which have proven capable of doing damage to opposing defenses.
Who do I think will win? Well, after going 0-for-2 in the first two quarterfinals I will stick with chalk and give the Dutch team the edge. That said, the Russians scare me and Arshavin is a superstar who could have a monster game today. I’ll go Netherlands 3, Russia 2.
If you will be watching today’s match, or if you want to just follow along with the action, please feel free to check in here. Readers are encouraged to share their thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below. Computer issues will keep me from doing a running commentary but I will be checking in when I can to provide updates and my own take on the action.
Enjoy the match. It should be a fun one to watch.
William the Terror and HomeyBoeme…where are you? Not so cocky about the Dutch anymore I would guess. Same story…different year. With the exception of 88 when has Holland not underachieved?
How is it that after facing Hidddinks Korean side in the World Cup we didnt hire him after Arena?
Bradley or Hiddink hmmmmm
Russia is the Best! We played really great tonight. We made a miracle. Gus is the best! Hero is not only Arshavin, hero is a every guy in team!
Hiddick is amazing. Love how Russia took the game right at the Dutch. No fear. Makes you wonder what he could provide for our US men’s side.
Told ya Netherlands always finds ways to lose …
The Dutch are doing what they always do. Just like the English, Portuguese and soon to be Spain! CHOKE!
Germany/ Italy in the finals. Germany pulls it out. Klose finally wakes up!
Crap,
Holland, Croatia and Portugal made it too easy for a boring undeserving team like Italy or Germany to easily take EURO.
Undoubtedly Spain will choke as usual tomorrow
FULL TIME
3 games, 3 thrilling encounters, and 3 group winners dumped from the tournament. The Netherlands did not look right all match, their defense was finally exposed, and they got almost nothing from the midfield. They did show heart in equalizing despite playing so poorly, but it was not enough in the end.
Meanwhile, Russia frustrated the Dutch on defense, and Arshavin put on a masterful display, scoring a goal and setting up another. Somewhere in London Arsenal is adding some more cash to the large pile being sent to St. Petersburg.
It was absolutely deserved for Russia, and they will go on to play the winner of the Spain/Italy game.
122nd minute- We were in the final seconds, up 2 goals, and Arshavin was fighting hard to get passed a Dutch defender to get to a ball played ahead.
2 minutes of extra time
121st minute- the Dutch give away a free kick, which was taken by Torbinski. It did not threaten the keeper at all.
119th minute- van der Vaart came tantalizingly close, but it went wide comfortably.
119 minute- Free kick within striking distance for the Dutch.
It was (surprise, surpsie) Arshavin. It started from a throwin in, Arshavin took it from in the penalty area, turned, and put the ball in between the legs of van der Saar!! 3-0 to Russia, and it’s a big mountain to climb for the Dutch.
118th minute- A free kick for the Dutch, but it was plucked out of the air by the Russian keeper.
Nutmeg!
Amazingly, the Netherlands are OUT!!!
Go Russia!
116th minute- Sychev took a long ball in from Torbinski, and put the ball over the net!
GOAL RUSSIA!!!!!!!
115th minute- Sychev in for Pavyluchenko.
Arshavin with an AMAZING cross from the left endline, which ended up at the right post where Torbinski headed it home inches from the goal line!!!! Russia with a deserved goal from all their chances, and completely fitting that Arshavin put in that cross.
van Bronkhurst just watched Torbinski put that in. Terrible by the defender.
The Dutch have only minutes to find a response.
112th minute- GOAL RUSSIA!!!!!
111th minute- Torbinsky gets a yellow, and will miss the semi-final if they win.
A Russian defender nearly heads the ball into his keeper, who was coming after the ball at the same time. It was nearly a dangerous misplay.
109th minute- A ball is sent to a streaking Russian player in the penalty area, who played it across the face of goal, only to have the final shot go well over the bar!! The Netherlands are back on both heels, but Russia can’t take advantage.
107th minute- Zhirkov was dancing around near the left penalty area, before heading in and going down after a challenge by a Dutch defender! No penalty called, and I didn’t see anything to contradict the referee.
1st period of extra time finished. The Russians clearly were the better side that period, and had several very good opportunities to score, but the Dutch still seem dangerous.
The 2 teams might look to play for penalties at this point, but they didn’t during the 1st period.
2nd period of extra time begins.
104th minute- A long ball to van Nistelrooy, who was clearly offside. This time, however, there was no defender lying out of play.
104th minute- Yellow card for Zhirkhov, who basically ran over van Persie.
102nd minute- Affaly fouls Pavlyuchenko, earning a free kick for Russia. It was a smart foul, as Pavlyuchenko was headed forward.
100th minute- The Dutch defense finally gets tired of Arshavin beating them and knocks him to the ground.
Free kick to the left of goal and a few yards from the penalty area. can der Saar did not really reach for it, and it went wide to his left by a few feet.
99th minute- Arshavin with a run into the box, basically ignoring two defenders along the way, before slipping a brilliant ball on the ground to Torbinski, whot hit the shot straight at van der Saar!!!
98th minute- Affellay with his own shot from distance, which went wide to the keeper’s right.
97th minute- Arshavin sent a long ball in for Pavlyuchenko, whose long range shot HIT OFF THE TOP OF THE CROSSBAR!!! It beat van der Saar, but couldn’t beat the woodwork.
95th minute- van Persie with a shot that took a deflection, but the keeper made a diving stop to keep the ball from going out for a corner.
96th minute- Arshavin with some individual moves that gets him open near the top of the box, but wasted the shot he got. Arshavin has been a handful tonight.
93rd minute- Arshavin dekes a Dutch player on the left side of the area, before taking a shot on the ground which was screened by a defender. van der Saar bobbled a bit but dropped to the ground and collected.
94th minute- van Nistelrooy came back on the other side and took a shot from distance which missed high and to the right. Had he put it on net, I’m not sure the keeper would have had it.
91st minute- Sneijder went on a long run, weaving between a couple of defenders before taking a long shot which was saved cleanly.
Thanks for the updates ManicMessiah
For the 3rd time, This stage of the Euros has had it’s 3rd thrilling game out of 3. the 1st period of extra time is about to begin.
90+ Crazy finish to the game, as a misplay by Anyukov led to Sneijder apparently keeping the ball in, and Kolodic commiting a foul, where the referee calls for a 2nd yellow and a RED CARD to Kolodic.
The referee then procedes to talk to the 4th official, and he overrules his call, rescinding the red card. I’m not sure whether he said the ball went out or there was a foul on Sneijder instead, but a BIG reversal there, as time has ended shortly after.
extra time first. I’m getting ahead of myself.
90th minute- The Dutch have been knocking the ball around, perhaps looking to get to penalty kicks.
Van Nistelrooy laid himself out to get onto the end of Sneijder’s ball, which was beautifully placed.
The continuous fouling by Russia finally came back to haunt them. Clinical finish by van Nistelrooy ties the game!!!
87th minute- Russia nearly scored coming back, but the ball was cleared out by the Dutch defense!