Lucky Guus stuns his homeland
Table of Contents
Once again, Guus Hiddink lived up his nickname 'Lucky Guus', as his team Russia grabbed an unexpected spot in the semi-finals of Euro 2008 with a deserved 3-1 extra-time victory over Netherlands.
It is 20 years since Russia, as part of the Soviet Union, last reached the semi-finals of a major tournament.
Ironically, it was the Dutch who defeated them 20 years ago in the European Championship final in former West Germany.
For Hiddink, overcoming his home country, may have mixed his emotions but his team were the better side throughout the match.
The Dutch came into the match as strong favourites after topped the 'Group of Death' and convincingly beat World Cup finalists Italy and France in the process.
Meanwhile, Russia came as underdogs but their confidence were increased from their improved results and for Hiddink's magic to take yet another underdogs to an unexpected stages of a finals.
Russia opened the scoring on 56th when Sergei Semak whipped in an excellent cross for Roman Pavlyuchenko to volley in at the near post.
It was a well-worked goal by the Russians and earned them a lead they absolutely deserved.
But with four minutes remaining the Dutch finally equalised as Wesley Sneijder swung in a dangerous free-kick which Russia's defense failed to track Ruud van Nistelrooy, who hurled himself at the ball to head in at the far post.
The goal taking him equal with Dutch legend Johan Cruyff on 33 career international goals.
And the goal which ended Marco van Basten's hopes came after seven minutes into the second period of extra-time.
Some great work from Andrei Arshavin on the left before he swung an awkward far post lob for substitute Dmitry Torbinsky to tap in at the far post.
Man of the match Arshavin then sealed the win four minutes later when he collected a quick throw before and firing a low shot between the legs of Edwin van der Sar with the help of a slight deflection of John Heitinga.
Arshavin has made all the difference since his return for the final group match against Sweden, in which he scored one of his side's two goals.
The 27-year-old was suspended for Russia's first two group matches for kicking an Andorra player in the last quilifier match.
Dutch coach van Basten explained how they were unlucky because Arjen Robben had an injury yesterday.
The Real Madrid winger sat out the game due to a groin strain and could only watch his Dutch team-mates was unable to survive the Russian attack.
For Netherlands goalkeeper van der Sar, his career was finally ended with the pain of defeat as he capped his 128th international appearances for his country last night.
Hiddink, who before the match had said he would be happy to be a Dutch traitor, gave van der Sar his debut in 1995, but he was also the man who brought it to an end as Russia coach.
Netherlands: 1-Edwin van der Sar; 21-Khalid Boulahrouz (3-John Heitinga 54), 2-André Ooijer, 4-Joris Mathijsen, 5-Giovanni van Bronckhorst; 17-Nigel de Jong, 8-Orlando Engelaar (20-Ibrahim Afellay 62); 18-Dirk Kuyt (7-Robin van Persie 46), 23-Rafael van der Vaart, 10-Wesley Sneijder; 9-Ruud van Nistelrooy
Russia: 1-Igor Akinfeev; 22-Alexander Anyukov, 8-Denis Kolodin, 4-Sergei Ignashevich, 18-Yuri Zhirkov; 17-Konstantin Zyryanov, 11-Sergei Semak, 20-Igor Semshov (15-Diniyar Bilyaletdinov 69), 9-Ivan Saenko (7-Dmitry Torbinsky 81); 10-Andrei Arshavin, 19-Roman Pavlyuchenko (21-Dmitry Sychev 115)
Referee: Lubos Michel (Slovakia)
Statistics:
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It is 20 years since Russia, as part of the Soviet Union, last reached the semi-finals of a major tournament.
Ironically, it was the Dutch who defeated them 20 years ago in the European Championship final in former West Germany.
For Hiddink, overcoming his home country, may have mixed his emotions but his team were the better side throughout the match.
The Dutch came into the match as strong favourites after topped the 'Group of Death' and convincingly beat World Cup finalists Italy and France in the process.
Meanwhile, Russia came as underdogs but their confidence were increased from their improved results and for Hiddink's magic to take yet another underdogs to an unexpected stages of a finals.
Russia opened the scoring on 56th when Sergei Semak whipped in an excellent cross for Roman Pavlyuchenko to volley in at the near post.
It was a well-worked goal by the Russians and earned them a lead they absolutely deserved.
But with four minutes remaining the Dutch finally equalised as Wesley Sneijder swung in a dangerous free-kick which Russia's defense failed to track Ruud van Nistelrooy, who hurled himself at the ball to head in at the far post.
The goal taking him equal with Dutch legend Johan Cruyff on 33 career international goals.
And the goal which ended Marco van Basten's hopes came after seven minutes into the second period of extra-time.
Some great work from Andrei Arshavin on the left before he swung an awkward far post lob for substitute Dmitry Torbinsky to tap in at the far post.
Man of the match Arshavin then sealed the win four minutes later when he collected a quick throw before and firing a low shot between the legs of Edwin van der Sar with the help of a slight deflection of John Heitinga.
Arshavin has made all the difference since his return for the final group match against Sweden, in which he scored one of his side's two goals.
The 27-year-old was suspended for Russia's first two group matches for kicking an Andorra player in the last quilifier match.
Dutch coach van Basten explained how they were unlucky because Arjen Robben had an injury yesterday.
The Real Madrid winger sat out the game due to a groin strain and could only watch his Dutch team-mates was unable to survive the Russian attack.
For Netherlands goalkeeper van der Sar, his career was finally ended with the pain of defeat as he capped his 128th international appearances for his country last night.
Hiddink, who before the match had said he would be happy to be a Dutch traitor, gave van der Sar his debut in 1995, but he was also the man who brought it to an end as Russia coach.
| Netherlands |  | 1 - 3 |  | Russia |
| Ruud van Nistelrooy 86 | (AET) | Roman Pavlyuchenko 56 | ||
| Dmitry Torbinsky 112 | ||||
| Andrei Arshavin 116 |
Netherlands: 1-Edwin van der Sar; 21-Khalid Boulahrouz (3-John Heitinga 54), 2-André Ooijer, 4-Joris Mathijsen, 5-Giovanni van Bronckhorst; 17-Nigel de Jong, 8-Orlando Engelaar (20-Ibrahim Afellay 62); 18-Dirk Kuyt (7-Robin van Persie 46), 23-Rafael van der Vaart, 10-Wesley Sneijder; 9-Ruud van Nistelrooy
Russia: 1-Igor Akinfeev; 22-Alexander Anyukov, 8-Denis Kolodin, 4-Sergei Ignashevich, 18-Yuri Zhirkov; 17-Konstantin Zyryanov, 11-Sergei Semak, 20-Igor Semshov (15-Diniyar Bilyaletdinov 69), 9-Ivan Saenko (7-Dmitry Torbinsky 81); 10-Andrei Arshavin, 19-Roman Pavlyuchenko (21-Dmitry Sychev 115)
Referee: Lubos Michel (Slovakia)
Statistics:
| Shots on target : | 8 | - | 10 |
| Shots off target : | 15 | - | 15 |
| Ball possession (%) : | 53 | - | 47 |
| Corner kicks : | 4 | - | 11 |
| Offsides : | 4 | - | 4 |
| Fouls : | 25 | - | 27 |
| Yellow cards : | 3 | - | 3 |
| Red cards : | 0 | - | 0 |
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